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By TIMES WIRES
Published August 12, 2006

Mental-health exam on tap for Clarett

Maurice Clarett, above, was ordered Friday to have a mental-health evaluation after a highway chase and violent struggle with police who caught him with four loaded guns. The former Ohio State football star insisted he is competent to stand trial in another case. Judge David Fais delayed the trial, set to begin Monday, on previous charges accusing the player of holding up two people outside a bar on New Year's Day. The events surrounding Clarett's arrest early Wednesday made the evaluation by a doctor necessary, Fais said. "I don't know why we have to drag this thing out," said Clarett, who scoffed, smiled and rolled his head back when Fais ordered the evaluation.

OUT OF BOUNDS

BIBLE BELT? Focus on the Family, a prominent Christian organization, has been tossed out of Sunday's Faith Day at Turner Field in Atlanta. The group, founded by James Dobson, was barred after sponsoring the first event at Turner Field last month. Though the Braves didn't explain the decision, gay-rights supporters speculated that the group's belief that homosexuality is a social problem was a factor.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Folks around here know that Bucs greats Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon are Oklahoma football legends, too. But, who was the other brother who played for the Sooners?

QUOTABLE

"I wasn't anything spectacular."

- kobe bryant, on playing soccer as a child in Italy, where his father played pro basketball

CHECK IT OUT

GET YOUR SHARPIES: The Storm's Lawrence Samuels and former Florida football player Buck Gurley are scheduled to sign autographs from 2-4 p.m. today and Sunday at Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg.

A KICK IN THE GRASS: With the Rowdies Cup on the line, the USF men's soccer team plays Tampa in an exhibition match at 7:30 tonight at the USF Soccer Stadium in Tampa. Admission is free.

ANSWER

Lucious. All three were All-Americans as defensive players.

[Last modified August 12, 2006, 02:14:08]