No matter the denials or (more recently) the simple ''no comment'' lines, the Madonna-Alex Rodriguez romance apparently is the real deal.
Sources close to the music superstar and the New York Yankees slugger claim Madonna is truly smitten by A-Rod, allegedly telling a close pal Rodriguez ''has the heart of a poet trapped inside an insanely gorgeous body.''
Rodriguez himself is said to be something of a romantic -- penning not Madonna poems, but sweet, personal and rambling expressions of his feelings.
One person who claims to have seen them calls the notes ''sort of like old-fashioned love notes.''
• Unlike Madonna's soon-to-be-ex-husband Guy Ritchie, Rodriguez also is said to be ''very intrigued'' with the entertainer's well-known devotion to the kaballah teachings she has said are central to how she lives her life.
MICHELLE'S STYLE: While in town Monday, former ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'' star Carson Kressley predicted Michelle Obama ''will be a huge boost for the fashion industry, but not in a flamboyant way.'' The host of Lifetime's ''How to Look Good Naked'' said the new first lady will ''bring an excitement to the White House we haven't seen since Jackie Kennedy. ... Though we had another more recent first lady who loved fashion -- Nancy Reagan -- this is different. Mrs. Obama is a young, contemporary woman with two young kids. She's been a working woman. I think she will forge her own way and wear great clothes -- from American designers -- that will express her style in an elegant, sophisticated way.''
As for the rumors Obama will choose longtime Chicago favorite Maria Pinto to design her inaugural gown, Kressley said, ''I wouldn't be surprised. I get the sense she's all about encouraging good, homegrown American talent.''
Kressley was in town making appearances for the New York & Company chain, which sells moderately priced women's apparel. Among possible new projects on his slate: ''I did a pilot for a talk show for Lifetime and have my fingers crossed, but you never know in TV land.''
SEEN ON THE SCENE: The audience for Friday afternoon's taping of Judge Greg Mathis' show at NBC Tower got a nice surprise. During one of the segments, the TV judge told one of the litigants he had a deputy to help him with his final decision, and up jumped Shaquille O'Neal! The NBA superstar made big points with the crowd, especially when he spent special time with a young woman in the audience with Down syndrome. ... Sun-Timeser Richard Roeper slipped into Gibsons for dinner with ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' star Larry David, after the duo did a Q&A at the Jewish United Fund dinner at the Chicago Hilton & Towers. Could Richard be making a future appearance on ''Curb'' -- similar to his recent gig on ''Entourage''? I wouldn't be surprised. ... Also supping at Gibsons in recent days have been actor Peter Gallagher and his son James, a theater student at Northwestern, and (separately) scribe Bill Zehme toasting his 50th, Ryne Sandberg, Adam Carolla and Mellody Hobson with her main man George Lucas. ... John Cusack made the scene at both Devon and Hugo's Frog Bar. ... ''CSI: Miami'' star Adam Rodriguez hung out at LuxBar. ... While in Chicago covering the presidential transition, CBS News' Bill Plante also celebrated the arrival of his newest grandchildren, Paige and Benjamin, twins born to son David Plante and his wife, Dr. Meredith Rivers of Wilmette. The babies arrived three years after Rivers gave birth to another set of twins. ... Hugh Hefner's ex, Bridgett Marquardt, partied at Martini Park with a bunch of pals. ... Meanwhile, former Hefner mainstay and ''The Girls Next Door'' star Holly Madison is expected at RiNo's third anniversary bash Thursday.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The episode of PBS chef Ming Tsai's ''Simply Ming,'' taped in Chicago recently with Our Town's major foodie Gale Gand (all about cooking with lychees and champagne), airs at 1 p.m. Saturday on WTTW-Channel 11.
