Queen of Sports

New Private Membership Club In NYC Brings New Meaning To ‘Elite’

Willow Club calls itself a “revolutionary New York City private membership club.” The Club just officially launched, and the list of indulgences members can partake in at no additional cost is drool-worthy.

Members get access to season tickets to every major New York sporting event, including the luxury suite at Madison Square Garden for Knicks games, Rangers games, concerts, and any other major event. They also get access to a private, 54-hole golf club, year-round access to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and a luxury suite for Grand Slam tennis events including court side seats at Arthur Ashe stadium. Beyond sports, members get access to performances, private events, and special engagements at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, the NY Philharmonic, the Beacon Theater, and Broadway. Members get private use of the club’s yacht, use of limited-edition, luxury and high-performance cars, plus access to some of the city’s best hotels and opportunities for exchange stays at properties around the world.

Does it take a billionaire to be a member? Surprisingly not, but we’re guessing there’s some hidden fees and requirements beyond the $28,000 initiation fee. Probably first-born sons and left legs are required, as well. Check out their website, but only if you’re prepared for some jealousy to ensue.

Kelly Brook Poses Nude For Reebok EasyTone Billboard

Wearing nothing but Reebok EasyTone sneakers, model Kelly Brook will be appearing on billboards and distracting male drivers. Unveiled in London yesterday, Kelly Brook was on hand to promote the campaign, wearing a tiny crop top and athletic pants with her EasyTones, of course. Kelly Brook will be appearing alongside Jerry O’Connell this month in the thriller Piranha 3D wearing a bikini for most of the movie, and she just finished shooting a nude cover for Playboy set to hit shelves in September.

The billboard had to have been an airbrushing field day, and Kelly Brook maintains her support for airbrushing, saying, “Airbrushing has been around since the ’50s. It’s what Hollywood was built on and I’m a big fan of Hollywood and that whole era.” She says the shoes have helped her tone and tighten, but in response to the debate as to whether or not they actually work, it’s important consumers recognize these models don’t put these shoes on and magically have amazing bodies. Brook said, ‘EasyTones are fantastic. You can wear them whatever you’re doing and know that you are toning and tightening with every step! I wear them to walk my dog Rocky, when I’m doing the housework, when I pop to the shops… it’s a great, easy way to stay in shape and they look stylish too so no-one needs to know that you’re wearing toning trainers!”

There’s no way you’re going to get that body just by wearing some sneakers and doing mundane daily tasks, however. I guarantee Kelly Brook spends hours and hours in a gym on a weekly basis with a trainer. Not to mention, she eats right. On her diet she said, “I enjoy healthy food and it makes me feel good. But it’s definitely not a crazy diet, I’m not going to deny myself desserts. I always try to have three meals a day and don’t snack on bad stuff.” There’s no word on whether or not the billboards will be appearing in the States, but keep your eyes peeled…to the road if you’re driving.

Photo: Reebok

Brazil Prepares For World Cup 2014 By Launching Logo

Following the success in South Africa of this year’s World Cup, Brazil knows it has some big shoes to fill, and they don’t just want to fill them-they want to exceed them.  Brazil’s president said, “The success of our African brothers represents a tremendous challenge to the Brazilian people. We are learning from them to ensure that the 2014 World Cup will be an event that is even better than this one.”

The first step in marketing the event has been to create the logo. The logo chosen is a representation of the World Cup trophy created by three linked hands in the national colors of Brazil. Designs were submitted to a judging panel that included famous Brazilians  Gisele Bundchen, and author Paulo Coelho. The process was broadcast live on Brazilian television, with appearances by Grammy award-winning singer and Brazilian favorite, Vanessa da Mata and other popular Brazilian music groups.

Photo: Copyright ©1994 – 2010 FIFA

Ochocinco’s The Ultimate Catch: The Ultimate Dating Reality Show

Ochocinco’s dating reality show aired last night on VH1, staying true to the network’s mold of the genre. From Flavor of Love to I Love New York, the shows are all almost identical except for the main characters, the houses they stay in, and maybe some of the competitions these “hopefuls” compete in to win the heart of a celebrity.

Ochocinco’s The Ultimate Catch started off with a 90-minute long episode that started with 85 girls running onto a football field and immediately getting to work on shaking their butts and smiling. Ochocinco’s buddy Bernard Berrian aka B Twice of the Minnesota Vikings was there to help him with the eliminations. Girls got kicked off right away, with Ochocinco going down the lines to whisper in their ear, “You’re cut Mama.” Which, he said made him classy, because to embarrass the girls by announcing it in front of everyone would be…not classy? I think any girl lowering herself to be picked out of a plethora of girls like a pair of sneakers in Foot Locker on national television deserves the embarrassment, however.

