Camilo Villegas Debuts New Clothing at the US Open
Camilo Villegas, Debuts New Clothing at the US Open
I’d like to start off by wishing Camilo Villegas a Happy Fathers day…no, he doesn’t have any kids (that I know of) but if he calls me soon we can change that by next year…in the meantime, I, along with half the worlds female population, have been actively enjoying our kitten while he tries to keep his paws (and chin) dry at the US Open.
Rain has wreaked havoc at the US Open, giving us excruciating delays in play but more than enough eye candy to keep us occupied. I have nothing deep to report here…no charity to write about…no scores or pars or eagles or birdies…just some straight-up gratuitous love for the hottest and sexiest male golfer alive, Camilo Villegas.
If you’ve been under a rock for the last five years, the sexy beast hails from Columbia and although most of the worlds press refers to him as Spiderman, I prefer to call him Our Kitten…and it seems our Kitten has added some fresh swagger to his crawl? The latest improvement on his ‘move’ includes the ‘balancing of his chin’ on the ground as he lines up his putt…dear god, can he get any cuter?
Camilo can sit on a fence and look adorable…he can suck the life outta a can of Red Bull or sign autographs while maintaining that oh-so-serious kiss-me now look on his face…
But aside from his limber, libido-tingling, yoga-like moves, Villegas has been dressed to impress…All week, he’s been sporting the new “J. Lindeberg Art Polo / Camilo Villegas Collection.” J. Lindeberg recently re-signed Villegas as their brand ambassador and extended their relationship by collaboratively developing this new line of sexy garb…
Needless to say, the marriage of Villegas and Lindeberg is what dreams are made of…the debut of Villegas’ new collection at the US Open has defiantly added some color, sex appeal and flair to the greens. But its also about character…and Villegas is one of the good-guys. While he is intensely focused during play, he always stops for the fans to sign autographs…he seems to have a solid grasp on what makes a man a ‘gentleman’, a golfer a ‘great player’ and an athlete a solid role model.
Meow my sexy feline, ME-OW.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Rafael Nadal Heats Up Vogue Magazine
Rafael Nadal Heats Up Vogue Magazine
“I’m not very brave about anything in life. In tennis, yes. In everything else, not very.” Rafael Nadal, Vogue magazine, June 2009
It was less than a month ago that our Spanish delicacy, Rafael Nadal, landed in Time magazine as one of their most ‘influential’ Heroes & Icons…now, Rafa has made his way into the June issue of Vogue magazine, where journalist Gaby Wood penned a great interview and famed photographer Bruce Webber snapped some mouthwatering images of our beast during the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
Gaby’s article is fantastic, perhaps one of the best I’ve read in relation to Rafa. She captures his essence and persona perfectly while giving us a glance of Rafa’s closely guarded inner circle…and she definitely knows how to capture the reader’s attention and libido: “…I make my way over to the practice court,” she writes, “Rafa is shirtless, sweat streaming down his front, the deep thwacking sound of his inhuman forehand filling everyone’s ears…”
We learn that our Tapa enjoys fishing, golfing, going to the movies, and spending time with his girlfriend. We learn that the humble words he speaks transcend the court- opting to fly commercial instead of using private jets…and he speaks highly of nemesis Roger Federer, “He’s one of the greatest tennis players in history, if not the greatest. But the thing that makes you improve isn’t any individual—it’s the demands of the sport itself.”
Gaby also asked Rafael how he felt when he saw Federer crying in Australia. “Well, a bit odd, no? I didn’t really know what to do. I felt sad for him. Those are difficult moments when you’re living through them, but over the years they become moments that both he and I will be able to look back on fondly—they’re emotional moments.”
I had my own emotional moment as I read about his pre-match rituals: “He’ll sleep between seven and nine hours, then have a plate of pasta for breakfast…just beforehand, he always has a (gulp) cold shower; then his physio, Rafael Maymo, helps him put on all his tape…”
But perhaps the most enlightening thing we learn about Rafa is that he’s in dire need of a visit from Delinda: “Being home alone at night makes me a bit nervous. If I’m at home alone I have to sleep on the sofa—I can’t face going to bed. I’m there with the TV on and all the lights on…”
Rafa also speaks of his new foundation, which aims to educate underprivileged children all over the world. “I’d like to help people who don’t have enough to live on,” he says, “I’d like to help everyone I can.”
