Great shots on video -- Celtics style

The Celtics aren't done savoring their 17th NBA championship, and, really, who can blame them? Several players and front-office folk gathered last night at the TD Banknorth Garden for a sneak peek at the new DVD, "2007-2008 NBA Champions: The Boston Celtics." (The Warner Home Video hits stores this morning.) Attending the VIP party at the Lexus Courtside Club were the Big Ticket Kevin Garnett, Finals MVP Paul Pierce, guard Rajon Rondo, and super subs James Posey, Eddie House, and Leon Powe. (The Celts are doing their part to sell the DVD: Today, Pierce will be at the Stop & Shop in Reading; Posey and House will be at the Borders on School Street; and Powe and Kendrick Perkins will be at the f.y.e. on Washington Street.) "Everybody's just been relaxing and filling up," said Garnett. "When you win, that's the closest thing to perfect." Pierce said he's been surprised at how well he's been treated on the West Coast, where he grew up. "I took the trophy out to a couple of restaurants and nightclubs," said number 34, who was cradling his baby daughter Prianna Lee like a basketball. "I didn't have any trouble [paying any of the bills]."

Silverman and Kimmel split

Comic Sarah Silverman and her late-night beau Jimmy Kimmel have called it quits after five years, the Associated Press reported yesterday. Both made hilarious music videos recently - ironically in celebration of their anniversary - claiming they were "bleeping" Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. (Silverman started it with a guitar tribute to Damon, then Kimmel recruited Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, and other A-listers for a star-studded anthem on his insatiable attraction to Affleck.) A few months later . . . not so funny? Kimmel, claiming illness, was a no-show at a Silverman charity show last week at home in New Hampshire. Their publicists aren't dishing on the news. "Jimmy and Sarah are no longer dating . . . and will have no further comment," Lewis Kay and Amy Zvi, reps for Kimmel and Silverman, respectively, confirmed in a joint statement yesterday. The couple reportedly met at a 2001 Comedy Central roast of Hugh Hefner.

Bravo has finally revealed this summer's batch of budding designers for season five of "Project Runway." Among the 16 contestants are two Massachusetts natives who will face the wrath of Nina Garcia when the show debuts tomorrow at 9 p.m. Wesley Nault, originally from Blackstone, and Daniel Feld, originally from Great Barrington, stepped away from their sewing machines to chat about making it work.

Daniel, you're from Great Barrington. Are the Berkshires a fashionable place? I had no idea.

Feld: The Berkshires are absolutely stunning. I just love the vintage feel, like it's stuck in time. There's a whole romance of looking at the leaves and nature around you. I wouldn't say that's necessarily the most fashionable place, but it's definitely inspiring and a great place to be meditative.

Have you worked on a catch phrase, because that seems to be a good way to go far on "Project Runway."

Feld: I think I did use a catch phrase. "That's chic," or if something was really cool, I would just say "Chic!" So I thought that was pretty chic.

Wesley, at 23 you're one of the youngest contestants on the show this season. Were you encouraged when [21-year-old] Christian Siriano won?

Nault: I didn't take it too much into consideration when he won. I was happy for him, but I think the show is about young talent and more so than the older people who are still struggling to make it.

Are you a problem contestant? Have you had any drama queen moments?

Nault: You'll probably have to watch to find that out.

Making the rounds

David Ortiz must be on the road to recovery. Why else would the Sox let their slugger swing away on "Live With Regis and Kelly"? Big Papi, who's in New York for the All-Star Game, dropped by the highly-rated coffee klatch yesterday, and showed off his sweet swing for Kelly Ripa and Regis's temporary replacement Anderson Cooper. The cohosts also quizzed Papi about becoming a US citizen. Said Ortiz of the experience: "You know, being part of this country is a wonderful thing. Me and my family, we've been around for a while and we're just looking forward to belonging." Afterward, Papi headed to Chelsea Piers, where he took a few more healthy cuts as part of vitaminwater's "Homer on the Hudson" contest.

Celtics legend Bill Russell, 74, is working on a memoir about his friendship with the late Red Auerbach, the coach he played for on a long run of championship teams in the 1950s and '60s. "Red and Me" will be published by HarperCollins in spring 2009. Russell said yesterday in a statement that when Auerbach passed away, in October 2006, "I felt a tremendous sense of loss, a huge void in my life." The book will explore the friendship of two men who probably never would have met without basketball, he said. "There was no logical reason why we ever should've become friends, because we came from such diverse places. I thought about how much I missed his friendship."

"Hostel" director Eli Roth high-tailed it back from Hollywood to attend the opening of his mom's art exhibit at the Danforth Museum over the weekend. "My mother is where all my artistic talent comes from," the Newton native wrote to us in an e-mail. The collection of Cora Roth's abstract paintings is up at the museum in Framingham through Aug. 3.

Opera star Hao Jiang Tian celebrated the release of his memoir, "Along the Roaring River," with a weekend get-together at BU. The Chinese-born singer, who's performed at the Metropolitan Opera more than 300 times, treated the crowd to a few of his favorite tunes and also signed copies of his book, which tells a bittersweet tale worthy of an opera itself.

Sox represented

Medford native Maria Menounos was playing the field at the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity softball game, part of the three-ring circus known as Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. The Sox-loving "Access Hollywood" correspondent was hanging with Marlee Matlin , Whoopi Goldberg , Chris Rock, Billy Baldwin, and assorted other celebs.

Mohegan Sun draws an Ace

Long-haired "American Idol" contestant Ace Young will rock Mohegan Sun tonight, playing songs from his debut self-titled album and signing autographs. "I'm gonna sit there and sign CDs until every single purchased CD is signed," he promised. (So don't come to him with one of those pirated, home-burned specials.) Young, named a sexy bachelor by People in 2006, is still single and plans to tour this summer. The singer also admits he was recently called "man candy" by a celeb mag. He'll own it, he said, even if it means taking minor beatings from his four taller brothers. "As long as they mention my album they can call me whatever they want."

"When I go back to Venezuela I will jump on my family and they will jump on me." - Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza, after being crowned Miss Universe on Sunday night

Christopher Muther of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.