Former Marlins Brad Penny with galpal Karina Smirnoff (Click on the photo for more views of celebs)

Brad Penny’s fortunes have been up and down since he left the Florida Marlins after helping the team win the 2003 World Series. But the oft-traded pitcher, 31, who finished the season a St. Louis Cardinal, obviously landed someone he should never trade, Dancing With The Stars‘ professional hoofer Karina Smirnoff. The lovebirds were spotted strolling along Deco Drive in Miami Beach Friday night, and not even the rain could douse their fire. Penny’s always had a thing for high-profile hotties. When he was still in white-and-teal, Penny would drag actress Alyssa Milano (TV’s Charmed) to Dolphin Stadium. Later, he hooked up with Eliza Dushku (TV’s Buffy).

Palmer at Wednesday's party, with wife Susan and Spencer (Meghan McCarthy/The Palm Beach Post)

It was surprising to run into baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher Jim Palmer out in Palm Beach, just minutes before the first pitch of last night’s Game 6 of the World Series.

Jim, shouldn’t you be in your Jockeys and on your couch watching the Yankees duke it out with the Phillies?

“Well, I’ll be home, but what we’re doing here is more important,” he said. He wouldn’t call a winner of the series (the Bronx Bombers whooped the Phillies to win their 27th title). “All I’ll say is that (Philly’s starting pitcher) Pedro Martinez is tough. Doesn’t matter that he’s 38!”

Palmer, the former Baltimore Orioles standout, lent some of his star appeal to draw a crowd to Nick & Johnnie’s for a fund-raiser for the Renaissance Learning Center. The West Palm Beach charter school caters to autistic children, and it so happens that Palmer’s new wife, store owner Susan, is the mom of a 12-year-old student at the school, Spencer.

In the end, the group raised well over $25,000, thanks in part to the autographed baseballs that Palmer, an Orioles TV analyst, collects during the season.

“I brought 12 of the balls and they did well,” he said.

One signed by Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia went for $500.

Gary Carter, the retired New York Mets star catcher and Palmer’s fellow hall-of-famer, Florida Marlins pitcher Chris Volstad and golfer Ernie Els also showed up.

Joe LePore

– The man arrested in a mysterious attack on a cabbie in West Palm Beach earlier this week has been identified as Joe LePore, brother of former Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore. Joe Lepore, 52, an electrician, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief after West Palm Beach police arrested him Wednesday morning. A taxi driver was trying to turn around in LePore’s driveway on Avenida Allegre when LePore allegedly hit the cab, causing damages. When a cop arrived, LePore allegedly pulled a gun and threatened both the cabbie and officer. “I felt threatened,” LePore told Page2Live. “I had my 357 in my pocket but I didn’t take it out.” He was released from the county lockup late Thursday after paying his $3,000-bond. In 2004, according to Palm Beach County court records, LePore pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. A judge withheld adjudication. “He has anger management issues,” said sister Theresa. “The cab driver was sitting in his driveway blowing the horn, and he is very protective of his property.” Theresa’s name became intertwined with the disastrous administrations of George W. Bush when, in 2000, her office printed ballots so confusing that some Al Gore supporters voted for the wrong candidate, ultimately, Bush’s election by a hair.  (With The Palm Beach Post’s Eliot Kleinberg)

Jenny

– Jenny Sanford, first lady of South Carolina and a member of a prominent Martin County family, moved out of the governor’s mansion in Columbia today. Sanford is the long suffering wife of Gov. Mark Sanford, who made international news in June after he disappeared to Argentina to tango with a mistress. The Sanfords eventually ended up pow-wowing about it at her dad John Sullivan’s home in Hobe Sound. Mark and Jenny just returned from a vacation in Europe. But AP reporters saw Jenny and several women move boxes out of the mansion Thursday. Jenny says she can be found in the couple’s vacation home, 125 miles away from Columbia.

Livan

– Another athlete’s selling SoFla real estate. Livan “I lo’ you, Miami” Hernandez, the 1997 star pitcher for the World Series winning Florida Marlins, is selling his Miami Beach condo. He’s willing to lose a few bucks. According to South Florida Blockshopper, the beachfronter is on the market for $945,000, nearly $40,000 less than what the current New York Met bought it for last year. The listing agent is a former star of Donald Trump’s The Apprentice, Katrina Campins.

Rubio

– Latin songbird Paulina Rubio twittered over the weekend that her Miami Beach mansion was burglarized Saturday night. Rubio, 38, wrote that cops are going through security camera pictures and are closing in on a suspect. The Mexican star, who lives in a $2.7 million home on the Venetian Islands, was on her way to Spain via Miami when she discovered the crime. A woman at the home said: “I can’t comment about that.” According to a Miami Beach PD report, it’s unclear yet what disappeared. What’s clear: a member of Rubio’s entourage found the mansion’s front door wide open with foot prints on carpets inside.

Ryder and mom Kate Hudson visit Alex Rodriguez Sunday. (Storms Media Group)

– Must’ve been a weird Father’s Day for slumping New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez. His own two children, with former wife Cynthia, were nowhere in sight. But his new galpal, Fool’s Gold actress Kate Hudson, dropped in on him at the Florida Marlins‘ stadium near Miami with her little boy, Ryder. I’m told by an inside source that Hudson and her 5-year-old (fathered by her ex-husband, rocker Chris Robinson of Black Crowes) then took place in a luxury suite for seven innings.

– And golf may finally get interesting, sorta. Beer- and rain-soaked US Open fans at Bethpage Black on Long Island, N.Y., actually heckled Tiger Woods Sunday, basically telling the soon-to-be Jupiter Island resident to butch up. “We’re on Long Island, baby, where men are men,” someone yelled at Woods from the gallery. “Put down that umbrella!” Another said: “Suck it up, you’ve got your own video game!” Woods responded by putting a finger to his mouth and telling them “Shhhh!”

(Courtesy The Telegraph)

With New York Yankees fans beating the number of Florida Marlins supporters two-to-one at Land Shark this weekend, the home-team had to count on imported talent for its cheering.

Decked out in more Marlins garb than a season-ticket holder, actress Drew Barrymore and BF Justin Long must have made an impact Saturday night: Florida edged the Bronx Bombers by one run.

It’s fair to say the cuddly lovers didn’t come just for the game. They’re in SoFla to prepare for a romantic comedy they start shooting together in two weeks, Going the Distance.

Wearing a Hanley Ramirez jersey, Drew Barrymore cheers on the Marlins (Storms Media Group/Special to Page2Live)

Apple pitchman and actor Justin Long (Storms Media Group/Special to Page2Live)

Guess who Barrymore, the star of Charlie’s Angels, and Apple pitchman Long ran into on the way to their hotel? Check below for more pictures, including one of Drew quenching her thirst (Read more…)