THE SIDELINES : Schlichter in Gambling Therapy

Art Schlichter, whose clean image as a college football quarterback was tarnished by gambling after he made it to the NFL, has entered a Las Vegas hospital that specializes in treating chronic gamblers, his lawyer says.

Schlichter admitted himself for 30 days Monday, his lawyer, Charles F. Freiburger, said in a letter to Circleville Municipal Judge O. Charles Hosterman. It is at least the third time he has been hospitalized for gambling.

Schlichter, suspended twice from the NFL for gambling, had been ordered to appear in court Friday on a $150 bad check charge.

Hosterman told Freiburger that Schlichter, 29, must appear in court Nov. 29. Freiburger entered a plea of innocent for Schlichter last Friday and asked for a jury trial.