Rowing for a good cause

It didn't really matter that the Wyc Grousbeck-led mixed quad finished yesterday's charity race during the Head of the Charles with a time of 20:13.4. Even if they hadn't fared as well, the foursome had already supported the race's causes (AccesSportAmerica, Cambridge Community Foundation, and Community Rowing) and used their training miles to raise an additional $250,000 for the Perkins School for the Blind. A serious rower, Grousbeck was joined in the effort by fellow venture capital wiz David Fialkow, a sports enthusiast but a novice rower, and 1992 Olympic doubles partners Mary Mazzio and Cindy Ryder-Matthes.

Kicking back

For last night's Game 7 of the ALCS, the Sox tapped into a little bit of their 2004 magic by having Ken Casey and the Dropkick Murphys perform the national anthem followed by "Tessie" (the song made famous in the World Series run) and "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" (made famous for its inclusion in the Oscar-winning film "The Departed.") Then it was former Sox first baseman Kevin Millar's return to Fenway, where the "Cowboy Up!" king threw out the ceremonial first pitch. This weekend wasn't a time to be giving away your Red Sox tickets. Spotted at the park were Liberty Hotel owner Dick Friedman, who caught up with his longtime friend, Connecticut Senator and presidential candidate Chris Dodd, car magnate Ray Ciccolo (both nights), Senator John Kerry, "Yes, Dear" star Mike O'Malley, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and husband Dick, restaurateurs Anthony Athanas Jr. of Anthony's Pier 4 and Tosca's Ed Kane, who was spotted in the owner's seats behind actor John Lithgow. Former GE honcho Jack Welch and his wife, author Suzy, were in their usual places cheering on the Sox, as were Mayor Tom Menino, and horrormeister Stephen King.

Damon cheers on Pats in Miami

Fresh off a trip to Japan where his "Bourne Ultimatum" just opened in theaters, Matt Damon (above right) was at Dolphins Stadium to see Patriots QB Tom Brady throw a team-record six touchdown passes. Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso have a home in Miami, but the Cambridge native was the guest of Pats owner Bob Kraft (above left). . . . Patriots tight end Ben Watson, who didn't travel with the team because he injured his ankle last week in Dallas, was spotted having a late dinner at P.F. Chang's in Park Square on Saturday night. Lest anyone wonder who Watson was rooting for, No. 84 was decked out in a Red Sox jersey. . . . And injured wide receiver Troy Brown was spotted taking in Saturday's Sox game with the sports chat types in the Entercom box on the left-field side of the park.

Sox boss joins the party

With his team alive for the seventh game of the championship series, Red Sox owner John Henry made a beeline from Fenway to The Estate Saturday night where Boston Common magazine was hosting a party for Playboy's new energy drink. We're told Henry, who is in the process of getting a divorce, got to the party and spent some time chatting up the five Playmates, shown above, from left: Jillian Grace (March 2005), Colleen Marie (August 2003), Shannon James (May 2007), Heather Smith (February 2007), and Kimberly Holland (October 2004).

Premiering a class act

As an Emmy Award-winning executive producer of "Friends," Kevin Bright (above) knows what makes a successful TV show. But the Emerson College alum didn't just come back to his alma mater to lecture about the state of the sitcom, he helped his students actually create one. On Friday night, Bright, who also is a trustee of the school, hosted a couple of viewing sessions for the premiere of "Browne @ Midnight," a comedy that was created by the college's students. "You could say I'm teaching and consulting," Bright told us. "It's about helping the students create things they are proud of and that can be viable on TV."

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.