Santorum's Italian roots

The Santorum Connection…

Mama Miaaa!

Uber conservative Rick Santorum’s decision to “suspend” his presidential run follows a recent report in the Italian magazine Oggi that distant cousins from the Santorum family’s ancestral town in Italy were … hard-core, post-World War II communists!

Ai!

Is Ozzie one Venezuelan brick short of a load?

Suspended Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, who is getting keelhauled by team management and Miami Cubans for telling Time magazine he “loved” Cuban legend Fidel Castro, claims he “was thinking in Spanish and said it wrong in English” during the interview.

â—†So here’s the question: How does anyone confuse the word “love” in either language?

Pot Luck …

Actor Jim Belushi, brother of legendary, late actor John Belushi – who died from a drug overdose – was caught with a joint in his pocket by TSA agents at Martha’s Vineyard Airport Friday, according to TMZ. Belushi’s California medical marijuana card didn’t fly with authorities, but he was let off the hook because marijuana was decriminalized in Massachusetts. The joint was confiscated.

A Rahm Report …

Ooops! Sneed got it wrong. Sneed’s fingers hit the wrong computer keys when stating Mayor Rahm Emanuel owned a 2009 Mercedes-Benz. He does not. Hizzoner owns a Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

Divot dirt …

Behind the scenes and under the fence at the Masters Golf tournament in Augusta, Ga.

â—†Tee tackle: Masters patron Clayton Price Baker, 40, was arrested Sunday after slipping under the tournament ropes and attempting to steal sand from a sand trap.â—†Tee hee: Baker was chased, caught and charged with disorderly conduct … although police could have also tagged him with a stupidity charge: Baker, who was allegedly over served, was unsuccessful in getting any sand in his cup.

Photo op …

Click. Click. Looks like Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, who’s had a discordant relationship with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has gone through some changes. Check out the before and after photos – the latest of which was issued by CTU Tuesday.

The Trayvon Case …

It sounds like the beginning of a pulp crime thriller.

â—†To wit: The man who has gone underground since he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin surfaced Tuesday asking for donations on a website, which he introduces with the opening line:

“I am the real George Zimmerman.”

The Latsko File …

He’s the bigbucks buy guy: Real estate developer Fred Latsko, who was taught the art of the deal at the knee of legendary football star Sid Luckman, seems to have recovered from financial foot faults during the recession.

â—†$$$$: Latsko just bought a $13.5 million home in Palm Beach, Fla.

â—†Latsko, who owns dozens of mega properties in Chicago, as well as the Indiana farm he purchased from Oprah Winfrey, told Sneed Tuesday he is looking to sell the Dewes mansion, a landmark Lincoln Park home built in 1896. He said he doesn’t need all that space.

$$$$$ …

Postgame: Michael Jordan doesn’t have to shoot hoops in order to make money.

â—†Translation: The legendary hoopster earned about $60 million last year through endorsement deals – more than any active basketball player, according to Forbes Magazine.

The Celeb Set …

â—†Clooney capers: Imagine a huge Chicago presence (Rahm Emanuel?) when actor George Clooney does his next thing: Clooney is going to host a $40,000 a ticket fund-raiser for President Barack Obama on May 10th at his L.A. digs, according to Entertainment Tonight. “I’m proud to support the President…as long as no one asks me to sing,” Clooney quipped.” So who will? Barbara Streisand?

â—†Actor Damian “Homeland” Lewis may have been invited to a recent White House dinner, but his “Homeland” co-star, actress Claire Danes has been invited by CBS to sit at their White House Correspondent’s dinner table.

Sneedlings …

Get well wishes to former circuit court judge David Shields, who is recovering from a stroke at a nursing home in Glenview…Today’s birthdays: Ethel Kennedy, 84; Joss Stone, 25; Vincent Gallo, 50; Peter Riegert, 65, and Jim Parenti, ageless…and early birthday wishes to one of Chicago’s finest: attorney Joan Hall, ageless, priceless and peerless, will celebrate her birthday on Friday the 13th.