Los Angeles Lakers To Be Honored During Special Olympics Bash
Los Angeles Lakers To Be Honored During Special Olympics Bash
EVENT SPOTLIGHT: This Sunday, October 4, on the historic Santa Monica Pier, the Los Angeles Lakers will be honored at the Special Olympics Southern California’s 40th ‘Birthday Bash’… Lakers legends Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy will be representing the Lakers (which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year)…Honorary Chair and California’s First Lady, Maria Shriver, will also attend the event with Special Olympics Board Member, and event founder, Anita Green.
“We are thrilled to be honored by an organization as important and meaningful as Special Olympics. On behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers, I want to congratulate Special Olympics and all its athletes on 40 wonderful years in the Southern California community. We look forward to working together with Special Olympics and continuing its mission for years to come.” Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak.
The party, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes an appearance by the Laker Girls as well as an exclusive opportunity to take a photo with (and kiss) the Los Angeles Lakers’ Championship trophy….the family friendly bash includes rides, game booths, a silent auction, entertainment and for those willing to donate a little extra- a VIP brunch spread prepared by 35 of LA’s top restaurants.
This celebration commemorates 40 years for SOSC, which was founded by Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalist, Rafer Johnson. “What started 40 years ago with 900 athletes, three track and field events and two swimming events was the stepping stone for our organization, which has grown to 13,000 athletes,” said Bill Shumard, SOSC President and CEO. “I’m proud that Special Olympics can be credited with not only introducing sports to people with intellectual disabilities but for creating more accepting and inclusive communities.” Since its inception, the event has raised more than $4.5M.
Confirmed guests: Maria Shriver, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, James Worthy, Magic Johnson, Jim Hill, Rafer Johnson, Tami Farrell (Miss California, USA), Carrie Prejean (Former Miss California), Brandon Molale, Wynne Wharff, CC Perkinson, Christine Devine, Morgan Weirich, Scott L. Schwartz, Jo De La Rosa, Daniel Curtis Lee, Malik Barnhardt, and more to be announced…
General admission tickets are $45 and include unlimited rides, eight game booth tickets, and a meal coupon for Pacific Park’s Food Plaza. VIP tickets include unlimited rides and 12 game booth tickets and a special VIP Brunch for $150 per ticket for adults and children over age 5 and $500 for a package of 5 tickets. For tickets or further information, contact Special Olympics Southern California at www.sosc.org/pierdelsol or 562.354.2605.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
The Best Thing About the Lakers Win?
The Best Thing About the Lakers Win?
I’ve been getting a lot of flack for not being a Lakers fan…as you all know, I cheer for character, so it was hard for me to watch Dwight Howard lose to Kobe Bryant and Gasol. My distaste for the Lakers also stems from the behavior of their fans. Sorry people, but I’d like to hear just ONE Lakers fan give props to an opposing team-any opposing team…but I have yet to see that happen. Instead I witnessed the ‘amazing’ destruction of police cars, burning trees, broken windows and looting in celebration of the Lakers 99-86 victory over the Magic…
But…there are some good guys on the Lakers and perhaps the non-violent and sane Lakers fans will use their passion productively and support Jordan Farmer and his foundation?
Farmar’s gearing up for two days of fundraising to benefit a variety of charities supported by his foundation including Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, Seeds of Peace Camp, Peres Peace Center Basketball Clinics, and others. The inaugural Jordan Farmar Celebrity Golf Classic and Gala will be held on July 19-20 In Los Angeles…the Gala will be Sunday evening at Ten-Ten Wilshire in L.A. and the Golf Classic will be held on Monday at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California.
At the Gala guests will get to mingle with Jordan and a plethora of invited hotties and celebrities while enjoying the usual party swag- awesome food, music, and auction items to include unique sports memorabilia and event packages…the following day, athletes and celebrities will golf for the greater good. For those interested in a night of fun I highly recommend you purchase a ticket to the Gala because they are only $100.00 and it will be a sell-out. You can’t even go to a Lakers game and get out of Staples Center for less than that, so why not cough up a few bucks to party with some Lakers and their celebrity fans? (For ticket information, call the Jordan Farmar Foundation at 310 473-5445 or visit the website.)
Partial list of hotties invited to Jordan Farmar’s “All White Affair” include: George Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Earvin Magic Johnson, Rob Morrow, Mia Hamm, Flea, Kenny Lofton, Royce Clayton and Darryl Strawberry (Huh? He still around?), UCLA coach Ben Howland, and Lakers’ teammates Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, Trevor Ariza, Derek Fisher, and others.
