Stating her case

Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright was at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum yesterday to talk with Harvard professor Joseph Nye about politics and her new book "Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership." Albright has been out stumping for Democratic presidential candidate (and fellow Wellesley College alum) Hillary Clinton and has just started to tour for "Memo," which was released last week.

Tom Brady, who knows a thing or two about famous female friends, says it's "absurd" for anyone to criticize Tony Romo because the Dallas QB and his bombshell girlfriend went away for a few days before the playoffs. Appearing on WEEI yesterday, No. 12 told John Dennis and Gerry Callahan that even highly paid professional athletes "have a life to live." Brady suggested that if the Cowboys had won Sunday, no one would be ripping Romo for his trip to Mexico with siren Jessica Simpson. "You do whatever you need to do to relax," said Brady, who confessed to being a "homebody" before big games. (For the record, Brady spent most of the the bye week in Manhattan with his supermodel sweetheart Gisele Bundchen.) Brady also admitted that he did a bit of acting to draw that roughing-the-passer penalty Saturday. Sounding like Stanislavski himself, the QB explained the play this way: "As I'm falling, I'm kind of looking at the ref with, like, a pouty dog face, like, can you believe they just hit me late?" Academy Award nominations will be announced next week.

Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank and her boyfriend, John Campisi, were in Boston over the weekend getting a little Newbury Street pampering. (Swank has been in Connecticut filming the comedy "Birds of America" with Boston-bred actor Ben Foster and BU alum Ginnifer Goodwin.) Swank and Campisi spent a chunk of Saturday afternoon at MELT Salon & Spa, where they each got 80-minute massages. While the "Million Dollar Baby" star was waiting for Campisi, Swank got a pedicure, but that seemed to present another problem. Swank couldn't put her sneakers back on over her newly sparkly toes, so one of the MELT staff ran across the street and got the actress a pair of flip-flops that she wore out to lunch before returning to the salon to retrieve her shoes and other Newbury Street purchases. The couple had such a hard time finding a parking space - don't we all - the salon staff let them park behind their building.

Red Sox pitching ace Curt Schilling and wife Shonda made it through the snow to take in the Celtics game against Washington last night at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Casey Affleck's wife Summer Phoenix has given birth to the couple's second son, according to a posting on CaseyAffleck.com. The new baby, whose name was not given, joins big brother Indiana August, 3.

The Brad Delp Foundation, created in honor of the late lead singer of Boston and Beatle Juice, announced its initial grant yesterday. The $15,000 donation to the nonprofit John Lennon Educational Tour Bus will officially be made by Delp's daughter Jenna this week. The tour bus is a state-of-the-art mobile recording facility for students. "This seems like a perfect organization for our first grant, one that is so in keeping with everything my Dad stood for as a musician and as a human being," Jenna Delp said in a statement. Delp, who committed suicide last March, was active during his lifetime in numerous charities, including children's causes, anti-violence efforts, school fund-raisers, and hunger and shelter programs.

Legendary Boston morning radio host Jess Cain sent word that he's out of the hospice - where he spent the holidays - and back at his Boston home recovering after several rounds of chemotherapy. "There's no way we could personally thank everyone, but the cards and letters truly warmed my heart," the 81-year-old former broadcaster wrote in an e-mail. Cain, 81, held court weekday mornings on the defunct WHDH 850-AM (now WEEI) for 33 years before retiring in 1991. Known for his easy and entertaining on-air manner, Cain's shows often featured songs including parodies like "Fly Me to Metheun" and the ditty about Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski called "The Yaz Song," which was featured in the movie "Fever Pitch."

The lack of a red carpet at the Golden Globes deprived the celebrity world of a chance to show off their latest posh frocks. But the VIP celebrity swag suites were still all the rage for the Hollywood set. Bridget Moynahan and John, her son with Pats QB Tom Brady, were among the scores to stop by the Boom Boom Room at the Hyatt Regency in Los Angeles over the weekend to pick up some Bebe au Lait lagniappe. While there, No. 12's ex did her part for charity by autographing a Bebe au Lait nursing cover that will be auctioned off later this year. Others spotted at the Bebe suite were Dorchester-born actor Neal McDonough with his wife, Ruve, and their little ones, Morgan and Catherine Maggie; "Brotherhood" star and Golden Globe nominee Jason Isaacs; "Sex and the City" actor Evan Handler; and Madison Pettis, who starred in "The Game Plan."

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