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Ronaldo's Bentley & Mercedes Up for Sale


Last month we reported that UK soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo had put his black-on-black Porsche 911 convertible on sale for at £69,995 or about $115,000. Now the super-rich star athlete, who was spotted canoodling with Paris Hilton, has listed his 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed (above) and 2004 Mercedes C220CDI as well, the UK AutoTrader reports. The Bentley is being offered at £114,950 and the Mercedes for only £10,795. As we reported back in January, the champion athlete who is moving to Spain to play for Real Madrid after his club Manchester United accepted a record £80 million bid, totaled his Ferrari but walked away unscathed. He drove the Bentley when the Ferrari was scrapped. The London Telegraph reports that Ronaldo will probably also sell his sell his £4 million mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

LeBron James Part Of Sun Valley Billionaire Confab

lebron jamesAs the LA Times points out, Kobe Bryant may won the NBA championship but it's Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James who the billionaires want to talk to in Sun Valley this week. The young player who is building his basketball and financial empire is part of this year's annual Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. The five-day conference includes many of the world's richest people including Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Sumner Redstone, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg and Diane von Furstenberg. Another attendee likely to be in demand will be Twitter co-founder Evan Williams.

The conference takes over the area with private jets filling the local airport and hotel rooms selling out as both attendees and media flock to the event. While the event is supposed to be a hush-hush affair the press often gets the rare chance to spot the wealthy in casual clothes relaxing and enjoying Sun Valley's beautiful scenery. Meanwhile, behind closed doors the future of media itself and how to best monetize the digital world will be one of the topics of conversation.

Ducati Launches 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition at U.S. Grand Prix


2010 Ducati 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ducati is using this weekend's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California as the backdrop to launch its new 848 Nicky Hayden Special Edition sportbike. The new machine, which will only be available here in the States, features the same 134-horsepower L-twin Evoluzione powerplant, wet-clutch and six-speed gearbox as the rest of the 848 line.

As the first of the 2010 848s introduced, the new Special Edition ushers in a revised LED dash cluster, optional 30mm mirror extensions for those with long-torsos and improved aluminum cam belt tensioner pulleys to go along with its new patriotic livery.

The 848 Nicky Hayden SE will carry a $14,495 sticker price – a reasonable $500 over the asking price for last year's 848 – and will hit Ducati dealerships in America on July 7th after being on display throughout the U.S. GP festivities starting on the 4th. Click past the break for the official press release.


At The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, a Recession Special for Golfers


Pebble Beach will always reign supreme among California resorts, and deservedly so, but at $500 for a round of golf its rates aren't exactly recession-friendly. If you're looking for a more affordable golf getaway on the Pacific Coast, consider this: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, an award-winning clifftop retreat 45 minutes south of San Francisco, is offering an unlimited stay-and-play package through year's end.

For a nightly rate of $399 for one player or $519 for two--a savings of $250–$500 per day--guests can play as many holes as they choose on the resort's two 18-hole courses. The Old Course, co-designed by Arnold Palmer, is an American parkland-style layout that finishes in dramatic fashion, with a par four that skirts the edge of a bluff. The newer Ocean Course, featuring more seaside holes and open expanses, draws its inspiration from the great windswept Scottish links; as testament to its character, it hosted a local qualifier for this year's U.S. Open.

In addition to golf, the special offer also includes complimentary valet parking and access to the hotel's spa, known for its co-ed Roman mineral bath.

Yankee Stadium Sod Up For Auction


Yankees fans can have a piece of the old stadium in their own back yard. Steiner Sports is selling the 20' x 20'; plot of sod from the area behind home plate that was used in the Yankees old stadium. The lot comes with the Yankee stencil, white sod paint, lawn flag, special grass seed and a letter of authenticity. Delea Sod Farms, the official sod farm of the NY Yankees™ will provide instructions to properly transplant the living sod into your own yard or local ball field and maintain it for years to come. The auction notes that the actual turf will be coming from northern New Jersey and will be shipped via a freight company which charges a steep $7.50 per mile away. Ten percent of the proceeds benefit Family Services of Westchester which provides social and mental health services for more than 30,000 people a year. The auction has a starting price of $15,000 and ends on July 9th.

[via The New Jersey Star-Ledger]

Shaq Finally Unloads Miami Mansion for $16 Million - to Naomi Campbell's Boyfriend?