Hope to see ya there…
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Soak In, Feel the Burn and Share Hope
Soak In, Feel the Burn and Share Hope
Despite the weird weather we’ve been having in So-Cal recently, it doesn’t appear that June-gloom will be making an appearance anytime soon…especially in Palm Springs, and especially on June 20. That’s because the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs will be going off for one of the biggest parties of the year when they plunge into summer with Solstice.
Presented by the Scene, Solstice welcomes the longest day of the year (June 21) with the longest day of partying featuring two huge parties, world-class DJs, and celebrity appearances…I for one, will be there enjoying the Scene’s two Saturday parties dubbed “Soak In” and “Feel the Burn.”
‘Soak In’ runs all day Saturday-poolside at the Riviera…DJs will be spinning records so you can bust a move while enjoying the pool or you can simply relax on one of the plush daybeds while sipping an exotic cocktail or enjoying a glass of Hope Wine. ‘Feel the Burn’ picks up where the pool party ends…the Riviera ballroom will be transformed into an “audio-visual feast for the senses” with some of the world’s top DJs and electronic acts helping to usher in the longest day of the year.
So what does this have to do with athletes and charity? For one, I’ll be there so take that as your first clue. Two, it’s summer and I’m getting out from behind my desk to frolic in the sun and may or may not be posting until after this event. (Girl needs a vacation badly). And Three, it’s going to be a weekend filled with HOPE…wine that is. HOPE is all about making the world better and giving people an easy way to make a difference…and ONE HOPE Wine will be flowing in Palm Springs that weekend.
The company, ONE HOPE, started with a focus on three causes: Breast Cancer, Autism and AIDS. Since their launch in 2006, they’ve added two more causes- the environment and helping military families. 50% of their profits are donated to the above named causes and so far they’ve donated hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars to make this world a better place through the sales of their Hope Wine.
From their website: ‘To put it into perspective, if just one in four, out of the estimated 19.5 million women who are or will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. received one bottle of our ONEHOPE Chardonnay every month for one year, ONEHOPE Wine could raise $70 million dollars for breast cancer research.’
So, for all my wine drinking readers, please buy your bottles from One Hope and do your part to improve this world. In the meantime, I’ll be on hiatus until I-don’t-know-when and I hope to see some of you getting jiggy-with-it on June 20 in Palm Springs. Until then, be good, spread love and live Hope.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Top Chef Season 5 Party & Sobe Food and Wine Festival for Charity
Top Chef Season 5 Party & Sobe Food and Wine Festival for Charity
Last weekend I took my hungry-self to South Beach for the Food Networks Food and Wine Festival…now in its 8th year, the annual event raises a boatload of cash for South Florida charities. Massive tents were set up on the white sandy beaches for events such as the Whole Foods Tasting Village and the Amstel Light Burger Bash hosted by Rachel Ray. Admittedly, I don’t watch the Food Network but I am familiar with some of the chefs who were cooking it up.
The first event we hit up was the Burger Bash. Over 20 different tasting stations were set-up to showcase the culinary treats from restaurants across the country. While Rachel Ray frolicked around tasting burgers, guests enjoyed such bite-sized bits of heaven from Top Chef ‘Spike’ (who won the Bash this year) and Bobby Flay. ‘Bobby’s Blue Crunchified Burger’ was to die for but that may have been because cutie-pie served it to me himself.
The best event though was one not associated with the Food and Wine Festival. The Top Chef season 5 party hosted by Jeff McInnis was the bomb. Jeff and his dimples hosted the party inside the suite of the historic Pelican Hotel. Without a doubt-the most memorable and classy event I’ve ever been to. (And trust me kids, I’ve been to a few). Props to everyone who held it down and worked it out…
Congratulations to Hosea Rosenberg- Top Chef Season 5 Winner! Hosea laid down some tasty treats at the party Saturday night, and in between hugs, kisses and spoon-feeding us, we nibbled on his ‘shucked oysters, beer poached shrimp and chilled crab claws’…delicious. We also enjoyed the caviar and vodka station. And don’t ever question whether or not he’s a nice guy-dude is top notch, as were all the chefs that night.
Gotta give props to the host Jeff McInnis. With that tussled blond hair and to-die-for-smile, I now understand why there is such a thing as “chef-groupies.” I had no problem flinging them outta the way to get my paws all over him and his Ahi-something-in-a-little-spoon (sorry I didn’t get a photo of the menu). We also enjoyed washing it down with one of his famous ‘cucumber mojito’s’. McInnis was awesome, period, and if you ever get a chance to nibble on his creations-do it.
More props to the Top Chef who cooked our favorite dish that night. Leah Cohen. We went back for seconds and thirds of her ‘Kampachi Ceviche, with black olive powder, shaved fennel and micro basil.’ Not sure if she knew just HOW good it was, as we overheard her talking about how surprised she was that people were eating so much.