I don’t know about the rest of ya, but Rafa has certainly helped me decide where I’m spending my summer vacation. Vamos our little ‘Rafalet’, va-mos.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
The Aura’s of David Beckham & Carmelo Anthony
The Aura’s of David Beckham & Carmelo Anthony
Two athletes I wouldn’t mind contracting swine flu from are David Beckham, and of course, Carmelo Anthony. I’ve covered their charity work but today my libido is in dire need of some non-essential objectification of our hotties. After all, this girl can only take so much…
First, Sir Golden Balls-who will be celebrating his birthday this weekend- caught my attention in the new Motorola Aura TV ad…Beckham is hawking the new mobile device, which retails for $2k and has a 62 Carat Sapphire Crystal Lens…
…props to Beckham’s camp for effectively, and continually, using one of the worlds sexiest men to endorse products. If others followed lead, I’d imagine we’d have quite an active ‘stimulus’ plan…speaking of stimulus plans, Carmelo Anthony and his baby blue aura once again have me forgetting my own name.
The Nuggets captured their first playoff series since 1994 after spanking the Hornets 107-86 Wednesday night. After Melo landed a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, he turned toward the camera and screamed, “This is my house.” Dear god this kids gonna be the death of me…what else can I say? His career playoff-high of 34 points is certainly impressive but I can only hope that when the Nuggets play the Lakers (exhibition game) this October in San Diego, I will be sitting courtside, trip him ala Larry David to Shaq on Curb, and have him land smack dab on top of me…If not, then perhaps I’ll finally get word from his PR people (a-hem) that Melo would be thrilled to give me an interview about all his amazing work with the kids. And just for the record, I can, in fact, conduct an interview while handcuffed to a chair.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Europes Hottest Soccer Players Coming to U.S.
Chelsea is Coming! AC Milan is Coming! Inter Milan is Coming!
Team Chelsea, one of the sexiest squads in Euro soccer, is coming to the States for the fifth time in six years-this time, as part of the inaugural World Football Challenge.
And it’s not just news about Chelsea making me squeal, its news that the tournement will host four international squads…Chelsea, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Club America. The round-robin style tournament will make stops in Palo Alto, Pasadena, my house, Atlanta, Baltimore, Massachusetts, and Texas…with Chelsea playing a friendly on July 18 versus the Seattle Sounders at Quest Field.
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon spoke about the teams fan base here in the U.S.: “Coming here regularly has definitely helped us so far. Our fan base over here has more than doubled in the last three years and we are seeing a genuine interest in our team, our club and our brand from people in this part of the world.”
Indeed. It’s not difficult to take a genuine interest when Chelsea’s roster of hot babes include: Captain John Terry, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Deco, Joe Cole, and Salomon Kalou and others…and giving me reason to learn Italian, from Inter we’ve got: Luis Figo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marco Materazzi and AC Milan babes in serious danger of a chance meeting with me: Ricardo Kaka, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Filippo Inzaghi, Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf, and Gianluca Zambrotta to name just a few.
The World Football Challenge begins July 19 where this crazy redheaded blogger will stalk Inter Milan as they take on Club at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. My next stop will be on July 21 when Chelsea battle Inter Milan at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, where you’ll likely find me trying to get into both locker rooms. Once the hotties have escaped California, the tour continues: July 22: AC Milan vs. Club America at Georgia Dome in Atlanta; July 24: AC Milan vs. Chelsea at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore-where I expect Angela to do me proud; July 26: Inter Milan vs. AC Milan at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Mass.; July 26: Chelsea vs. Club America at Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
If you just can’t wait until July to see the hottest soccer players alive, remember, you can catch most of them-and then some- in New York on June 14 for the ‘All Stars for Hope’ celebrity soccer game. This one of the biggest and best events for charity this summer…hope to see you all there!
