Spirit of New England: Pats cheerleaders in China

Patriots cheerleaders and their pompoms are in China this week as part of an initiative with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee. Eight members of Tracy Sormanti's stunning squad are hosting clinics for young Chinese dance teams that'll perform at various events during the Olympics. In all, about 100 Chinese cheerleaders will attend the clinics. The Pats gals are also participating in a number of community- and fan-related activities while in China.

Gisele Bündchen, globe-trotting, supermodeling canoodler of Tom Brady, can add "blogger" to her resume. The Brazilian bombshell has launched a "green" blog, where she opines on everything from sustainable catwalks (after strutting for Brazilian designer Colcci a few weeks ago at Sao Paulo Fashion Week, she gushed over the recycled cardboard walls and biodiesel-powered generators) to her pet project, water conservation. Her fancy flip-flop line Ipanema also supports "the intelligent use of water." Other bloggers on her site weigh in on a variety of environmental causes and post videos. Gisele is apparently all about the chatter, blowing virtual kisses to her readers and thanking "our young columnists who prove that young people. . . have enough energy to change things." The site, in both English and Portuguese, can be found at giselebundchenblog.blogspot.com.

Not everything Tom Brady touches turns to gold. The 4-year-old filly partially owned by the Pats QB wasn't winning at Belmont Park, so she was shipped to the less competitive Finger Lakes Track. "It's kind of like being sent down to Triple A," said Billy Koch, GM of Little Red Feather, the horseracing partnership whose stable includes Brady's trotter Guts Game. "She needed a little confidence boost." And she got it, winning one of her first races at the new track. In addition to Brady, Little Red Feather counts NBA star LeBron James, rapper Jay-Z, and MLB catcher Paul Lo Duca among its investors.

Don't expect to see Gordon Brown strolling on the beach this summer. The British prime minister used to holiday on Cape Cod, but for the second year in a row, Brown may be forced to skip his seaside escape. "It wouldn't be atypical for this prime minister not to take a vacation," Joseph Pickerill of the British Consulate-General for New England told us. "I suspect given events back in the UK, he may decide to stay at home." A big fan of Chatham, Brown honeymooned at the Wequassett Inn in 2000.

Ed Kane's fancy new Asian-themed nightclub, Shrine at MGM Grand at Foxwoods, will be a playground for the stars this weekend, as some famous deejays hang out and/or rock the turntables. R&B star Cassie and DJ Cassidy will serve as the club's eye candy tonight. (Whether they'll deign to perform is still a question mark.) DJ Jazzy Jeff, sadly sans The Fresh Prince, will work the tables tomorrow night, alongside spinner-to-the-stars DJ AM. And Saturday, Dominican hip-hop sensation Kat DeLuna will Run the Show, with a little help from DJ Mel DeBarge.

The first annual Nantucket Comedy Festival promises to be a laugh riot. Word is the three-day fest, which kicks off July 28, will include not only an all-star roast of Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller hosted by filmmakers Bobby and Peter Farrelly but also a night of political humor hosted by "Hardball" howler Chris Matthews. We're told the inaugural Man from Nantucket Award, recognizing the comedian's comedian, will be given to Lenny Clarke. Created by comedian Bonnie Block Levison and comic actor Kevin Flynn, whose credits include "Sex and the City," the festival's expected to attract more than a few jokesters, including Gary Valentine of "The King of Queens."

Though he's known as a football fan and an FOB - friend of Bill Belichick - Jon Bon Jovi is apparently a man for all seasons. In honor of the Celtics 17th championship banner, Bon Jovi is offering fans $17 tickets for his band's return to Boston on July 9 and 10 at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The sisters were doin' it for themselves at The Ridge Club golf course in Sandwich, where men were invite-only at the Queens and Kings Charity Day, which aims to be an annual event; the Jimmy Fund Golf Tournament benefited breast cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. LPGA tour professional Jane Blalock worked the course Tuesday, showing the dudes how it's done in a skirt. "The men had to wear pink, and they had to putt with pink balls," said spokeswoman Katie Stinchon. Meanwhile, on the North Shore Monday, a group of Red Sox greats played homage to the 1975 team at the second annual Extra Innings/Jimmy Fund Golf Classic. Swinging at the Ferncroft Country Club were Rico Petrocelli, Bob Montgomery, Mike Andrews (also Jimmy Fund chairman), and Jerry Moses, joined by major leaguer Jason Bere. NECN sports anchor Chris Collins did the emcee honors at the reception and auction. The tourneys raised 50 grand apiece.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.