We also love, love, loved Jamie Lauren’s heirloom tomatoes, buratta cheese dish with smoked extra virgin olive oil, balsamic and charred onion vinaigrette. Think we ate about five of those…and one more shout out to chef Michelle Gomez®. Girlfriend was manning McInnis’s station and whipping up some deliciousness worthy of second and thirds. Top Chef season three winner Hung Huynh was also there- nice as could be- and I’m pretty sure I saw him noshing on Michelle’s spoons.
Once again, thanks to all the Top Chefs-you guys are awesome and we look forward to the next party, where we will in fact, end up in that hot tub.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
NBA Round Up: Steve Nash Honored, Gilbert Arenas Get Waxed and Carmelo Anthony Launches M5
Publishing Notice
I’m taking the rest of the year off See ya in January kids…
STEVE NASH: PATTERSON AWARD
Steve Nash earned some serious love for his philanthropy…but not really sure if anyone noticed? Apparently, Nashty was given the award during a pre-game ceremony at the Sun-Lakers game…maybe the photogs didn’t notice or care but I can’t find any photos…regardless, the Sports Philanthropy Project (SPP) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) presented the 2008 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy to Nash’s foundation…
“It is an honor to receive this type of recognition for the work that I care about so deeply,” said Nash. “The Steve Nash Foundation is dedicated to assisting underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life. Steve Patterson is the kind of person that always sought out to improve the lives and well being of others and to be awarded in his name is truly an honor. I am humbled by your acknowledgement of our work in the global community. This is just the beginning and we look forward to continuing these efforts and building on the foundation we have established.” The award was created in memory of Steve Patterson, former UCLA basketball star, NBA player and Arizona State University college coach, who died of cancer in 2004 and believed in and practiced the power of sports philanthropy. Carlette Patterson, President of Patterson Sports Ventures. “My husband spent his life building partnerships on and off the court, and we hope his life and legacy will inspire more and more sports teams and athletes who have the power to create substantial change in their own backyards. The fact that Steve Nash will receive his award for work here in the same community in which my husband Steve and our family lived and worked and cherished makes it that much more meaningful.”
I LOVE MADAME TUSSAUDS
The latest hormone tickler from Madame Tussauds is Washington Wizard babe Gilbert Arenas…his ‘figure’ was unveiled yesterday at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington D.C., and Arenas took along 50 kids from his Zer0 to Her0 Foundation….”It is an honor to join the ranks of sports icons such as Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods by being immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.,” Arenas said. “Like the Wizards, Madame Tussauds has become a fixture in the nation’s capital and one that I’m proud to be a part of.” Now, I don’t know how or if I qualify for the job, but I’d like to take a stab as one of the artists who create these treats…Gil sat for over two hours while the ‘artists’ took hundreds of (a-hem) measurements and photos, as well as selected eye, hair and skin tone matches for his figure…artists even insert each strand of hair individually…the creation of Arenas’ figure’s head took nearly five weeks to complete.
CARMELO ANTHONY PARTIES IN LA WITHOUT ME
Last night, celebrities, artists and professional athletes hit up Siren Studios in Hollywood to celebrate Carmelo Anthony and Jordan Brand’s launch of the Jordan Melo M5 basketball shoe…luckily, I wasn’t not able to attend, if I had, I suspect I wouldn’t have made it passed the “unique images of Carmelo’s daily life off the court, including candid imagery of Carmelo taking breaks between games, interacting with his fans and just enjoying life.”…The black-carpet event replicated a modern art gallery opening…adding to the modern art feel was Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith. “Tonight’s event means a lot to me because the M5 is my fifth shoe and any time you can be associated with a brand like Jordan it’s special. The shoe fits me and my game so well and it’s my favorite shoe of them all since I’ve been a part of the process since day one.” For more info visit Nike.com and trust me when I say the splash page is a must see for all Sweet Melon lovers.
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
Chris Webber and Shawn Marion at Bada Bling 2008
Chris Webber hosted his third annual Bada Bling Celebrity Weekend to raise funds for his kick-ass Foundation. The weekend included a celebrity poker event, a little bash at Prive, a Soiree, live auction and a private party at Koi at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Tons of celebrity athletes and celebrities including Rip Hamilton, Juwan Howard, Baron Davis, Scot Pollard, Terry Crews, Finesse Mitchell and many, many others came out in full force to support one of the most amazing ‘givers’ in the world of athlete philanthropy.
I’ll have my full review up tomorrow, with additional footage, but for now, enjoy this priceless exchange between Chris Webber and Shaun Marion, as Marion attempts to get Webber to reveal what’s hidden under the band-aid his had on his neck all weekend. All I can say is WOW!