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Rafael Nadal French Kisses Trophy After BNP Paribas Win
Rafael Nadal French Kisses Trophy After BNP Paribas Win
How many nibbles does it take to get to Worlds Number One…We’ve witnessed trophy after trophy earn that precious nibble Rafael Nadal has perfected. And just when I thought it couldn’t get better, our Tapa won the BNP Paribas Open and, correct me if I’m wrong, (gulp) French kissed the trophy. There is a whole lotta ‘oh no she didn’t’ that I could say about this, but I best move on before I earn an X rating…after all, this is supposed to be all about charity right? And as such, the only donation given by Rafa went straight to my estrogen bank, so it fits the bill.
Nadal had no trouble winning his second title in three years at Indian Wells. After defeating Andy Murray 6-1, 6-2, our tapa spoke…anticipating an accent as delicious as his forehand, it pained me a bit to think he’s either brushing up on his English, or this was translated…
“The conditions today were really difficult. But I think I had a good strategy and played a really good match under the conditions,” Nadal cooed. “Probably Andy didn’t play his best because of the conditions, but I think I played a really complete match, moving very well…I never stopped the legs during the match and I think that was the key. Maybe I accepted the conditions a little bit better than him. Maybe I had a little bit more positive attitude than him.” Gone are the ‘no’s’? To think we lost them is bad, no? And is also make me happy Rafa make no more capri’s too, no?
Maybe it was your leg speed Rafa, but I think maybe, just maybe, you are simply maturing into one hell of a eloquent, fine, sexy, Spanish tennis monster with incredibly hot wispy hair and a much needed hint of facial hair to accentuate that ice-melting smile…
Vamos Rafael Nadal, Va-mos.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Camilo Villegas Honored in Columbia
Camilo Villegas Honored in Columbia
Come on kids, you didn’t really think this one would get by me did you? Our sexy golf kitten, Camilo Villegas, has reached seventh in the Official Golf World Rankings…it’s been a long and laborious journey for those of us who’ve been around since we first saw him get down on all fours, balance on his fingertips, and flex those yoga-fit arms. Now, with his new world ranking, he’s garnered more than just the attention of us ogling fans, Camilo has been honored by Colombian President Álvaro Uribe.
President Uribe held a ceremony at the Government Palace prior to the Club Colombia Masters where Camilo’s younger brother Manuel is competing. During the ceremony, our Camilo was awarded the Order of San Carlos.
“I don’t do what I do for a living to receive awards, but when they arrive I know that I’m going in the right direction. This is a huge motivation for me to keep giving my best and be a good ambassador for our country.”
Aside from press conferences and earning awards, Villegas opened the Club Colombia Masters Tour de las Americas as well as hosted a golf clinic and a nine-hole exhibition. Me-friggen-ow.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
NADAL BRINGS FEDERER TO TEARS
NADAL BRINGS FEDERER TO TEARS
This is the first thing I read this morning on Yahoo:
Rafael Nadal held off Roger Federer in another momentum-swinging, five-set final to win the Australian Open on Sunday, keeping the Grand Slam singles record safe for now. After coming through the longest match in the tournament’s history to reach the championship match, Nadal needed 4 hours, 23 minutes Sunday to win 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2. Federer, who was trying to equal Pete Sampras’ 14 major titles, has lost to Nadal the last three times they’ve met in Grand Slam finals. The 27-year-old Swiss star couldn’t hold back tears at the presentation.
“Maybe I’ll try later. God, it’s killing me,” Federer said, sobbing. He returned to congratulate Nadal within minutes, saying: “You deserved it. You played a fantastic final.” Nadal collected the trophy and put his arm around Federer. “Roger, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now,” Nadal said. “Remember, you’re a great champion, you’re one of the best in history.” He accepted the cup from Rod Laver, who was in Australia to mark the start of the 40th anniversary of the last Grand Slam season. “To receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me,” Nadal said. Federer, so dominant when he won three of the four majors in 2006 and 2007, has now lost finals on three different surfaces to Nadal. (Yahoo Sports)
First of all, I am going to relish this moment and say I told ya so. Federer- you can NOT beat Rafa if you don’t practice. Federer- you can NOT be one of the greatest if you don’t practice. Federer- you can NOT claim a title if you don’t practice. It’s really as simple as that. How many times have I ripped the Swiss Mister a new one because he’s out frolicking ala Hollywood-style cruising along on his fame while his Girlfriend manages his career? Historically, it’s a recipe for disaster. “Maybe I’ll try later. God, it’s killing me,” Federer said, sobbing. Maybe you’ll try later? Try what? To practice? Did you really think Rod Laver was gonna hand you the Sampras equalizing trophy just because you showed up? You gotta win first! Props to you though for recognizing that Rafael ‘deserved it’ and ‘played a fantastic final’. Hard to believe a compliment slipped passed those lips. Perhaps when we are at our lowest it’s easier to recognize the greatness in others?
