US – Wednesday, March 17

Today’s celebrity babies and breakups

It seems like a stork (probably an arrogant, drunk, yet hilarious, stork) stopped by Paddy’s Bar and knocked up Sweet Dee with Mac’s baby.

Kansas, ‘mammals’ among tourney betting front-runners

If you were hoping to root for New England schools in the NCAA tournament this year, you’re mostly out of luck.

City gives eateries a lesson in ABCs

From Papaya King to Per Se, the city’s 25,000-plus restaurants will have to prominently display large report cards on their cleanliness starting in July.

Boston’s Back Bay is ‘on fire’

Boston real estate brokers are saying the Back Bay market is “on fire,” with 69 sales since January with an average price of $1.4 million. “Many buyers feel the recession is ancient history,” says John Ford, owner of Ford Realty on Charles and Tremont streets. “Last year at this time, peoples’ investment portfolios were losing money. They’ve gained the losses from 2009. Now they are using their recouped losses, and have more confidence in purchasing luxury condos.”

Culture bracket is a ‘wonder’

We figured out why you love March so much. It’s not the basketball, it’s the brackets. We’ve come up with the ultimate sports and pop culture bracket. Sure, it’s a bit random, but it’s also a bit awesome. Here’s a breakdown of some key matchups:

City sport: Turnstile jumping

From Harlem to the West Village, fare skipping on the subways is rampant, a new MTA audit finds. And it will only get worse as the MTA prepares to let 450 station workers go, transit advocates warn.
Ever since the 127th Street entrance at 125th Street station lost its token booth agent, the subway entrance has become notoriously easy to sneak into, say both MTA employees and straphangers alike.

UConn a possibility again for Temple

The irony was not lost on Temple women’s basketball coach Tonya Cardoza.

Updated 22:02, March the 25th, 2009

Scottie Hartnell already has 125 penalty minutes this year.

Scottie Hartnell already has 125 penalty minutes this year.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Flyers wiggin’ out

Joke’s on you

Scottie Hartnell might be known more for his joking around, but he is enjoying a breakout season. His 27 goals is a career-high and he’s the Flyers’ fourth-leading scorer with 56 points.

NHL. Try and pick out Scottie Hartnell on the ice tonight. Chances are you won’t be able to.

That’s because several Flyers plan to copy the winger’s distinctive coif by wearing wigs during warmups. Still no word on whether they’ll keep the fake hair once the puck officially drops.

“I know there’s 20 guys in here that are jealous of my hair, so I think maybe in warmups a couple guys will be wearing them to be just like me,” said Hartnell. “They may get a little better looking while they are out there skating around with it.”

The first 5,000 fans and all kids who pass through the gates at the Wachovia Center for tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers will receive Hartnell-esque wigs. It’s just another case of Hartnell being Hartnell.

“Hartsy keeps the group loose and brings a lot of enthusiasm and has fun, but I think as he’s gotten a little more mature he’s learned to work and have fun at the same time,” said Flyers coach John Stevens.

METRO