Former Philly sportscaster Jenna Wolfe pregnant...and gay

FORMER WB 17 sportscaster and current "Today" show weekend anchor Jenna Wolfe announced Wednesday that she is expecting a baby girl with her partner, NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk. The announcement is the first time Wolfe has publicly discussed her sexuality.

"This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to us," Wolfe told People magazine, whose exclusive interview with the couple hits newsstands on Friday. "But I don't want to bring my daughter into a world where I'm not comfortable telling everyone who I am and who her mother is."

Wolfe was artificially inseminated by an anonymous donor.

After hearing Wolfe's happy news, I called up Don Tollefson, the former Fox 29 sports director, who dated Wolfe for a little over a year during her Philly tenure. Despite their ex-status, Tolly had only kind words for Wolfe.

"I have not only tremendous well-wishes for her as a person. She comes from an absolutely awesome family. She's so good on the air, and I've always admired her . . . moxie is such a corny word to use. She has incredible curiosity on the air," Tollefson told me. "I've followed her career from afar. I always said to her, 'Be yourself because to be yourself is so appealing to people.' She's obviously taken that and run with it."

Tollefson is a new dad himself, with 3-year-old Gabriella at home. I suggested a playdate between Gabriella and Wolfe's baby-to-be and he said his girl would certainly be into the idea.

Tollefson is the host of "Tolly's Awesome Friends," showcasing local heroes in the community. The show airs on WMCN, an independent TV channel reaching Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Wilmington and Trenton. It is Channel 21 in Philadelphia. For more on Tollefson, visit employyoungadults.com

* Eagle Todd Herremans will host his Hoops For Help event at the West Club at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night to benefit the Herremans Foundation, which doles out cash to charities in the Philadelphia area and around Herremans' home state of Michigan. Hanging with Herremans for the night will be Eagles buddies Jon Dorenbos, Brent Celek, LeSean McCoy and Jason Kelce, and former Eagle A.J. Feeley and his wife, retired Olympic soccer star Heather Mitts, who was recently named as a sideline reporter for the Philadelphia Union.

* The Black History and Culture Showcase sets up shop Saturday and Sunday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and it's got a whole slate of amazing-looking (and free!) programming. I'm particularly jazzed about the Wilt Chamberlain photo exhibit that will also include info on a petition to get Wilt the Stilt on a U.S. postage stamp.

* South Jersey auction house Goldin Auctions has a Philly sports-centric slate up for sale, including a rare Honus Wagner T206 cigarette card and the Darren Daulton Memorabilia Collection, including a bottle of Dom Perignon signed by Daulton, John Kruk, Mariano Duncan and Dave Hollins.

* The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund will fete Coatesville-born Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir as its National HERO Award recipient at the HEROES event on May 19.

* Charles Barkley dined at Alla Spina on Wednesday night. Sources tell me that Barkley, former Daily News advice columnist, spent much of his dining time hamming it up with fans and posing for photos.

* Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is quite the fashionable fellow. Before the Bucks' game Wednesday night against the Sixers, Jennings stopped by Mitchell & Ness' flagship store at 12th and Chestnut, picking up a Bucks jacket, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron jerseys and lots of gear from his native L.A.

Email: eichelm@phillynews.com

On Twitter: @PhillyGossipDN