Tiger Woods Designs First Golf Course

Last month Tiger Woods launched his own golf course design company and he’s wasting no time in getting started on his first course. Last week Tiger Woods Design and Dubai Holding announcedm ‘Al Ruwaya’, Woods first course design that will be a part of “The Tiger Woods – Dubai”, a Persian Gulf golf community with a golf academy, clubhouse, hotel, luxury villas and mansions and a retail area.

'Al Ruwaya' will be a 7,700 yard, par 72 championship-quality course, and will include dramatic elevation changes, lush landscaping, stunning water features and an overall design that will challenge and entertain golfers of all playing abilities.

"Why Dubai? Because I am excited about the challenge of transforming a desert terrain into a world-class golf course," Woods said. "I have a vision of creating something that is uniquely mine -- from the detailed layout of each hole to the Mediterranean architecture to the top-line gym equipment in the clubhouse -- unlike anything else. And through my partnership with Tatweer, I want to realize this vision in Dubai."

The entire golf community will be completed in 2009. We’ll be there sippin’ on our lemonade.

Ali is for the Children

Muhammed Ali has partnered with Scholastic Corp. to launch a series of books called “Muhammad Ali presents Go The Distances”, a collection of books that champions Ali’s values and are targeted toward socially disadvantaged students, particularly boys, who seem disinterested in reading.

"The foundation of all education is reading," Lonnie Ali, the champ’s wife, told the Associated Press. "Books can take a child outside of his immediate vicinity, his immediate environment, to someplace else. It makes them learn about other communities outside of their immediate neighborhoods. That's one of the things this particular library has been designed to do: to take children on that next journey out."

The collection includes a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books ranging from 3rd to 8th grade reading levels. Some of the books include "Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson," "The Champ: The Story of Muhammad Ali," "Hunterman and the Crocodile," a West African folk tale; and "Touching Spirit Bear," a story of a boy's journey from anger to forgiveness. For more information, check out the Scholastic website

Rick Fox Making Hollywood Moves

Looks like Rick Fox post-basketball career in Hollywood is getting real serious. Not only does the former L.A. Laker have a recurring role on the CW’s “One Tree Hill”, he’s also partnering up with Magic Johnson to launch a film company.

"He's been in the theater business (as owner of the Magic Johnson Theatre chain) for a while, and he and I share the same love for movies and TV," Fox told L.A. Daily News’ Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith. "We're putting in place a business plan to make movies over the next five to 10 years, and we want to make inspirational films. It's exciting. You'll hear more about that as we go along here in the next few months. [In Hollywood], if you don't drive the car yourself, you're a passenger. This town really gravitates toward and respects people who are proactive in their careers. It's made up of 20-year-old overnight successes who've been dedicated, sticking their nose to the grind and keeping moving — not for the glory or the finances — but just doing it because they're passionate."

Meanwhile, look for Fox on “One Tree Hill” where he plays a former college athlete who’s working with “evil intentions”. But yeah, we got a couple of screenplays ready to send to Magic and Rick, let’s get it poppin’!

Alonzo Gets Down with Flexofactor

The Miami Heat may look more like chumps than champs with a sub .500 record, but Alonzo Mourning feels as healthy as ever since he started using FLEXOfactor a couple of years ago. He recently signed an endorsement deal with FLEXOfactor, an OTC natural supplement which helps cushion, lubricate and strengthen joints and cartilage over time.

"FLEXOfactor has made a huge difference for me," Mourning said. "It's like oil for your joints; it helps promote a full range of motion and flexibility. If FLEXOfactor helped me get through the rigors of a championship season, I have to figure it will work well for the weekend warrior." Mourning just completed filming a TV spot which will start airing in January and he’ll also be featured in radio and prints ads.

Marbury Giving Away Starbury Gear

Stephon Marbury is continuing to do good things with his Starbury Clothing and Shoe line, giving a bunch of shoes away to high school athletes. Last week Marbury, Steve and Barry's and the New York Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) announced their partnership to give every varsity high school boys basketball player in New York City a free pair of Starbury shoes.

"The PSAL helped me get to where I am today and I am real excited to be able to supply free sneakers to all of these kids," Marbury said. "I hope it inspires them to become better players, and even more important better men."

Marbury will be giving away about 3,000 pairs of his high performance Starbury One sneakers to high school athletes at 175 New York high schools. Each box of sneakers will contain a DVD with a message from Marbury, who in 1995 lead Coney Island’s Lincoln High School to a PSAL Championship averaging 28 points and 9 assists per game. The Knicks, Marbury’s present team, would settle for half those numbers right now.