He's worked as a busboy for eight years at Saloon (750 S. 7th), where he struck up a friendship with one generous regular at the Italian restaurant who volunteered to pay his Temple tuition.

During a visit to Saloon last summer, Charles Barkley asked Abate how he was enjoying teaching, and was disappointed to learn that Abate had still not returned to Temple because of problems securing financial aid. Abate, 28, of South Philly, started at Temple in 1997, months after graduating from St. John Neumann High.

Sir Charles told Abate he would like to help him with his tuition, and Abate wasn't sure how to respond. Barkley didn't give him much time, telling Abate that he had the length of Barkley's meal to decide. Abate wisely accepted.

"He's a nice kid," Barkley said of Abate on Friday. "He was working with kids, I loved that he wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to help him," Barkley told us by phone between stops on a flight to Reno where he was making a speech.

When we joked to Barkley that people were going to be calling him today asking for money, he said "People always call me asking for money, and Christian never asked, which is why I wanted to help him out."

Abate says he will be forever grateful to Barkley who is "giving me a second shot at doing something with my life." Abate is scheduled to graduate next May.

Barkley says that helping Abate is in line with his efforts to aid in education, which has been important to him in recent years. Barkley's given $1 million to his Alabama high school Leeds, another million to Corningstone High, in a poor area of Birmingham, and $1 million to Auburn University, where he played before being drafted by the Sixers in 1984.

Wired host Chio sued for divorce

Shawn Acosta, the wife of Wired 96.5 morning man Chio, has filed for divorce, as we reported Friday on PhillyGossip.com.

"She and Chio are parting as the best of friends," says her attorney, Lois Garber Schwartz, adding that her client has no further comment. The couple celebrated their 20th anniversary in April at the Victor Cafe (13th & Dickinson), and had been seen together publicly several times since. In January 2006, Chio aka Tim Acosta, accepted a radio gig at XHTZ in San Diego, Calif., and quit the next day. "The truth of the matter is, I had two options," the former Q102 morning host told us at that time. "I could either stay in San Diego and let my marriage and family dissolve, or move home with no job and put my family back together. In the past, I've put radio first before my wife and kids, but now it was time to put my professional career on hold and fix the most important thing in my life," he said of Shawn and the couple's three children.

Chio did not return a voice mail left on his cell phone Friday.

Out and about

Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh stopped into Guitar Center (2100 Rt. 38) in Cherry Hill a couple of days ago where he picked up four guitars. Walsh, who left with a new Fender Stratocaster, two Gibson Les Pauls and a Gibson Diablo SG, was helped by assistant manager, Ralph Confredo, lead guitarist of Nasty Habits.

_ Mayor Nutter and family joined Water Works owner Michael Karloutsos and about 500 guests as the restaurant and lounge marked its second anniversary a couple of nights back.

_ Flyers left wing Riley Cote will ring the opening bell at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange tomorrow. Cote will be joined by Amanda Bednar, of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. Cote, an active volunteer with the organization, has a personal connection, as his sister was diagnosed with the disease eight years ago.

Sneak peek at 'Best of Philly' list

The sliders at Southampton's Blue Sage Vegetarian (772 Second Street Pike) took the Best Sliders category in Philadelphia magazine's "Best of Philly" issue, which is out this week. Other awards include Best Sports Executive/Worst Firing: Billy King; Best Milkshake: Snow White (19th & Chestnut); and Best Event: Philly Beer Week, which was co-chaired by the People Paper's Joe Sixpack, as well as Tom Peters of Monk's and Belgian Cafe. Attytood by the People Paper's Will Bunch took Best Blog, and the Best Sequel to Voters Electing Michael Nutter: Voters not electing Johnny Doc. Ouch. *

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest stories. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.