The greatness that is Rafael Nadal never ceases to amaze me. From his grunts to his capri’s, the kid is a tennis machine. We are witnessing one of the most remarkable tennis careers to hit the courts, while at the same time witnessing the downfall of another. Sure, R-Fed could theoretically pull himself up by the boot-strings, hire a great agent and trainer, leave Mirka at home and focus on winning instead of jetting off to chill with other Gillette men who have also mysteriously lost career-traction…but would that even be enough? Doubt it. Nadal has remained focused…unshakable…determined…humble…and hot. He basically picks up where Federer leaves off.
And before I forget…Congratulations my precious Tapa! You want make me to be happy, no? Thank you Rafa for making this day about something more than the SuperBowl. Vamos for life you sexy little beast, Va-mos.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Mark Sanchez and USC Win More Than Roses
Mark Sanchez and USC Win More Than Roses
Admittedly, I couldn’t care less about the Rose Bowl. Being a So-Cal girl, I do appreciate our college teams, both UCLA and USC. Don’t ask me to pick a side cuz it will never happen…but, something caught my eye as I tuned into the end of the Rose Bowl on Thursday. That something was written on the face of Mark Sanchez as he flashed that drop-dead smile across the screen: ‘R.I.P. Garenn.’
Props to USC for its incredible 38-24 victory over Penn State-but bigger props for advertising something worthwhile during a game…a young boys battle with cancer. His name: Garenn Figueroa. He dreamed of going to USC…and for at least three games, Sanchez inked up his face in support of the boys battle.
Unfortunately, the little guy passed away on November 16 after a long battle with cancer but thanks to the USC Trojans his memory lives on. Well done boys.
R.I.P. Garenn Figueroa, R.I.P. Feb. 4, 1993 – Nov. 16, 2008.
As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com
Athletes Who Bring Sexy to the Sport
DYNAMIC DUO’S
Hope everyone was safe, happy and loved this holiday…Events have been added to the Celebrity Athlete Charity Events Calendar, with plenty more to come. Next week, I’m gonna break down some of the events for you and highlight the one which I recommend…if you know of an event you’d like listed, please email me, an if you are a PR firm or Athlete rep, please contact me to be included on the calendar…but in the meantime, I’ve got plenty of pent-up ‘are-you-kidding-me’s’ that need to come out….
The battle between my heart and my libido rages on- spurred by David Beckham “on loan” to AC Milan alongside Paolo Maldini-I must bow to the babes and give proper recognition to some of the men who’ve paired up in the past to make me question my sanity…Beckham is a no-brainer, but when paired with Maldini? Are you kidding me? Geez-Us. Both are exceptional ‘givers’ in the charity world but right now I am so blinded by ‘fineness’ that I can’t even spell humanitarian…and for the record, Beckham’s sex-appeal is no match for the Italian beast who’s dark hair, piercing eyes and delicious accent make Beck’s look a bit…ah…mousy?
As I refresh my desktop screen saver, I still cannot bring myself to delete this photo from 2007 when we enjoyed a soul shattering moment of ‘hello-ness’ as Camilo Villegas stood alongside Aaron Baddeley…not much else to say except here’s to a few more crawls, and victories, from Villegas this year.
Another one of my favorite: Chad Pennington, then still with the Jets, and the ‘are you kidding me’ look on his face as Tom Brady whispers sweet nothings in his ear…I’ve always had a secret thing for Chad-and I dare say you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’s got a bad thing to say about him-as a person, as a player I’m sure there’s haters but who cares as Chad and his new team (Miami) watch Favre and the Jets say buh-bye to the Bowl.