Shaq Star Island
Shaquille O'Neal has finally unloaded his Miami mansion for $16 million - $2 million less than he paid for the place - after nearly five years. The basketball superstar bought the Star Island spread in 2004 for $18.2 million, and first listed it for sale in 2005 for $32 million. The home was listed at $29 million when it was our estate of the day last summer, then the price dropped to $22 million before climbing back up to $25 million, then going back down to $22.5 million. Quite the real estate roller coaster. The Miami Herald reports that the new owner who reportedly coughed up $16 million in cash is said to be a European businessman who plans to renovate the estate. According to the South Beach Real Estate Blog, the buyer is none other than Vladislav Doronin, the handsome Russian billionaire who's dating supermodel Naomi Campbell. The Mediterranean-style main house has eight bedrooms, an indoor basketball court, gym, steam room and sauna. The 2.5 acre grounds include a tennis court, six-car garage, dock, two-bedroom guest house and Shaq's pool complete with Superman logo.

Pukas for Dunhill Ltd. Edition Surfboard

pukas for dunhill surfboard
Last winter we wrote about the teak, titanium and carbon fiber skis made by timeless men's London luxury outfitters Alfred Dunhill. For summer the storied British brand has come out with a limited edition surfboard (above), decorated with a modern take on Dunhill's iconic Bulldog motif. Designed for Dunhill by the acclaimed European surfboard company Pukas in conjunction with surfing legend Jed Noll, the 9 ft. board is constructed from lightweight but high-density polyurethane foam with a superior resin-soaked fiberglass hard outer surface, minimizing drag on the waves. Only 10 of the exclusive boards will be offered for sale at the Alfred Dunhill flagships in London, Tokyo and Shanghai for about $3,000.

[via JustLuxe]

Dewar's Goes Golfing with Callaway for Charity

Dewar's 18Dewar's Blended Scotch Whisky and Callaway Golf Company have teamed up to launch a nationwide sweepstakes and longest drive charity competition across the U.S. where each winner will win a $5,000 prize for the charity of their choice. The partnership coincides with the introduction of Callaway's Big Bertha Diablo Driver and Dewar's 18 Founder's Reserve Scotch (right).

There are three Sweepstakes Grand Prizes of a VIP Golf Experience, which include roundtrip travel for the winner and one guest to the Callaway facility in Carlsbad, California, hotel accommodations, meals, custom Callaway golf clubs professionally fitted by Callaway's experts, a Callaway golf bag and a round of golf with a Callaway-certified instructor. 10 Second Prizes of Callaway's new Big Bertha Diablo driver will also be given away.

The Dewar's and Callaway Golf Longest Drive Charity Competition event will take place in New York on June 24 as well as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Miami. Each event will also include a special Dewar's sampling to celebrate the partnership with specially-created golf-themed cocktails. More info. and entries can be found anywhere Dewar's is sold as well as online at www.dewarsproshop.com.

Rare whiskies from the different regions of Scotland were carefully selected by the brand's Master Blender for Dewar's 18 Founder's Reserve. The color is a warm, golden amber; vanilla and toffee notes dominate the palette with a mellow, soft sweetness, lingering creaminess and a full bodied oakiness, followed by a long, soft and warming finish with a slight dryness.

Golf with Style: Qglove

golf gloveThank goodness over the years women's golf apparel has adopted a more fashionable look. When I first started playing my parents dressed me in poofy bermuda shorts that started above your navel accented with unflattering front pleats. Now, women golfers rejoice in savvy color schemes, flattering shorts and skirts and sporty accessories. One of the indispensable items in any golfer's bag is a good glove. If you ladies are looking to complete your ensemble with a sassy grip check out Qglove's options. From lucky numbers and doggies to butterflies and dragonflies the range of colors and patterns will have you wanting more than just one. Or go for a more political look with their limited edition Obama glove. Prices range from $24 to $28 per glove -- peruse the gallery to find your favorite.

Gallery: Qgloves

Play with Doggies CollectionObama Special Edition CollectionPlay with Dragonfly CollectionPlay with Luck CollectionPlay with Butterfly Collection

Fairmont Monte Carlo: The Only Way to Watch the Tour de France

There are two ways to take in the Tour de France. One is to cram yourself into a spot along some godforsaken stretch of road with all the other riffraff. You can hope to get a look at the action ... as long as they person in front of you isn't tall. Or, you can find your way to Monaco's F1 circuit, where the race departs. Instead of schlepping out to the site, you can stay nearby. Without the hassle of getting to and from, you might actually enjoy the experience!

To help you enjoy the kickoff of the 96th Tour, the Fairmont Monte Carlo has put together a great package. Stay from July 1 to July 5, and you can pick up a room for €529 (around $735) a night, with a buffet breakfast included.

So, if you've ever wanted to witness the greatest cycling spectacle of all time, here's your chance to do it the right way. Once the riders depart, drop some cash on the roulette table, and sip a wine carefully crafted in Provence. Do everything that those dedicated athletes can't. The lucky racers won't be back until next year, but you can take a few more days to play with the wealthy.

