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Curve Ball: Hunky pitcher Mark Mulder is staying with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing to a $13-million, two-year contract Wednesday. The 29-year-old left-hander, recovering from rotator cuff surgery, is expected to miss the first half of next season. Mulder is a former teammate of fellow lefty pitcher Barry Zito during their Oakland A's years. What a difference their paths have taken, with Zito recently signing a $126 million deal with the Giants. (AP)

Gay Friendly: Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez says he supports same-sex domestic partner benefits and would appoint a liaison to the city's LGBT community. Alvarez held his first meeting Tuesday night with members of Miami's Latino community. More than 100 people turned out for the question and answer session, organized by Unity Coalition which bills itself as the county's leading Hispanic gay civil-rights group. How do you say kudos in Spanish? (365Gay)

Love and Love: After repeated denials, it's been confirmed that Chris Evert has (already) found love again, this time with Greg Norman, the former Australian golfing great. The two were spotted returning from spending the summer holiday in Norman's native Australia, giving enough indications that their relationship was much more than close friendship. Evert's latest ex-husband, Andy Mill, reportedly wishes Chris well with his former best friend. Ouch. (ZeeNews)

Gayer Outlook: The young adults of Generation Next are more optimistic, more tolerant, and more likely Democratic voters than their predecessors, according to a new study. They are also more accepting of same-sex marriage: Forty-seven percent of those ages 18 to 25 favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry, while 30 percent of those 26 and older favor same-sex marriage. That said, read the next sad item. (AP)

Crime of Hate: The body of an 18-year-old fraternity pledge who died of alcohol poisoning was defaced with numerous anti-gay epithets and obscene drawings, according to a medical examiner's report. Phanta ''Jack'' Phoummarath, a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, died after ingesting large amounts of alcohol at a pledge party at the Lambda Phi Epsilon house in December 2005, authorities said. Phoumarrath's body was found the following day. The Travis County medical examiner's office reported that partygoers used green and black markers to write ''FAG,'' ''I'm gay,'' and ''I AM FAT'' on Phoummarath's head, face, torso, legs, and feet. Someone also added drawings depicting naked men and women and blackened his toenails. Phoummarath's family has reportedly said that Jack was neither gay nor fat. (AP)

Big Losers: A new study confirms what I've been yammering about all along: if you eat fewer calories, you will lose weight. Put your slow metabolism, unique body type, gland problem and the rest of the excuses in the trash bin right next to your Entenmann's chocolate doughnuts and guess what? You'll see results. (LiveScience)

People's Choice: Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn was selected as the Cingular All-America Player of the Year, the only major college football award determined exclusively by the fans, after leading the Fighting Irish to 10 wins and a Bowl Championship Series berth in the Sugar Bowl. I'm guessing the gals and the gays contributed to his sweep. Kudos to PR Newswire, my former employer, for putting out the press release and misspelling Quinn's first name in the lede! (PRN) (Relive Brady's spread by Bruce Weber here.)

RIP: The lovely actress Yvonne De Carlo has died. She was 84. I was never an "Addams Family" kind of kid -- but "The Munsters" were my fave -- and Lily was the main reason. Thanks for all the wonderful memories ... (AP)