New Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano rang in the New Year with a newborn baby boy.
Soriano and his wife, Angelica, welcomed their third child and second son when Angel entered the world Wednesday at a Miami hospital.
“Alfonso is a happy guy now,” said Soriano’s agent, Diego Bentz. “He has been blessed. He’s just thrilled with the baby, so now he’s ready for spring training to start.”
Acquired as a free agent in November, Soriano signed an eight-year, $136 million contract.
Soriano is planning to attend the Cubs Convention the weekend of Jan. 19, and he intends to report to spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on time
“He would be anxious to report next week if he had to,” Bentz said.
Soriano, who will lead off, hit .277 with 46 homers, 41 stolen bases and 95 RBIs last season for the Washington Nationals.
He visited Children’s Memorial Hospital last month and distributed Christmas gifts to patients. Soriano later attended a Bulls game, during which he met Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.
“Alfonso got a big kick out of that,” Bentz said.
Word on the street
John McDonough has been interim president of the Cubs for about three months, yet he will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Pitch and Hit Club’s dinner Jan. 28 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. McDonough previously distinguished himself as the innovative marketing director for the Cubs.
Among the other honorees will be Chicago native Ned Colletti, now general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will be lauded as the Major League Executive of the Year.
Visit www.pitchandhit-club.org for more info. …
Former Carver High School and DePaul basketball star Terry Cummings was considered a reliable player and a team leader during his 18 years in the NBA.
“Basically, I felt like no one could defend me when I got in my sweet spots,” Cummings told Slam Magazine. “I was lethal from 15 feet in.”
Regarding his NBA leadership skills with seven teams, Cummings said: “Almost everyone brought me in to mentor their guys. Basically, you have a whole bunch of white guys who work really hard in coaching and managing these organizations made up of young black inner-city kids. They have almost no off-court communication, and that’s part of what they wanted from me. . . . The NBA is more than a game, and the players need to get on top of that reality.” . . .
Cubs catcher Michael Barrett has reached an agreement to be a spokesman for the Original Gino’s East of Chicago. He will make several personal appearances at Gino’s East restaurants during the year.
Overheard
Bulls TV color analyst Johnny “Red” Kerr was the first coach of the Bulls in 1966 and the original coach of the Phoenix Suns in 1969. The teams face each other Tuesday night at the United Center.
“The two teams I have always watched have been the Bulls and the Phoenix Suns,” said Kerr, 74, who missed several recent broadcasts after a bout with pneumonia and a concern about a blood clot in a lung.
“The Suns are having a fantastic year. They scare you. You wonder if you can score enough points to stay in the game with them.”
Kerr was coaching the Bulls in the mid-1960s when future Suns general manager and subsequent owner Jerry Colangelo also was working for the Bulls.
“Jerry was scheduling [Bulls] games and selling programs,” Kerr said. “He was not [originally] named general manager when he went to Phoenix [in ’69]. The three owners said to him to set up an office and hire a staff and everything `and we’ll figure out what your position will be.’ He hired me as coach and got everything all set up. Then the owners said to Jerry, `OK, we’ll name you general manager.’ Then they loaned him some money and he became an owner of the team.”
Colangelo, a Chicago Heights native, is now the managing director of men’s USA Basketball.
Sights seen
Packers quarterback Brett Favre, posing on the field with members of his offensive line after Sunday night’s 26-7 victory over the Bears.
“It was a great moment,” Packers center Scott Wells said. “Regardless of what happens, his decision, that’s a great moment for us. Hopefully we’ll get a copy of that photo, and we’ll be able to cherish that moment for a long time.”
Local attractions
The March of Dimes Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards will be Feb. 12 to honor White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears and Fire players. Tickets are $250. Contact Meredith Capshaw at 312-596-4721 or visit www.marchofdimes.com/ illinois. . . . Balmoral Park is back in session, with daytime racing through Feb. 17.
The last word
“If you were watching that game, you probably had a problem trying to figure out which guy was retiring.”
–Kerr talking about Rex Grossman’s poor effort against the Packers, compared with Favre’s performance.
———-
fmitchell@tribune.com