One duo that always makes me lose my voice is Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. This photo from 2006 is timeless to me. The Swiss-Mister-in my opinion- seems to always rely on his reputation to pave the way to victory, whereas our Tapa is always busy training. The manner in which Rafa is holding his victory screams ‘oh my god I really did it’ while the Swiss-ter wears a look which says “yeah-enjoy-it- while-you-can”…last laugh on R-Fed as our baybee sits pretty at number one. Both are in Abu Dhabi for the start of the Capitala World Tennis Championships. Vamos you sweet thing, Va-mos.
Pavel Nedved and Allesandro Del Piero. April 2007. I don’t know if Del Piero slapped Nedved in the face or kissed him afterwards, but the photo qualifies-in my book- as a classic.
Here’s to an awesome 2009!
As always, thanks for reading.
Carmelo Anthony Cuts the Cornrows
Carmelo Anthony Cuts the Cornrows
Last week, Carmelo Anthony had three wisdom teeth yanked while serving his two-game suspension to start Denver’s season…rumor has it that the dentist asked him repeatedly “Is it safe” prior to the surgery…not sure what his answer was, but I would say it is very safe for Melo to do whatever he likes and still be able to produce grand mal seizures in my libido.
Yes, my favorite caramelized-treat has cut off his cornrows after almost nine years. Mama Melo likes her baby’s new look: “I like it,” Mary Anthony said. “It makes him look younger, and he looks like my baby again.” After the two-game suspension and wisdom teeth session, Melo showed up Saturday looking just as fine as he did before…”Time for a change,” purred the sexiest man in a NBA uniform.
Also, not sure how many of you are watching Carmelo’s Way, which I believe aired on BET last week. All I can say after watching the trailer is…nothing. Dear god…Melo traipsing around his room at the Wynn, half nekked with a posse of fine –ass brutha’s cracking jokes about ‘Shoe-Bacca.’ Seriously, kill me now.
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
HAMILTON UPDATE: RACIST WEBSITE OWNED BY TWBA MEDIA
HAMILTON UPDATE: RACIST WEBSITE OWNED BY TWBA MEDIA
“The Spanish government cannot allow this organized and systematic racism to continue. These people must be widely condemned and the websites they use shut down immediately.”
Wow…the website used to target Lewis Hamilton with racists remarks and hatred has thankfully been shut down, but the most disturbing fact is that the site is owned and operated by New-York-based advertising agency, TWBA, which is part of the world’s largest media services group, Omnicom. And the kicker? The site belongs to the Spanish branch of the advertising firm.
Last night, the site was yanked and spanked after after hundreds of abusive messages were posted…and I don’t need to elaborate on what the messages said. We have British cabinet minister Andy Burnham to thank for the shut-down, as he led calls for action against the abuse. “This is a crucial race and the whole country will be behind him. I’m very concerned to hear reports of sites potentially fueling racist abuse. The authorities must take the toughest possible action against racism in sport.” Another one to thank is Keith Vaz, chairman of Labour’s ethnic minority taskforce, who urged foreign secretary David Miliband to lodge a formal protest:: “The Spanish government cannot allow this organized and systematic racism to continue. These people must be widely condemned and the websites they use shut down immediately.”
TBWA operates in 77 countries with 12,000 staff in 258 offices. Its clients include Absolut Vodka, Apple, Adidas, McDonald’s, Michelin, Sony PlayStation, and Singapore Airlines. Last year, Omnicom’s revenue was $12.7 B.
A spokesman in the New York office played dumb, saying they did not know why the site, designed and owned by its interactive marketing branch in Spain had not been monitored to stop racists using it to abuse Hamilton, but would take “appropriate action” once they identified the idiot who was responsible for the website.
Renault’s Fernando Alonso last night condemned the racist supporters. “If it’s true, obviously this is not possible [acceptable],” the Spaniard told reporters at the Brazilian Grand Prix. “In 2008 we cannot have these kind of people in our world. It’s not only formula one, not only sport, it’s normal life as well.”
