Profesional Athletes and Their Restaurants

Many think that professional athletes are people living their dream. They are paid with huge amount of money (from salary and endorsements) to do something that they like. However, athletes' life isn't easy, as they must train hard everyday and keep a strict healthy lifestyle. Even with all of that, their career span is short, as we rarely seen athletes still in their peak performances when they're above 32-year-old.

For a reason to create a post-career business opportunity, many professional athletes started a business using their brand image, and restaurant is one of the most favorites choices. Those athlete-owned restaurants usually have a little-bit sport theme for the decoration, which added with some memorabilia of the athlete. However, most of them are just a generic restaurants, without any trademark or special dishes. Also, don't expect that you're gonna see your favorite sport stars in their restaurants, as they rarely, or even never, visited their business.

Greg Norman in his restaurant
(photo from www.gregnormansaustraliangrille.com)

Here are some example of athlete-owned restaurants in America:

Brett Favre's Steakhouse
Dishes: Steak
Location: Green Bay, WI
Owner: Brett Favre (NFL)

Wayne Gretzky's
Dishes: American bar food and Canadian food
Location: Toronto, ON
Owner: Wayne Gretzky (NHL)

Arnold Palmer's
Dishes: Seafood, steak, Arnie's favorites
Location: La Quinta, CA
Owner: Arnold Palmer (PGA/Golf)

Strawberry's Sports Grill
Dishes: Ballpark food, various variations of beer
Location: Queens, NY
Owner: Darryl Strawberry (MLB)

Yao Bar and Retaurant
Dishes: Chinese cuisine
Location: Houston, TX
Owner: Yao Ming (NBA)

Greg Norman's Australian Grille
Dishes: Australian grille
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Owner: Greg Norman (PGA/Golf)

Market Del Mar
Dishes: Californian fare
Location: Del Mar, CA
Owner: Tony Hawk (Skateboard)

Annie Laura’s Kitchen
Dishes: American
Location: River Dale, GA
Owner: Evander Holyfield (Boxing)

Unfortunately, even if the restaurants owned (or co-owned) by athletes and use their images, the fact is still many of them are unable to get enough customers and had to be closed. Besides don't have a winning menu, most of them are closed because the athletes didn't spend enough time in marketing efforts and promotional appearances.

Here are some athlete-owned restaurants that had to be closed:

D Wade's Sports Grill
Location: Boca Raton and Ft Lauderdale, FL
Athlete: Dwayne Wade (NBA)
Closed: 2008

Hulk Hogan's Pastamania
Location: The Mall of America in Bloomington, MN
Athlete: Hulk Hogan (Wrestling)
Closed: 1995

Larry Bird's Boston Connection Restaurant
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Athlete: Larry Bird (NBA)
Closed: 2000

Pete Rose's Ballpark Cafe
Location: Boynton Beach, FL
Athlete: Pete Rose (MLB)
Closed: 2009

Bernie Kosar's Steakhouse
Location: Miami, FL
Athlete: Bernie Kosar (NFL)
Closed: 2009

Michael Jordan's Restaurant
Location: Chicago, IL
Athlete: Michael Jordan (NBA)
Closed: 1999

According to a survey cited by Forbes, 60 percent of restaurants fail in three years. It's proven that the name alone won't make a restaurant's success, especially when those pro athletes agreed to put their name on restaurant and cafe business without controlling the menu, location, and service.

NCAA Basketball Cheerleaders

One of the reasons why I very much love basketball is because of the cheerleaders. Of course that there are some other sports who have cheerleaders, but I think in basketball they are a little bit more beautiful, attractive, energizing, and skillful. Besides from professional basketball match in NBA, I also love the cheer squad of NCAA / college basketball.

Here are some examples of the sexiest and best college cheerleaders from Arizona Wildcats team:



How do you like those college girls? If you want to see them live, you should purchase the Arizona Wildcats mens basketball tickets, where you can see the basketball game along with the talented cheerleader squad. While for you who live in California, you might want to purchase the California Golden Bears mens basketball tickets instead.

