Tricky winger cannot be out-tricked

Back in January, the world of publishing braced itself for Rio, the digital magazine issued by Rio Ferdinand. The Manchester Utd star’s vanity project has finally arrived - albeit with the slightly less vain title #5 - and it’s chock full of interviews, reviews and adverts for lovely Nike products that will improve your life.

Using the access that his position at Manchester Utd affords him, Rio secures a dull puff piece an interview with 50 Cent (the star of a forthcoming film that he is financing) and three minutes with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who shows professional freestyler Jeremy Lynch exactly how quick his feet are.

Check out #5 here

You’ll never guess what it’s going to be called…

After conquering the worlds of football, rapping, merking and acting, Rio Ferdinand is all set to become a digital publisher.

In February, the first edition of the imaginatively-titled Rio will be issued via RioFerdinand.com. The online lifestyle magazine will be chock full of music, sport, and all the stuff “16-35 aspirational males” care about these days:

As promised, Rio has already opened his contacts book and delivered some mammoth names for the first issue including the rapper 50 Cent and another exclusive with the incomparable Mickey Rourke. There’s also music, gadgets, fashion, cars, travel and more than enough stuff to keep you away from the trivial things in life like work, friends and family.

The ‘incomparable’ (huh?) Mickey Rourke and rapper 50 Cent will both are good names to have in the first issue, but don’t be surprised if Fiddy’s latest project gets a lot of coverage - it may just be a new film produced by a certain R Ferdinand…

Footballers to be executive producers on gangster film

Rio Ferdinand has already merked his way into a television series and a rap career, so the next step is for him to head to the big screen. Along with Cashley Cole, the Manchester Utd star will provide financial backing for a gangster film set in Manchester and London. The flick is called Dead Man Running, and has a tentative release date of 6th November 2009. IMDB already has an enticing synopsis:

A loan shark gives ex-con Nick a period of 24 hours in order to pay back the money he owes. Up against it, Nick involves his best mate on a multi-part mission in order to raise the cash before it’s too late for them both.

The film already has two big names attached - rapper and former drug dealer 50 Cent will play Thigo (hopefully with a cockney accent), but the serious acting chops will come from screen legend Danny Dyer. That Oscar is just around the corner, Danny.

[The Guardian]

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Even the interweb doesn’t rate Tottenham’s chances this season

Betting on the Scolari/ Ferguson bout this weekend? Get £30 of free bets with Ladbrokes here

If Madonna had retired fifteen years ago like she should have done, maybe the Bundesliga calendar would have remained intact
[The Offside]

Grid Girl of the Day: Athena Barber
[Grid Crasher]

Flashback: Morten Gamst Pedersen’s boy band
[This Is Extra Time]

That’s Golf: 50 Cent and Pharrell Williams
[Polite Applause]

Eleven people killed during a game in the Congo
[WithLeather]

Five reasons Chelsea will beat Bordeaux
[chickendinner]

Torsten Frings believes he is Zorro
[Bild]

Tom Hick’s son was involved in an incident after Saturday win over Manchester Utd
[EPL Talk]

And finally… Help keep The Spoiler alive by clicking the video below. Who knows, you may love it…