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
Lewis Hamilton is Again Targeted by Racists
Lewis Hamilton is Again Targeted by Racists
In London, things are good for Lewis Hamilton-so good in fact, that he’s a piece of art…British artist Ian Cook unveiled his latest work of genius…a massive Lewis Hamilton painting he created by using remote controlled cars instead of paint brushes…this Sunday, Hamilton will go head-to-head with Felipe Massa for the Formula One world title. Hamilton currently holds a seven-point lead over Massa going into the final race of the season in Brazil…kinda like Obama over McCain…and of course, racists morons are not happy about their homeboy Massa being outperformed by a –oh-god-no! Black man.
I was literally sick to my stomach reading some of this shit. (Excuse my language kids but this fires me up). A new website has emerged-which I do NOT recommend you visit, especially if you have a weak stomach for hatred and racism. Massa fans can’t handle the fact that their pug-faced hero is about to lose the World Championships to yet another squeaky-voiced uber-sexy British beast. The website asks visitors to place pins, nails and porcupines on the ‘interactive map of the track’ to try and “stop Formula One’s first black driver from finishing Sundays race.”
The website has done nothing more than give cowardly racists a platform to voice their sub-par thoughts. More than 16,000 racist messages have been left so far….many taunting him about the color of his skin in a vile campaign that reprised the abuse he received at the start of the year in Barcelona. One coward wrote: “Conguito, you are going to die.” (conguito is a type of chocolate with racist overtones.) Other cowards wrote messages like: “Half-breed, kill yourself in your car,” and “I hope you run over your dad in the first pit stop, Hamilton.” And these are the nicer comments.
Formula One’s governing body condemned the Web site, according to Brazilian media, saying that it is against any act of ‘discrimination and prejudice.’ Earlier this year, FIA even launched an anti-racism campaign after Spanish fans taunted Hamilton during testing in Spain.
Now, while I do kinda believe in voodoo, I’m not too concerned about a lame website aimed at those with an IQ of less than 20. Hamilton-with his seven-point advantage over the Brazilian pug Massa, need only finish the race fifth or better. This he will do. He WILL win his first title and become F1’s youngest champion at age 23. And that my Brazilian haters, is a cold hard fact that you best put in your racist pipes and smoke it all to hell.
If you can stomach the hate, go to the Telegraph to read more and follow the link back to the site. Ain’t no way I was linking that crap up here.
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
CAMILO VILLEGAS POPS HIS CHERRY AND WINS BMW!
MEOW
Our little kitten has finally done it…we’ve waited patiently for the last three years, hoping, praying and believing that hours of yoga and weight training will lend something to his already stellar physique something extrasomething to inch his oh-so-pretty Columbian flavor right into the victory circle.
Yes, we’ve been watching his sexiness crawl across the greens after meticulously selecting his Lindberg garb for the day…and now, our baby has popped his cherry and its time to rejoice and celebrate Camilo Villegas winning his first PGA tour victory. Our beast finished at 15-under 265 and earned a cool $1.26M. “It’s awesome to be here,” said Villegas, who was adorable in his solid white outfit accented by a yellow belt and painter’s cap. “Hopefully, it’s the first of many.” Indeed.
I’m not gonna post a hole-by-hole of the final round of the BMW Championships…because really, it’s about the man, not the game. It’s about the sweet demeanor of a long-overdue champion who brightens any course he plays with his unique crawl, flashy Lindberg cloths, perfectly matching socks and enticing tongue. Yes, the beast even looks hot when he sticks out his tongue…or yawns, or squats, or strokes his putter for that matter.
Camilo Villegas has won the BMW Championship. God…it feels so good to write that. But heads up ladies, a victory can mean much more than meets the eye. Regular readers and myself have been wiping Villegas-inspired drool off our chins for quite sometime, so I expect we are gonna see a Villegas-feeding-frenzy by the media from now on. Gone is the obscurity that allowed us to chit-chat with the kitten during practice rounds…gone are the days of having a secret hot golfer to enjoy…the trophy he kisses signifies his shot at Fame. My money says he’ll remain humble despite being thrown into the limelight, and I’m keep my fingers crossed that he appears in many, many more issues of Men’s Vogue, GQ, People, US, and whatever other publication has finally caught up to speed with us. I even heard a rumor that Tiger Woods is going to name his next child-if its a boy-Camilo….
Congratulations my kitten. We are all so proud of you.
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com
Rafael Nadal: Prince of Asturias Award
TAPA NOW A PRINCE?