Here are few pics of the California Golden Bears cheerleaders:



Get all the tickets of your favorite NCAA basketball team from Ticketamerica.com. They have Arizona State Sun Devils mens basketball tickets, Arizona Wildcats tickets, California Golden Bears tickets and all other NCAA basketball seating and information.

Emily Procter at Toyota Celebrity Race

I've not updated this blog on regular basis recently. Not because I didn't have the time, it just that "sports" was kinda out of my mind lately. Take this post for example. Instead of writing a good sport article, I chose to post pictures of Emily Procter, a television actress that famous from her ability to solving difficult riddles of homicide in CSI: Miami show.

Well, don't be puzzled. Of course that I didn't post Emily Procter for her hobby of breaking murder mystery, but because she was participated in Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race back in 2007. Although she' not an athlete, she definitely looks good in racing overall suit.

Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race itself is an annual 10-lap auto race held each April since 1977 as part of the United States Grand Prix West, and later the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend at Long Beach, California. The event pits celebrities against professional racers from various types of motor racing, where the celebs will receive a 30-second head start to begin the race against the professionals and past champions.

During the 2007 edition, the pro winner is NASCAR driver Mike Skinner, while the celebrity champion is BMX athlete Dave Mirra.







By the way, don't miss how Emily Procter (portrays Detective Calleigh Duquesne) solves all brand new murder riddles on the 10th season of CSI: Miami, which premiered on September 25, 2011.

Mali Jones, Hot Surfer from Hawaii

Hawaii, what a beautiful and exotic beach complete with its landscape and tropical season is available there. That's more than enough to prove that people is true, calling the island as Paradise. But that not the only thing that you all hawaiian have to proud about, don't forget that you have Malia Jones too, both professional and hot surfer that commonly appear on tv commercials and sport magazine covers, nothing else but because her beauty and sexyness.

Besides the hot surfer issue, Mali Jones, there is a good news for both of you, hawaiian and the tourist that have vacation on the island that need a favour in getting compensation from the insurance company because of the accident. It is Hawaii Auto Accident Lawyer with offices in Honolulu, Hawaii that experienced in any case of auto accidents like pedestrian, motorcycle, moped, or even bicycle accidents, ready to help and assists you. Not only because of the result that you will get, will make you satisfy, but also how quickly the process of the claim. So what are you waiting for, call them or visit their homepage on the link above and get free consultation.

Larissa Riquelme, The Hottest Football Fan in The World

2011 Copa America is over but just like in 2010 FIFA World Cup was, we will never forget this hot paraguayan model and football fan, Larissa Riquelme. I am sure every men in the world will agree if we named this Paraguayan hot model as the hottest football fan in the world, not just because he has a fabulous body which is coveted by all women in the world but also for his fanaticism for her football national team, Paraguay.

You might want to read this related post also, Ow Crap! David Villa's Goal Saves Larissa Riquelme from Stripping.



These pictures below showed how she love her national team by watching and supporting Paraguay in the field, complete with a sexy clothes of course, which show her fabulous and hot body.

Click to enlarge the pictures

I am sure all men in the world became Paraguay fans and supported the team to win a champion that time when it was reported that Larissa vowed that she would run naked around the stadium if her national team become a champion. Unfortunately, Paraguay hasn't win a champion yet whether in 2010 FIFA World Cup or 2011 Copa America since Larissa appeared in the field and her pictures which held a cell phone with her busty breasts become popular.
In 2010 FIFA World Cup, Paraguay was beat by Spain for 1-0 in Quarter-finals as I have written in the related post above and by Uruguay for 3-0 in the final of 2011 Copa America.

Might be Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez are the most hated football player todays, because most of men still can't forget their goals which made Paraguay lose, so Larissa didn't have to fulfill her vow. That's all for Larissa Riquelme, the hottest football fan in the world. Hope you enjoy it!

Indian Women Are Good with Racquet

Indian women are not famous from their achievements in sport. They more recognized by the world from the showbiz, as Indian women have their own natural beauty and curvy body. We have familiar with many famous figures from entertainment world, such as Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Freida Pinto, Zuleikha Robinson, Padma Lakshmi, etc. Now, who're Indian female athletes that known by the world?

