They normally let their bats do the talking

For a guy who doesn't talk to the media, Manny Ramirez looked mighty comfortable sitting beside Jay Leno last night. Appearing on "The Tonight Show," Ramirez called Boston "one of the best cities ever," and said he and his teammates - winners of two World Series in the past four years - never believed in the Curse of the Bambino. "The new ownership that came in did awesome," said Manny, looking sharp in a pinstripe suit, white shirt, and sunglasses. (He took off the shades when he sat down.) Asked about the meaning of "Manny being Manny," No. 24 told Leno he just tries to be himself. "I don't try to be a person that I'm not," he said. "That's what my mom and dad taught me." The slugger said he and Leno have something in common: They both love cars. He even enlisted the host's help in finding a particular model. "My dad had a '56 Imperial," said Manny. "I'm looking for that." Ramirez, who managed to give a shout-out to both the Pats and Boston College during his six-minute segment, was enjoying himself. If he is looking to leave, he didn't show it. "Now, Boston is like a dynasty," said Manny. "Like the Yankees used to be." . . . Meanwhile, Kelly Ripa donned dreads and made like Manny yesterday while she and MTV's Damien Fahey talked to Sox slugger David Ortiz on "Live With Regis and Kelly."

Steve Kroft was at Ciao Bella on Newbury Street yesterday, but we're told he wasn't there for the penne Bolognese. Instead, the "60 Minutes" correspondent was meeting with John Martorano, the notorious Winter Hill Gang hit man who pleaded guilty in 1999 to killing 10 people and a host of other charges, including racketeering, extortion, and money-laundering. We're told Kroft is doing a piece about Martorano.

At least someone appreciates Jane Christo's efforts on behalf of Albania. The former general manager of WBUR was recently awarded the "medal of gratitude" by Albanian president Alfred Moisiu, who commended Christo for training Albanian journalists and her "professional assistance in organizing the free press of Albania." Ironically, after Christo stepped down as the radio station's GM in 2004, BU said it was investigating whether Christo padded the 'BUR payroll with patronage hires, including more than a dozen employees from Albania. How did we hear about the award? From Christo's husband, Van, president of the Frosina Information Network, a cultural and information resource for - who else? - Albanian immigrants.

The opening of the new Morton's in the Seaport District attracted quite a crowd the other night. Among those celebrating the new steakhouse - and sampling the sumptuous buffet - were several Morton's muckety-mucks, including cofounder Klaus Fritsch and CEO Tom Baldwin; Seaport CEO John Drew; Reebok's Paul Foster; Longwood Events host with the most Jim Apteker; Vivien Li of the Boston Harbor Association; chefs Tony Susi of Sage and Marc Orfaly of Pigalle; "On Broadway" director Dave McLaughlin; and author Ben Mezrich and wife Tonya.

The Women's Lunch Place threw a fund-raising party this week as it marks 25 years of serving poor and homeless women in Boston. Guests included Howard and Michele Kessler, Tudor Investments titan Jim Pallotta and wife Kim, former Suffolk County DA Ralph Martin, Boston Public Library president Bernie Margolis, TV type Janet Wu, Mayor Tom Menino and wife Angela, influence peddler Tom O'Neill, former DNC chair Steve Grossman and wife Barbara, state Representative Marty Walz, the Steppingstone Foundation's Mike Danziger, and event MC Susan Wornick. A visit with Bill Clinton was the most popular auction item - two people each bid $15,000 for the privilege of meeting the former president.

The Celts season opener was a hot ticket last night, especially among Sox and Pats players. Expected at TD Banknorth Garden to catch KG's Boston debut were world champs Tim Wakefield, Manny Delcarmen, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, and Jonathan Papelbon. (Sox sultan John Henry and CEO Larry Lucchino had seats courtside.) The gridiron guys on the guest list included Adalius Thomas, Vince Wilfork, Laurence Maroney, Ellis Hobbs, Eugene Wilson, Mike Wright, Lonie Paxton, Wes Welker, and Junior Seau. Otherwise, Celts superfan Donnie Wahlberg was MIA, but comedian Lenny Clarke was front and center.

A Tiffany lamp once owned by Barbra Streisand is among the items on sale at this weekend's Ellis Memorial Antiques Show at the Castle at the Park Plaza. (The lamp is the pink one on the left.) A fund-raiser for Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program at Mass. General, the annual antiques show has a new manager, Chris Jussel, late of WGBH"s "Antiques Road Show." The Streisand lamp can be yours for a mere $1 million.

On the whole, Ben Affleck's better half is winning raves for her Broadway debut. Jennifer Garner's getting good notices for her performance opposite Kevin Kline in "Cyrano de Bergerac." Writing in The New York Times, Ben Brantley had this to say: "Ms. Garner, I am pleased to report, makes Roxane a girl worth pining over. . . . The action-ready, long-limbed presence that made her a natural for the spy series 'Alias' lends a lively touch of the tomboy to Roxane." And The Washington Post's Peter Marks called Garner's performance "poised, vivacious, and plucky." (The AP's Michael Kuchwara was somewhat less impressed, writing that Garner "seems stuck in a one-note performance, mostly in the broad-stroke key of determined.") Affleck, of course, was in the audience for opening night.

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

Correction: Because of a reporting error, an item in the Nov. 3 Names column misstated when Boston University began investigating allegations of wrongdoing at WBUR. The investigation began before Jane Christo resigned as WBUR's general manager in 2004.