Well, maybe not really a prince, but on Wednesday, Rafael Nadal won the prestigious Prince of Asturias sports award.
The first hottie since Bjorn Borg to win two back-to-back majors, bring home a gold from Beijing, and dethrone Roger Federer, has followed up his French Open title with a bit-o-royal-love. “Rafael Nadal is an exemplary athlete,” the Prince of Asturias jury said. “Both in victory and in the very few times in which he tastes defeat, he behaves like a great athlete.” And we all know how sexy it is when Rafael tastes victory by nibbling on those wonderful trophies. Nadal won the award because the jury feels, as do I, that Nadal always has a kind word for his opponents, and because he’s created a charity foundation- (which I cant seem to fin any info on so if anyone of you know about it please hit me up). The award goes to a person, persons or organization deemed to have excelled in their field and worked to promote sports in general…fittingly enough, our beast was nominated alongside Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and the Spanish National Football Team.
- At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2008 Prince of Asturias Award for Sport…has decided to bestow the 2008 Prince of Asturias Award for Sport on the tennis player Rafael Nadal. The Jury has prized the merits of the sportsman: in Grand Slam competitions, his fourth French Open title and his first Wimbledon victory, thereby becoming the number one tennis player in the world and, in this Olympic year, also obtaining the gold medal in Beijing. Rafael Nadal is an example to follow. Both in his victories and in the very few occasions when he is defeated, he shows great sportsmanship. The way he reacts after a victory and the way he highlights the merits of his opponents is particularly admirable. He has also recently established a charitable foundation bearing his name, which focuses on social work among disadvantaged groups and cooperation for development.The Prince of Asturias Award laureate for Sport was one of the major figures at the Beijing Olympic Games, along with Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and Yelena Isinbayeva, three of the final candidates for said Award. The Jury has valued Rafael Nadal’s contribution to the excellent year that Spanish Sport has enjoyed in 2008, achieving three major international prizes in different disciplines.
Congratulations to Rafael Nadal and his royal nod….he is make right choice, no?
This time I really am taking a few days off…I’ll be back after Peter Windsor wakes me up bright and early Sunday morning to work the grid from the Belgian F1 Grand Prix.
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com
Golden Boys: Rafael Nadal and Michael Phelps
GOLDEN TAPA
Tomorrow, Rafael Nadal will officially be declared the Worlds Number One and he’s backing it up with a delicious gold medal hanging round his neck. Nadal won a gold medal Sunday after serving Fernando Gonzalez a major dose of karma in the form of a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 beating. This is Spain’s first gold medal in tennis and considering Nadal’s phenomenal year, are we really surprised to see the Gold adorning Spain’s most precious commodity? Nadal has won 38 of his past 39 matches.
“Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year,” Nadal said. “I know how difficult it is to win these things, and especially here, because you only have one chance every four years.” Indeed, but I did imagine something like this in one of my best dreams and your medal ended dangling from the tip of my toes…
GOLDEN SENSATION: MICHAEL PHELPS
What can I possibly say about Michael Phelps that hasn’t been said? That he’s the Lance Armstrong of water sports? That his body is sick? That his smile is infectious? That he’s class act? Did I mention that body? Dear god…if only the games were broadcast live on the West Coast I’m sure most of you would have heard me screaming during the events. I assure you kids that I haven’t been turning a blind eye to the hot male Olympic swimmers. I’ve been so awestruck with some of the abs diving into the pool that I actually burned out my DVR by rewinding-pausing-rewinding-pausing the action and had to call a cable technician specialist to get it up and running again.
Without a doubt- we now have two Olympics that will remain in the forefront of our memories. Beijing 2008, which gave us a chance to bear witness to one of the most phenomenal athletes in the world earn 8 gold medals while smashing world records, and the 1972 Munich games where Mark Spitz brought home 7. I’ll never forget watching Spitz as a kid, a time when the Olympics were at their purest. It was all about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Today, on the West Coast anyway, its about trying to avoid turning on the news because you know they are gonna spoil the games. And it sucks. I would have loved nothing more than to hear Phelps “live” after his win…I would have loved to see him “live” run into the stands to hug his mother and sisters. “I don’t even know what to feel right now,” Phelps said. “There’s so much emotion going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom.”