Even though Indian no.1 sport is cricket, apparently the most famous female athletes come from racquet (or racket) sports. Racket sports are including tennis, table tennis, squash, and badminton. Here are some noticeable Indian sportswomen, who's not just talented, but also beautiful as well:


Sania Mirza (Tennis)

Although international tennis fans always consider Sania Mirza as a overrated player, to Indian people she is a local hero. She is the first ever Indian to break into the top 30 WTA rankings. Sania Mirza has been awarded Padma Shri and Arjun Award by the Indian government.

On her best performance, Sania Mirza can defeated many world's top players, such as Svetlana Kuznetsova and Martina Hingis. Unfortunately, her lack of consistency only granted her 1 WTA title and the world's highest rank of 27 throughout her career. Per 4 July 2011, her WTA rank is 63.

Born 15 November 1986, Sania Mirza has never passed higher than 4th round in any grand slam tournaments. Her best achievement came from mixed double, when she won the 2009 Australian Open, paired with Indian tennis legend, Mahesh Bhupathi.


Neha Aggarwal (Table Tennis / Ping-Pong)

Neha Aggarwal is an Indian table tennis player who participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the only woman from India to feature in that discipline. Her career highlights are including gold medal in 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, bronze medal in 2009 Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow, 4 times Junior National Champion, and bronze medal in 2006 Asian Championship.

Neha Aggarwal probably hasn't made anything extraordinary with her table-tennis career. But since age still on her side (born January 11, 1990), only she can set limit to her future achievements.


Joshna Chinappa (Squash)


Squash is probably not a popular sport, as it's usually only played for fun, not as a professional sport. But since the IOC is still recognized it and remains in contention for incorporation in next Olympic program, Squash is probably gonna have a better future.

While Joshna Chinappa is nicknamed as "The Sania Mirza of Squash". She was the first Indian girl to win the British Squash Championship title in 2003 in the under 19 category, at Sheffield, U.K, and was also the youngest Indian women's national champion. The 1986-born athlete world's highest ranking is 31.



Saina Nehwal (Badminton)


Saina Nehwal is arguably the best female badminton player that India ever produced. She is the first Indian woman to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics, and the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships. In 2009, Saina Nehwal also made history for her country, as she became the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament, by clinching the Indonesia Open. After this title, she won the Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, and Hong Kong Super Series, all in the year 2010, which granted her the world's no.2 rank in December 2010.

Because of injury, Sania Nehwal hasn't won any Super Series title this year, which results in her rank dropped to 6th, per 1 July 2011. But since she still so young (born March 17, 1990), Sania Nehwal is Indian biggest hope for elite titles, whether it's world's no.1, All England, Olympic gold medal, or World Championship title.


Jwala Gutta (Badminton)

The 1983-born Jwala Gutta can be considered as Indian best player for women's double badminton. The left-handed player used to pair with Shruti Kurien, and later Ashwini Ponnappa. She has won the National Badminton Championships thirteen times until 2010. Her international titles are including a Gold medal in Mixed and Women's Doubles in Commonwealth Games 2010. Her highest world's ranking is 6th, while per 23 June 2011 she was ranked in 21th.

Jason Terry Gets to Keep His Tattoo

Even before the 2010-2011 NBA season began, Jason Terry seemed already smell the victory. The Dallas Mavericks' shooting-guard self confidently tattooed his right bicep with the picture of Larry O'Brien trophy. Jason Terry also promised that he will remove the tattoo if Mavs fails to be champion. Now, with his team beat Miami Heat by 4-2 in 2011 NBA Finals, it seems that Jason Terry gets to keep his tattoo.

“I definitely know that it will hurt worse if I have to take this thing off than it did putting it on,” Terry told ESPNDallas.com.


The Dallas Mavericks' sixth man made the tattoo as a symbol of his personal goal as well as that of the team’s. But being very superstitious athlete, Jason Terry will see the tattoo as bad luck if the Mavs don’t win the title and have it removed.

In this NBA Finals, Jason Terry became important key in Dallas Mavericks' victory. The team know that they can't just rely on Dirk Nowitzki to scores points. In the sixth and final game, Terry scores 27 points, the highest for the game.

It looks like Jason Terry tried hard to avoid the shame of having to remove his tattoo.