Steelers Super Bowl Rings Prove Bling Never Goes Out Of Style For Champions


Think bling is over? Don't tell that to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rings celebrating their record-setting sixth Super Bowl title are covered in diamonds. The rings created by Jostens have 63 round brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 3.61 carats. The six round brilliant-cut diamonds on the top of the ring celebrate the six victories; the previous year's Steelers Super Bowl rings featured five oval diamonds. The Super Bowl XLIII logo is done on a field of green enamel and six Lombardi Trophies are shown on the side of the ring. Each ring is cast in 14K gold and personalized for the owner. The cost of the rings and the appraisal value haven't been released.

Rare Baseball Photo Sells For Record Price

1927 yankees
The historic photo shown above could soon be displayed at Yankee Stadium. The near-mint condition photograph is signed by 30 members of the legendary "Murderer's Row" 1927 New York Yankees team and was recently purchased for a record $350,000 which is the most ever paid for a vintage sports photograph. Joe Orlando, President of PSA/DNA Authentication Services in Newport Beach, California which certified the authenticity of the autographs says that the price is nearly 70 percent higher than the last time this autographed picture was sold in an auction less than three years ago. The purchase by an anonymous buyer was brokered by
Memory Lane, Inc. of Tustin, California which also sold the autographed photo for $206,000 in a December 2006 auction.

The 1927 Yankees have been described as the greatest baseball team of all time, winning 110 games and losing only 44. The signatures include names which still resonate today including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Orlando says that several other team-signed copies of this photograph exist but some of the autographs on those pictures are so-called 'clubhouse' signatures, signed by other players or other ball club personnel. The autographs on this photo were personally obtained by Yankees pitcher George Pipgras who passed down the photo down to his daughter, LeMorn Pipgras Simpson who later sold it for $80,000.

Soccer Star Ronaldo's Porsche for Sale


Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo's black-on-black Porsche 911 convertible (above) is being offered for sale in the UK. As we reported back in January, the champion athlete who is set to play for Real Madrid after his club Manchester United accepted a record £80 million bid last week, totaled his Ferrari but walked away unscathed. The car on offer is a Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic S which Ronaldo bought in 2007, the UK Auto Trader reports.

It's just one of a fleet of supercars which have been owned by the 24-year-old, who mainly drives a Bentley Continental GT Speed these days. The Porsche can
accelerate from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph. It has only 16,000 miles on it and is priced at £69,995 or about $115,000. Ronaldo was recently snapped canoodling with Paris Hilton in Las Vegas celebrating his new contract.

Exclusive Scotland Golf Cruises


Once the final putt is holed at this week's U.S. Open, the golf world will turn its gaze eastward toward the craggy shores of Scotland, where the British Open will be held at Turnberry next month. With all due respect to New York's Bethpage Black, the rugged site of the 2009 U.S. Open, there is nothing like golf on the Auld Sod, and there may be no finer way to experience it than by taking a private cruise: play a majestic links by day, sail by night.

PerryGolf, a well-respected tour operator, is offering two exclusive seven-night voyages aboard the Harmony II, a beautifully restored mid-twentieth-century mega-yacht. Each sailing can accommodate up to 12 guests. The first trip, from July 20–26 (the week following the British Open), begins in the Ayrshire town of Troon on Scotland's west coast and concludes up in the Highlands, in Inverness. The second journey, beginning July 27, reverses course.

Both itineraries feature six rounds of golf at such storied old links as Royal Dornoch, Machrihanish and the Machrie and the brand-new Castle Stuart (above), which will open in July bearing a timeless seaside look. Cultural excursions include exploring the unspoiled Isle of Islay, home to eight working distilleries, and a visit to Cawdor Castle, with its fictional link to Macbeth. The cost is $8,895 per golfing passenger; $8,495 for nongolfers. The price includes all on-board meals and drinks as well as ground transport and all golf-related fees.

Shield Your Eyes, Golf Fans: Here Comes John Daly


In the staid world of American professional golf, John Daly has always stood out, but never more so than this week. The Bunyanesque two-time major champion is making his return to the PGA Tour, after a six-month suspension for bad behavior, sporting a wardrobe right out of Caddyshack. Daly is being outfitted by Loudmouth Golf, a California-based producer of kaleidoscopic golf wear.

The company was started in 2000 by Scott Woodworth, an accomplished graphic designer and Rhode Island School of Design grad who says the idea came to him when he couldn't find any colorful clothes to wear for golf. He'd grown up watching greats like Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller win tournaments in the '70s in garishly colored polyester pants and decided to create a retro clothing line harkening back to that era.

Loudmouth's pants ($89.99) come in a variety of styles: paisley, argyle, dots, stripes, houndstooth and plaid. All of which Daly has been showcasing for months now during his exile on the PGA European Tour. Loudmouth offers an American fit (wide, straight leg) and a European fit (slimmer, flared leg). The company also sells shorts ($69.95), in the same styles as its pants; matching solid-color shirts ($49.99); and patent leather belts ($49.99), which are made in three colors including de rigeur white.

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