Over the years, I’ve seen several great athletes profiled in reference to their genetics and how it makes them exceptional athletes. Some, like –cold-water’ swimmer Lewis Pugh, actually has an internal thermometer that automatically adjusts his core body temperature to adapt to freezing water temperatures. (There might be about four people in the world that can do this) Others, like Lance Armstrong, also have the ability to smash what-we-thought-we-knew about the genetic code of some athletes. Some are just gifted in the genetics department. I even saw a special on Tom Brady and his ability to throw a perfect pass. Not sure if its Brady’s genetics or not, but it was more than a pleasure to watch the slow-mo cam as it focused in on his arm and explained the split second timing it takes to complete a pass…but I digress. Back to Michael Phelps’ Perfect Body.
I have been trying to find this video in color but its only available on YouTube in black and white. (You can view the original video on NBC) It’s a mouthwatering explanation of Phelps size 14 feet, big hands, height, weight, and body shape which make him a cut above the rest when it comes to the water….
“Nothing is impossible,” Phelps said. “With so many people saying it couldn’t be done, all it takes is an imagination, and that’s something I learned and something that helped me…Without the help of my teammates this isn’t possible. I was able to be a part of three relays and we were able to put up a solid team effort and we came together as one unit. For the three Olympics I’ve been a part of, this is by far the closest men’s team that we’ve ever had. I didn’t know everybody coming into this Olympics, but I feel going out I know every single person very well. The team that we had is the difference.”
And I’m off to enjoy the rest of this day….
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As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com
Pistons Make Wish Come True; Olympic Athletes Make Dreams Come True, Carmelo Anthony Hangs with Michael Phelps, and Luke Wilson’s Silver Lining
TRENDY TUESDAY
As we sit around watching real-fake-live coverage of the Olympian-hotness, I feel it’s important to give some props to former Detroit Piston John Long and head coach Michael Curry…the two mighty-fine men spent Monday hanging out with Spencer and his buddies. Spencer was the recipient of the ‘Afternoon with the Pistons, A Wish Come True’ event…and with that off my chest, I can feel good about a bit o gratuitous Delinda style coverage of some Olympic babes….
After the Men’s US Swim Babes stunned France in the 4×100 freestyle on Monday night, Michael Phelps went on to etch his name alongside Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis as one of the “winningest Olympians ever” with his third gold medal and third world record in as many days. In winning the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday, Phelps ran his career Olympic total to nine golds…
Speaking of Phelps, seems like he and Carmelo Anthony are chill. Sweet Melon is writing an Olympic diary for the NY Times. In part, he spoke about his new buddy Michael Phelps…”I’m amazed at what he can do in that water. He’s like a shark. I’ve never seen anyone swim like that before. Swimming never caught my eyes before I saw him.” Last week, Melo licked his lips and wrote about hanging with Phelps: “I got a chance to talk with him last night at the Olympic Village. I met him before just growing up, but I hadn’t met him since he won those six gold medals in 2004. So his whole life has changed. He’s not from the same neighborhood as me, but we’ll claim him…This is my first time to really get a chance to mingle and interact with him. We talked about spots back home, but we were talking about getting out to each other’s events. He’s going to bring some golds back to Baltimore and I’m going to bring a gold back. They can have our parade together in Baltimore.”
Granted, I can’t sit still long enough to watch each and every real-fake-live-broadcast event…but I’m trying to keep an eye on several noteworthy morsels…one of which, as we all know, is a particular Tapa. Our Rafael Nadal has burned through Italian beast Potito Starace and Lleyton Hewitt as he inches his way towards gold…
Meanwhile, let’s take our eyes of Beijing for a minute and give some props to actor Luke Wilson. He, along with Swedish golf-babe Johan Edfors, have teamed up to co-design the new ‘Chrome’ line for Puma. “Johan wears the splashy stuff,” Wilson says…the two collaborated on a line to suit both the ‘extroverts’ and ‘introverts’ on the greens..sexy bold colors for Edfors and muted cardigans for Wilson. “I like the real meticulous look of guys like Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. They had their own tailors making their clothes back then,” Wilson says. For more info and some great photos of the new line, check out the LA Times.
As always, thanks for reading.
Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com