Police Seeking Clarett After Armed Robbery

Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett was accused of robbing two people at gunpoint in an alley behind a bar early Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, the latest trouble for the former Buckeye star who left the school in disgrace and failed to gain early entry into the NFL.

According to police, Clarett fled the scene and was being sought on two counts of aggravated robbery. He left in a white sport utility vehicle with two other men after allegedly taking a cellphone from the two people, who weren’t injured.

The 22-year-old Clarett fled when the bar owner or manager, who knew Clarett and the alleged victims, came into the alley and identified him, police said.

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel said he was informed of the incident on his way to the Fiesta Bowl news conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“Obviously, my reaction to that is it’s sad,” Tressel said, “because ... my hope would be that he would have an opportunity to go over to NFL Europe and make a comeback.”

Clarett’s agent, Steve Feldman, said Sunday evening he had not spoken to his client.

*

Former NBA player Charles Shackleford was arrested on suspicion of drug and weapon violations during a routine traffic stop at Smithfield, N.C.

Shackleford, who played at North Carolina State and with four NBA teams in six seasons, faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine.

TENNIS

Hingis Wins Her Comeback Match

Martina Hingis won in her return to competitive tennis, beating Maria Vento-Kabchi, 6-2, 6-1, in a first-round match at the Australian women’s hardcourt championships at Gold Coast.

Hingis, 25, won five Grand Slam singles titles before retiring in 2002 because of ankle, heel and foot injuries. She showed no sign of the extended layout as she outplayed Vento-Kabchi.

MISCELLANY

U.S. Women Beat Canada in Hockey

Krissy Wendell scored two goals to help the U.S. beat Canada, 5-3, in a women’s exhibition hockey game at Winnipeg, Canada. The game was the last meeting between the teams before they head to the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, next month.

*

Utilityman Mike Edwards agreed to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He batted .247 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 88 games last season for the Dodgers.

*

Rice introduced Tulsa defensive coordinator Todd Graham as its new head coach, one day after he helped the Golden Hurricane win the Liberty Bowl.

Graham, 41, replaces Ken Hatfield, who resigned on Nov. 30 after 12 seasons. Rice went 1-10 in 2005.

*

Jakub Janda of the Czech Republic won the second leg of the annual ski jumping Four Hills tour at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for his fifth World Cup victory of the season.