HER VERDICT: Country singer Naomi Judd (F1)...

HER VERDICT: Country singer Naomi Judd (F1) has faced many struggles in her life--poverty, single motherhood, physical abuse and, in recent years, chronic active hepatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease. She’ll be in Orange County Oct. 15 for an appearance at the Crystal Cathedral. The ever-frank Judd was asked if there was anything about her life that she might change if she could. She quickly replied: “The O.J. verdict. . . . Well, you asked.”

PLAYOFF SPLASH: Forget the California Angels for now. The Splash--Anaheim’s indoor soccer team--won seven of its final eight to come up with its second consecutive national division title. . . . The Splash, averaging a record 8,429 fans at home this year--begin the playoffs tonight at The Pond of Anaheim against rival San Diego, a team it beat three out of four times this season. . . . One fan bonus: Park in the arena lot, show your ticket stub at a concession stand and get a free hot dog.

SCREEN TEST: “How to Make an American Quilt,” the movie version of Whitney Otto’s 1991 novel, opens today. Otto wrote her tale about a group of women in a quilting bee as her master’s thesis in UC Irvine’s graduate program in writing (E1). . . . The film stars Winona Ryder and eight other prominent actresses. Otto, who now lives in Portland, saw the film last week at a private screening and gives it two thumbs up: “I know so many writers end up hating movies that are made of their books, but I love this movie.”

JACK & JENNY: Add three burros to the growing stock at Centennial Farm at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Two are gifts from board members; the third comes from a federal adoption program. The farm--usually goats, chickens or cows--is toured by 40,000 school children each year. . . . Says its manager, Jim Bailey: “Centennial Farm is the only agriculture many of these kids have ever seen.” . . . Two of the burros are jennies, the other a jack.