BeChicMag.com

If Richard Williams can do for Giancarlo Cavallero what he did for his daughters, Serena and Venus, there’s no doubt that the Long Island 8-year old is destined for tennis greatness.

Cavallero is one of the youngest players recruited to Team Williams last year and already he’s winning praise.

“I saw his talent three years ago,” says tennis instructor George Henry, who also coached the superstar sisters and is currently working with Papa Williams to establish a team of a dozen young players.

“We’ll focus on non-traditional training, and encourage kids to be well rounded in other activities, not only tennis,” he says.

The Argentinean-Dominican kid is a multiple threat. Not only does he rank 48 out of 800 junior-league players in the eastern division of the US Tennis Association and possess a phenomenal backhand, but he also models, acts and plays soccer.

He started playing when he was four years old with his dad, George, a tennis enthusiast.

“The first game he won was a father-and-son tournament [when he was six] in 2006,” says the proud papa, who still helps train his son.

“The following day he played another game and won. I was so surprised. Two trophies in one weekend!”

Despite the time he spends preparing for matches, Giancarlo already acknowledges the difference between playing for fun and playing to win.

“I like to play tennis with my friends, and when I feel like it, I like to play tournaments,” says the blond, green-eyed athlete who resembles a young Macaulay Culkin.

On his down time, the phenom reads about his favorite players and admits to studying Serena’s aces on TV.

“One day I would really like to play with the Williams sisters because it’ll be an experience,” he says. “And then I can really copy their moves.” *mercedes sanchez

You can also read my article in the New York Post.

New York City hosted its first football celebration in Lower Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes with the NY Giants ticker-tape parade on Tuesday. With over 4,500 seats for guests and fans, the parade ended with a ceremony at City Hall. Whoppi Goldberg and elected officials like Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Elliot Spitzer said a few words before Mayor Bloomberg gave a key to the city to each of the NY Giants coaches and players.

Though I don’t care much for the sport, witnessing the ceremony from the media risers was phenomenal. Michael Strahan’s speech was the most exciting moment for me as he called his teammates a “bunch of goofballs,” and explained how they “stomped out” the Patriots and all the other NFL teams. This being Strahan’s fifthteenth year with the Giants, his fans don’t know if this would be his final year in the sport. So in unison fans shouted “one more year, one more year…” But all Michael could say was, “we’ll see”.

Overall Tuesday, Februay 5, 2008 was a historic day for the NY Giants and the city. Plus with the unprecented primary election between a woman and an African-American, it was also a historic day for the U.S. *mercedes sanchez

After former senator George Mitchell released a report that states 89 Major League Baseball players including Roger Clemens used illegal performance-enhancing drugs, many sports fanatics have had lots to say on the topic, including Be Chic Mag contributor Antonio Reynoso:

“Barry Bonds”. The name alone brings chills down the spine of a baseball purest. “Roger Clemens”. The name brings chills down the spine of — actually no. The face of steroids should have two faces: That of the greatest hitter of all time, and the other, the greatest pitcher of all time. But recently these favorable names have been made infamous with all the controversial steroid talk. Barry Bonds has argued that race was an important component to his allegations and constant harassment by the media. Was he delusional?

We now have the greatest pitcher of all time- who just happens to be white- also denying the alleged steroid use. Can we expect the same assault by the media on “The Rocket” that Barry received? Or will his 20 plus years of outstanding contribution to the game grant him a pass or less media scrutiny? I regrettably believe his link to steroids will not bring him the same criticism Barry received. Not because of his contribution to the game- which I believe is no more or less that Mr. Bonds- but because he is white.

Roger like Barry had already earned his stripes long before the news of his steroid use. So unlike my Dominican brothers who dream of leaving their poverty stricken lives for fame and fortune, what is Rogers’ excuse? How about greed and his huge ego? Sounds familiar, huh? Oh yea, he’s like a Barry Bonds- a white Barry Bonds. Silence. Keep your eyes focused and your ears prepped. America is about to speak… *Antonio Reynoso