It's a boy for Bridget Moynahan and Tom Brady

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady became a father for the first time yesterday when his former girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan, gave birth to a baby boy in Los Angeles.

Brady, whose relationship with Moynahan ended late last year, flew to the West Coast early yesterday, but it's unclear if he arrived in time for the birth. Moynahan's publicist Christina Papadopoulos told the Globe last night that "mother and baby are doing well," but she didn't provide any other details, including the child's name, weight, or when, precisely, the baby arrived.

Brady did not show up for practice yesterday, and team officials wouldn't say why. But we're told No. 12 caught a ride on the Kraft family's private jet, leaving for LA in the morning from Hanscom Field. "Entertainment Tonight" reported last night that Brady, who told reporters this week he hoped to be present for the birth, had been spotted at a hospital in Santa Monica with flowers in hand.

Moynahan, who turns 37 next month, is a Massachusetts native and graduate of Longmeadow High School. She's best known professionally for her role in the film "I, Robot" and as Mr. Big's wife, Natasha, on HBO's "Sex and the City." She also starred on the ABC series "Six Degrees," and has a deal with the network to develop another project. Her next film, a comedy called "Noise," costars Tim Robbins and William Hurt, and is due out later this year.

Brady, who just turned 30, dated Moynahan for nearly three years. Often during the couple's courtship, Moynahan made it clear she'd like to have children. Brady, a three-time Super Bowl champ who grew up in northern California, was not so explicit about his interest in having a family.

In February, a few days after the New York Post first reported the pregnancy, Brady's agent, Don Yee, issued a statement saying his client was "excited" about becoming a dad. Since then, the star QB has been mostly mum on the subject, and Yee didn't return a phone call yesterday.

Not long after the couple's breakup, which was announced in mid-December, Brady began dating Gisele Bundchen, the world's richest supermodel and the former girlfriend of actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Since the end of last football season, Brady and his Brazilian beauty have been photographed at fashion events in London, Milan, and Versailles. The two are also routinely snapped strolling hand-in-hand down the streets of New York, where both have plush apartments.

Bundchen, who celebrated her 27th birthday in July, recently told a British tabloid that she's looking forward to becoming the "stepmum" to Brady's baby. "If you love someone, you love everything that comes with him." She's even reported to have bought several gifts for the child, including items from Baby Dior, Burberry, and a Gucci bib.

Team officials last night had no comment on the birth, and said they didn't know when Brady might return. The Pats play their next exhibition game tomorrow in North Carolina against the Panthers.

"Tom talking about it or sharing an anecdote will be a lot more humanizing than us issuing a statement," said team spokesman Stacey James.

In "The Women," Meg Ryan's character plays a clothing designer who lives comfortably in a sweet spread in Greenwich, Conn. But since the movie is shooting in Boston, director Diane English needed an appropriately spectacular stand-in for Ryan's Greenwich getaway. Well, she's got one. Location scouts have settled on the Dover digs of Jerry and Jane Berman, a five-bedroom, Adams-style house on 27 sprawling acres. Particularly appealing to English are the kitchen, dining room, and garden, which includes a bi-level, stone-and-brick terrace. (In one scene, we're told, Meg's character will throw a posh party on the grounds.) Best of all, when the moviemakers finally clear out, the 7,121-square-foot manse can be yours. The Bermans are selling their beautiful abode, and only asking $9.5 million for it. (That, incidentally, is about half of the budget for "The Women," which also stars Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Candice Bergen.) As you might expect, the owners are pleased that their house, which was once owned by art collector Bill Koch, is bound for the big screen. "They're flattered," said realtor Terry Maitland of LandVest, which has the listing. The crew will be in the house for several weeks, but the Bermans can stay because the shoot won't extend to the second floor.

You'd think someone who's hooked up with Pam Anderson, Heather Locklear, and Nicollette Sheridan would be happy, right? Wrong. Legendary lothario Scott Baio is so bummed about his love life that he turned to a trained professional for help. "I have the dubious distinction of being Scott's life coach," says Ali Arnold, a clinical psychologist who's been counseling the hapless former "Happy Days" star on VH1's "Scott Baio Is 45 . . . and Single." "I put him through psychological boot camp to see why he can't commit." (Doc Ali, as she's called on the show, is based in Phoenix but has an office in Boston.) "Scott's done it all and had every Playboy playmate but still feels empty," Ali said yesterday. "What he needs to do is stop looking for the next best thing and find the joy that he has now." As you'll see on Sunday's show, that's easier said than done. Ali, who's written a book called "Scream & Run Naked," told us it's been mostly a pleasure working with Chachi. "How can I say this? He's learning to step out of his selfishness," she said.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" cutup Larry David hit the links at Pine Brook Country Club in Weston yesterday, hitting the ball around with Matt Siegel, KISS 108's "Matty in the Morning." . . . Director Howie Deutch was back at it last night with the cast and crew of "Bachelor No. 2." The feature flick starring Dane Cook and Kate Hudson was set to shoot at a cushy Comm. Ave. apartment that belongs to Kate's character.

Medford's Gary Marino, star of "Million Calorie March," hosted a screening of the documentary yesterday with comedians Tony V. and Jimmy Dunn. The film, which will premiere at the Boston Film Festival next month, is based on Marino's memoir, "Big & Tall Chronicles: Misadventures of a Lifelong Food Addict."

In preparation for tomorrow's Hot Stove show at Fenway Park, Peter Gammons rehearsed yesterday with an all-star ensemble including Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz, Figgs frontman Mike Gent, and bassist Ed Valauskas of the Gentlemen. Tickets to tomorrow's show benefiting Theo Epstein's foundation are available at 877-RED-SOX9. . . . High-school basketball coach extraordinaire Bob Hurley was at Reebok's Canton headquarters yesterday leading a clinic for 200 coaches.

If Matt Damon isn't the hardest-working man in Hollywood, we don't know who is. The guy's grueling promotional tour for "The Bourne Ultimatum" continued this week with a stop in Berlin. But it looks like the hype is having a deleterious effect on his health. Damon walked the red carpet with three tiny needles stuck in his right ear. Damon's rep told "Extra" that the Cambridge-bred actor had suffered neck and back spasms, so sought help from an acupuncturist. That's commitment.

Since Wally Szczerbiak was sent packing to the SuperSonics, it's no surprise the forward has put his Lexington home on the market for $2.7 million. It was only a year ago that the oft-injured scorer bought the 8,580-square-foot, six-bedroom house on Hathaway Road for $2.5 million. We're told Wally and his wife, Shannon, added some amenities to the house, which features a two-story marble foyer replete with a wedding-cake staircase, and a family room with 12-foot coffered ceilings a nice, if obvious, touch for a guy who stands 6-foot-7.

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