From there, the 60-some girls left had to go through an obstacle course that included running through tires, hugging a fake Ochocinco, catching a football, and performing an end-zone dance. Again, more butt shaking, and eliminating. It came down to 17 girls that got to go to the house that had only 16 beds. The obligatory getting drunk and mingling ensued, complete with an argument over who’s sleeping where. Later, Ochocinco joined the girls for dancing and more drinks along with Terrell Owens and B Twice. One girl was stupid enough to almost give Terrell Owens her number, except she thought the cameras were watching. That’s a huge reality dating show no-no, but not even that got her booted. A boring, girl-next-door girl named Cynthia got booted in typical Hollywood style. Stay tuned next week for some more of the same. Ochocinco is bound to find true love out of a cast of girls hand-picked by producers!

Photo: VH1

Nike Re-Invents The Iconic Track Jacket

Nike teamed up with six emerging fashion designers to re-invent the iconic N98 track jacket. The designers include Tim Soar, Katie Eary, Felder Felder Julian J. Smith and Hannah Marshall. Each designer was paired with a British athlete to use as their muse for re-designing the jacket.

Hannah Marshall, an edgy British designer who creates edgy, body-conscious silhouettes without the use of color, designed a jacket inspired by long-distance runner Charlotte Purdue.

Designer Katie Early was paired with sprinter Martyn Rooney. She explained her inspiration, saying “I was looking at the whole idea of an athlete, of perfection, and I thought about muscle. Rooney’s physique has no fat, which led me to the snake – which is essentially just a muscle. So I took the N98 jacket and kept all of the core elements, like the zip, the structure etc, so keeping the skeletal structure and took away the flesh, adding my snake print upon the final piece with plastic scales in certain places across the garment.”

London-based designer Julian J. Smith has his own fashion line, but is also a costume designer. Most notably, he’s designed outfits for the outlandish rocker Beth Ditto. He designed a bright and bold patterned jacket for Jodie Williams, a 16-year old British sprinter who just broke a 31-year old UK junior record in the 100m.

Felder Felder, the identical twin designing duo, is known for their rock-n-roll feminine look. They designed a jacket inspired by sprinter Ashlee Nelson with puffed sleeves that would please Felder Felder fans like Rihanna, as well.

Photos: UK Vogue

Vuvuzelas Banned From UFC

Dana White really hates vuvuzelas, and as a result has banned them from this Saturday’s fight. He said, “Vuvuzelas make the most horrific sound I’ve ever heard. I’d rather let Brock punch me in the face than hear 15,000 people blow on those things.” Brock Lesnar is a 265 lb. heavyweight who is fighting for the heavyweight title this weekend against Shane Carwin. He also used to wrestle in the WWE and looks like a cross between Hulk Hogan in his younger years and GI Joe. Point taken, Dana, no vuvuzelas.

Photo: Image.net

The Less Dangerous Chuck Liddell

Chuck Liddell is the first and only UFC fighter to have his persona immortalized in wax at Madame Tussaud’s in the Venetian in Las Vegas. The figure was unveiled at the UFC Fan Expo in May, but Chuck Liddell just got the chance to see his likeness this week. A Madame Tussaud’s official said of the decision, “We knew that Chuck is an iconic legend of the sport. He’s a fierce competitor whose keen skills have provided dynamic scenes within the cage over the years. There was no doubt in our mind that he was the one we wanted to actually walk us into this world.” The figure will be placed in a mini octagon where fans can take pictures with the Iceman. Congratulations Chuck Liddell!

Photo: WENN

Chile Beats Switzerland 1-0

Another World Cup match has come and gone, and still people are discussing the refereeing. Some are saying they seem to be all too willing to hand out red cards, and some argue whether or not the cause for the card was valid.  Switzerland was handed a red card and was unable to score. Chile scored one point and will advance.

Disney Closing ESPN Zones

Disney has decided to close all but two ESPN Zone sports bar and restaurants.

The ESPN Zone sports bars opened in 1998 to capitalize on ESPN’s brand, while also provided a family-friendly environment to the sports bar concept. The upscale joints served burgers and brews and boasted walls of big-screen TVs beaming sporting events into the dining area. Separate gaming rooms, dubbed “Sports Arenas,” provided access to interactive games, such as virtual golf and boxing.

It is still unclear what is prompting the closures but it could possibly be just an affect of the economy.

“Since their inception, the Zones have served sports fans very well,” said an ESPN spokesman. “But from a pure business perspective, the economics have been challenging.”

The closures will happen in Baltimore, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York City and Washington. The Denver and Atlanta locations were closed last year.

The two ESPN Zone restaurants that will remain open are the LA Live and Anaheim locations.

Athlete Sighting: Nastia Liukin

Olympic gold medal gymnast Nastia Liukin was spotted having dinner at Nobu in Dallas on Monday night.

Nastia has returned to Dallas after being in Charlotte, North Carolina over the weekend. While in Charlotte, Nastia did an appearance at a local GNC for one of her endorsers, PureSport.

Photo: WENN