Chicago Tribune Around Town column: Chicago Cubs players glad Lou Piniella laid down law with Milton Bradley

Broken drink coolers, slammed helmets and UFOs have been common this season. But manager Lou Piniella finally laid down the law Friday when he sent outfielder Milton Bradley home after he had a dugout temper tantrum during the game against the White Sox.

"Somebody could get hurt," Piniella concluded.

"I think it is just Lou's mentality as a whole to create a good game-time environment," said Cubs left-hander Sean Marshall, who has appeared in the first two games of this series and took the loss Saturday. "I don't know, whenever somebody does [what Bradley did Friday], you say, 'Man, I wish he was in good spirits so we could pick him up.'

"Lou means business and he wants to put the best players on the field. Milt is one of our best players. Over the last few years he has done so well."

Left-fielder Alfonso Soriano says he wants to see the better side of the slumping Bradley, who went 1-for-5 in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Sox.

"Sometimes you can get mad, but not like that," Soriano said. "I never saw anything like that [temper display] in all my years in the league. Lou is a great manager and I have a lot of respect for him. We will see what happens."

Word on the street: "Forever Blue," a new book by Michael D'Antonio that profiles the late, legendary Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, is now available in stores. The book takes an in-depth look into the move of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The Dodgers defeated the White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just the Dodgers' second season in Los Angeles.

Local attractions: Piniella, Ernie Banks and Dutchie Caray are scheduled to appear July 8 at Harry Caray's Restaurant to take part in the West Side Rooters Social Club's Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation charity event. Tickets are $50 apiece. ... Current Bulls players Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas, legends Artis Gilmore and Bob Love, as well as coaches and broadcasters are slated to participate Aug. 17 in the Chicago Bulls/Verizon Wireless Charity Golf Outing at the White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville. Tickets can be purchased via the Bulls at 312-455-4122 or CR@bulls.com. ... On July 7, former Bears tight end Emery Moorehead will be the co-chair for the NFLPA Retired Players Chicago Chapter's charity golf outing at Highland Park Country Club. Proceeds will provide four-year scholarships of $2,500 per year for a male and female student-athlete. Fans can register online at golfinvite.com/nflwbbm. ... Bears kicker Robbie Gould will host a miniature golf challenge "Play Nine with No. 9" July 9 at The Green at Grant Park, 352 E Monroe St., to benefit his Goulden Touch Foundation (thegouldentouch.org). For tickets contact Carol at 630-315-2964 or events@thegouldentouch.org. ... The family of former Bears star William "Refrigerator" Perry has set up a Web site, fridgefund.homestead.com, to help raise funds for his rising medical bills. Perry is battling the effects of Guillain Barre syndrome.

fmitchell@tribune.com

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