Monday 28 February 2011

Yey!! Rafa's back on court ...


Oh what a sight this is to behold ... Rafa back in training for an actual competitive match, the Davis Cup which is to be played this weekend against Belgium. What a long 5 weeks this has proven to be ...

It seems that Francisco Roig and Marc! have travelled with Rafa, and the clip shows him wearing crisp white joggers ... kind of like the ones he was wearing when he met me at Wimbers last year. Not that I've mentioned it for a while ... *cough*

3 boys at a footie match ...


Alberto Contador tweeted the above picture of himself with Rafa and David following their "lads' night out" at the footie on Saturday night, and below is a video clip of them.

But ... how many times does Rafa change his seat? and do you see the watch that is passed between them? That wouldn't be Rafa's half a million dollars time-piece ... would it??

Rafa's on his way to Belgium ...

And you know what that means? Yes ... airport footage!! not before Rafa had alerted to us that he was on the move via his Facebook, and that sorry he hadn't been around much, but he was doing his promotional work and practising and he doesn't go near his laptop when he's at home.

You are forgiven, Rafa ...

Sunday 27 February 2011

Rafa ... those w-hair the days ...

Rafa and pals at the Barca match ...


Well ... Barcelona rolled into town last night to play Real Mallorca, as did Rafa with two pals ... Tour-de-France cyclist Alberto Contador, and Spanish singer David Bisbal (although I've never heard of him).

Also in attendance was best pal, Charly Moya. Shame about the result then ...

Saturday 26 February 2011

Meet the team ... and Myyaii-mo ...

Not sure why Team Nadal are talking to the cameras, but its something to do with Banestro and we get to hear how May-mo's name should be pronounced. Hehe. Does anybody else wonder if he gets fed up being called by his surname all the time?? Just a thought ...

Here's Toni ...



and Carlos ...



Fitness instructor, Joan Focades ...



and finally ... Myyaii-mo ...

Friday 25 February 2011

Love the beanie Rafa ...



But where's the pom pom???

Rafa getting very Tigger on the golf course ...

The first minutes of Mestre Toni ...


IB3 are to air a documentary about Uncle Toni next week, and as an appetiser, have released a few minutes of a snap shot ... which is lovely.

Of course we can't get the full gist due to it being in Mallorquin, but we get to see a very animated Rafa (what else?), along with interviews with the rest of family including the Grandparents, all the brothers (including the elusive Uncle Rafael) and Rafa's Auntie ... Miguel Angel's twin ... sorry folks I've forgotten her name. (Deducts Rafafan points ...).

There's some cute old family photographs, along with one of a younger, darker, brooding Toni ... quite hot actually ;-) Sorry we forgot your 50th birthday earlier in the week Uncle T ... so a very Happy (belated) Birthday to you!!

http://www.ib3noticies.tv/20110224_144025-els-primers-minuts-de-mestre-toni.html

Banestro ad in Manacor ...


Rafa has been hard at work again with his sponsor commitments ... this time for Banestro. But at least he got to film the ad in his local town square in Manacor, with his Grandad looking on from over the balcony. And as a double whammy ... he's wearing Armani jeans. Nice. As are the boots. And the hair ... for once. ;-)

Dreamy ...

Thursday 24 February 2011

Rafa goes to a presser ... in his best bib and tucker ...



This video clip amuses me. We're now quite used to seeing Rafa turn up at pressers in his post match sweats or in his polo shirts ... but never before in full black tie. :-D I think Wimbledon should make it one of their new etiquette rules. Rafa would oblige ...

I jest ... this is Rafa giving a press interview after his Laureus Sportsman of the Year award.

Rafa takes his girlfriend to lunch ...


Well ... that's what Zimbio say, and it may be so. Although we all know that these are just some more pictures from Rafan and Xisca's little visit to Barcelona ...


Wednesday 23 February 2011

Baby Rafa ... and other baby tennis players ...


Well ... it all started with this. The picture of lovely, young, sweet looking Rafa ... and Nicoooooooooo - who's always looked like an Ooompah-Lumpah ... so it seems. Sorry! but he does! So this lead me on to looking for those pics of Rafa with other similar youngsters. And here's Rafa pulling a Rafaface with young Reeshard ...

Followed by what must be his First Communion photos ... aaah ....



... and this delightful black and white number of Rafa in a very over-sized shirt ...


... and I'm sure we've all seen that famoos ass before ...


... and its interesting that some of faces he pulls remain the same ...


... and this is just pure cuteness personified ...

But what of the others??

A cute Nole ...



Who would have believed that this weird looking youngster would have grown up to be Gael Monfils ...


... and this chap is Andy Murray ...

... it seems pretty obvious who this young man is. Juan Martin ...


... and what about this handsome little oh so Spanish looking boy ...

