Heavily Armed Clarett Arrested

The legal morass that has ensnared Maurice Clarett since he was Ohio State’s star running back mounted Wednesday when police in Columbus, Ohio, found four loaded guns in his sport utility vehicle and couldn’t subdue him with a stun gun because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

It was only the latest in a series of problems for the beleaguered Clarett, who hasn’t played a game since scoring the winning touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl as a freshman for Ohio State’s 2002 national champions.

He already faced trial in an armed robbery case next week, and his bond on those charges was raised to $1.1 million after he was jailed on the new weapon and traffic charges.

Clarett hid one semi-automatic handgun under his legs in the driver’s seat and had an AK-47-type assault rifle on the passenger seat, police said. They said they found two other semi-automatic handguns, including one in a holster in a backpack.

“We don’t have any idea why he had them or what, if anything, he was going to do with them,” Columbus police Sgt. Michael Woods said. “But if you’ve got four guns in your car, you’re up to no good.”

The arrest came near the home of a witness set to testify against Clarett next week in the robbery case, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said.

When police tried to shock Clarett, they couldn’t because of the vest and had to use pepper spray.

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Racing veterans Al Unser Sr. and Bobby Unser were arrested in Albuquerque after sheriff’s deputies said the brothers ignored orders to leave an area where authorities had cornered a carjacking suspect.

The Unsers, who have seven Indianapolis 500 victories between them, were arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest and obstructing officers. They were booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and later released.

PRO FOOTBALL

Redskins Rookie Is Found Unconscious

Washington Redskins rookie offensive lineman Kili Lefotu was found unconscious in his room and was undergoing tests at a hospital in Ashburn, Va.

Coaches became concerned when Lefotu failed to show up for the team’s evening practice. Representatives were sent to the National Conference Center, where the players are being housed. They found Lefotu unresponsive and called emergency services to take Lefotu to a hospital.

Coach Joe Gibbs said Lefotu appeared to be doing better, but doctors had yet to diagnose what happened.

“He’s responsive, he’s talking, which wasn’t the case when they first found him at the dorm,” Gibbs said.

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Terrell Owens ran hard, made cuts and came to some quick stops while catching passes, but did so during a post-practice session with a fourth-string quarterback, not with the rest of the Dallas Cowboys starters at Oxnard.

Owens said his sore left hamstring was “better,” but it probably will keep him out of the exhibition opener Saturday night in Seattle.

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New York Jets running back Curtis Martin reiterated he wants to play this season but is unsure when he will be able to return.

The NFL’s No. 4 all-time leading rusher said he is working out every day so he can come back as quickly as possible and is hopeful he can play in the season opener Sept. 10 at Tennessee. But he made no guarantees about when his injured right knee would allow him to resume his career.

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Linebacker LaVar Arrington, signed for $49 million in the off-season and touted as a key addition as the New York Giants seek to elevate themselves into a Super Bowl contender, will miss New York’s exhibition opener against Baltimore on Friday because of soreness in his right knee.

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New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has a broken wrist and will not play in any exhibition games, Coach Bill Belichick said.

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The Miami Dolphins were granted a roster exemption for defensive tackle Manny Wright, sidelined because of personal reasons, and they acquired cornerback Chris Thompson off waivers from Cleveland.... The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed tight end Leonard Stephens and released receiver Terrence Stubbs.... Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will miss tonight’s exhibition opener at St. Louis because of a shoulder injury.... San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer signed a five-year contract extension, taking him through the 2012 season.

TENNIS

Federer Advances; Blake, Robredo Lose

Top-ranked Roger Federer beat Sebastien Grosjean, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round of the Rogers Cup at Toronto. Fifth-seeded James Blake and seventh-seeded Tommy Robredo both lost, leaving only three of the top 10 seeded players. Richard Gasquet upset Blake, 6-4, 6-3. Jose Acasuso beat Robredo, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

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Top-seeded Anastasia Myskina, Li Na, Tsvetana Pironkova and Martina Sucha advanced to the quarterfinals of the Nordic Light Open at Stockholm.

MISCELLANY

Baseball to Appeal Fantasy Leagues Ruling

Major League Baseball and its players association said they will appeal a court ruling that gave fantasy league operators a green light to operate their potentially lucrative games without first seeking a license from professional baseball. The league and players have maintained that players should be compensated for the use of statistics generated during baseball games. A federal judge in St. Louis, however, ruled that game statistics are in the public domain.

-- Greg Johnson

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Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony had no swelling or pain and was walking normally, one day after hyper-extending his knee while playing for the U.S. national team in China.

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Paige Mackenzie continued her solid play to advance after the opening round of match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club at North Plains, Ore.

Mackenzie, the top finisher in stroke-play qualifying this week, defeated Leah Wigger, the 64th qualifier, 3 and 2.

The biggest upset came late in the day when Lauren Espinosa of Texas defeated UCLA’s Jane Park, the 2004 Amateur champion, 1-up. Maria Jose Uribe defeated 15-year-old Jane Rah of Torrance, 4 and 3.

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Ross Marcano of El Cajon made a 15-foot putt for birdie on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Southern California PGA Professional Championship at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. Marcano defeated Mark Wilson of Thousand Oaks and Jeff Cranford of La Quinta in the playoff.

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Harry Sinden, president of the Boston Bruins for the last 17 years, resigned to become an advisor to club owner Jeremy Jacobs.

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Ohio State tight end Marcel Frost was suspended for the upcoming season for violating team rules.

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Paul Thomas, who guided Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program to two Division II championships, has been named the coach of Division I St. Mary’s.

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The pipeline from Lakewood Artesia to Arizona State continued when senior shooting guard James Harden committed to play basketball for the Sun Devils. The 6-foot-5 Harden averaged 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in leading the Pioneers to the Division III state title. He will rejoin Scott Pera, who resigned as coach of the Pioneers last spring before becoming director of basketball operations at Arizona State. Derek Glasser, a senior point guard for the Pioneers last season, signed with the Sun Devils in early July.

PASSINGS

Former Horse Trainer Landers Dies at 88

Longtime Southern California trainer Dale Landers, who saddled War Heim to victory in the 1971 Strub Stakes at 49-1 odds, died Aug. 3 at 88 at Temple City Convalescent Home.

A former jockey, Landers started training in 1939 and won 185 races at Santa Anita and 217 at Hollywood Park, including eight stakes.