... Nando, of course ...


Dimples or no dimples ... he always been an ugly ... boy.


... but as for this !!!! Oh Feds!! What a p.r.a.t. !! Hehe ...

Monday 21 February 2011

El Pais version of "Steamy Windows" ...

Seems that "the Sundays" were busy with the pre-hype to the Armani campaign as a series of words and pictures also appeared in El Pais yesterday ...

Acknowledgement goes to Ines and NadalNews for bringing them to us.




Sunday 20 February 2011

The Sunday Times publish "Steamy Windows" ...

Every cloud as they say ... I still haven't cancelled my Timesonline subscription from Rafa's blog, but today the Sunday Times published a short article and some pictures from the Armani shoot. OK, apart from the first one, we've seen them all before. Hands up who's complaining???

If only the seminaked, oiled-up bodies in your Bikram yoga sessions looked more like this. Well, if a certain Giorgio Armani was curating the classes, chances are they would. For the 76-year-old permatanned designer has proven himself to be quite the spotter of this year’s hottest bod. Last up were David and Victoria Beckham, seen flexing seductively in moody black-and-white. This summer, Signor Armani has surpassed himself, casting the Spanish tennis ace Rafa Nadal and Megan “the new Angelina” Fox as the next “testimonials” for his Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans collections.

“Rafael Nadal is a true phenomenon, his power and agility are awesome and I am utterly captivated by his unique approach to the game,” Armani says, speaking from the set of the shoot in Palma, Majorca. Well, quite. We’re with you there on the power and agility, Giorgio. And as for foxy Fox: “Megan is young and sexy, full of enthusiasm and personality. She also has a thoroughly modern attitude and lots of it.” Indeed, this time around it’s his female muse sporting the tattoos (see if you can count all eight).

Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott (favourites with the likes of Kate Moss, and who know a thing or two about presenting naked flesh in its most favourable light), we’ve got our hands on an exclusive portfolio of behind-the-scenes images from the shoot (plus a video coming soon online). See Nadal as you always pictured him in the locker room — testosterone-pumped, freshly showered. In his pants. As for Fox, well, you can forget the Dukan diet. Sorry, but life just isn’t fair sometimes. It’s in our nature to want to ogle nubile, athletic flesh. It’s why some of us go to Bikram; but only in our wildest dreams will we ever possess bodies like these.

Bopping at Bauxa ...


Mind yer 'ed, son!!

After announcing the news of his academy, Rafa spends Friday night partying hard down at Bauxa. Not that I'm one to approve of un-gainly behaviour such as climbing on bars to dance and do the great "finger pointing" move *whistle* ... but you're only young once, Rafa. And next week training will step up for the Davis Cup.

Not sure if the curly haired Xisca is looking on, as she always seems to be surprisingly missing from Rafa's forays into the club. Good to see him behaving like a regular guy though. :-)

Rafa ... before he was "Robocopped" ...


Nice ... isn't it ;-)

Saturday 19 February 2011

Rafa's legacy continues as he builds his own Academy ...


Not only with what he will personally achieve with his own tennis, or what good works will arise from his Foundation, but now Rafa is to personally finance a tennis academy in his beloved Manacor in Mallorca to help young people who have a dream of becoming a tennis player, but who don't have the facilities (or opportunity) to practice and learn in their own country. The academy will also house a museum and offices for Rafa's Foundation.

Below is a translation (with credit to Ana FS from NadalNews) which offers a bit of a translation about it all ...

“Today is an important day for me, because to present this international center means a personal satisfaction.

The academy will have players from all over the world, we want it to have an international reference.

Its for young people who would like to one day be tennis professionals and dont have the perfect conditions to practice in their country to be able to do it in Manacor and Mallorca.

The center will have between 15-20 courts , a small football ground, multi use courts and 70-100 bedrooms for those attending the academy to be comfortable and stay all they want.”

The center will be financed totally by Rafa and the construction will begin soon. This will also be the headquarters of Rafa’s Foundation, because he wants it to be in Manacor.

A museum will be built also and he considers that is a great idea to have the Foundation offices, the Museum and the Tennis Center all located at the same place."

I swear ... the boy makes my heart swell with pride. He is such a wonderful person, a fine man and a great World ambassador. Well done, Rafa.



Billboard spot ...


Let's see where Rafa's Armani billboard campaign takes us ... "Where in the world ... ?"

This one is in New York. Not sure if Preston will make it ...

Friday 18 February 2011

Excess baggage ...


Noh! I don't mean Xisca!!!

Seeing as Rafa and Xisca only had one night in Abu Dhabi for the Laureaus awards, they surrrrrre as hell had a lot of baggage with them when they arrived back in Barcelona airport the next day.

Wonder what sort of excess baggage he does pay ... ???