Divorce filing targets Kosar
Friday, May 12, 2006
Mark Rollenhagen, Tony Grossi, and Amanda Garrett
Plain Dealer Reporters
Bernie Kosar's wife asked a judge to order one of Cleveland's favorite former quarterbacks to undergo a psychiatric exam.
She also asked the judge to have Kosar tested for drugs amid an ugly divorce unfolding in a Florida court.
Whether Kosar had to do either is unclear, but he told the Miami Herald that he still loves his wife, Babette, and hopes their marriage can be saved even now, seven months after she filed for divorce.
Babette Kosar's request for the tests has been sealed at Bernie Kosar's request and most of the court records are not available on the Broward County court's Web site.
Her attorney declined to comment on the case Thursday. His attorney did not return a call.
Efforts to reach Kosar on Thursday were unsuccessful.
This week, Babette Kosar asked the judge for sole possession of the couple's $1.2 million home near Fort Lauderdale. They still are working out details about who gets the four children and when.
Since leaving football, Bernie Kosar has owned a restaurant in South Miami and developed property in Florida.
Babette Kosar contends in court documents that her husband has been giving away money and property to family and friends, acting "irrationally and irresponsibly," according to the Miami Herald.
She cites "increasingly bizarre and erratic behavior and various other addictions," the Herald reported.
Kosar, however, dismissed his wife's allegations as ludicrous, according to the paper.
Kosar, who grew up in Boardman, Ohio, became a fan favorite when he was taken by the Browns with the first pick in the 1985 summer supplemental draft. He played for the Browns from 1985 to 1993.
During a successful business career, Kosar considered making a bid to buy the Browns in the expansion process in 1998, but backed out to support the bid by the ownership group of Al Lerner and Carmen Policy. The group indicated at the time that Kosar would have a role in the franchise.
Although public sentiment has consistently supported it, no formal role for Kosar ever existed with the Browns since the team returned as an expansion franchise in 1999.
Owner Randy Lerner, who took over after his father's death in 2002, said Kosar "has consistently declined my overtures to create a role that he would enjoy" because of family and other business obligations.
Kosar almost seemed persona non grata while Policy was team president and CEO. That isn't the case today. In fact, Kosar was a visitor to the inner sanctum of the Browns facility a week before the draft and offered his take on some of the top players available.
Lerner said he has never witnessed Kosar exhibit "bizarre" or "erratic" behavior.
"Not only have I not seen evidence of any of this type of allegation, but I've seen conduct which is caring and measured and rational," Lerner said. "I've seen a consistent and steady spirit of friendship, spirit of support for the team, for the city."
Kosar has fostered a relationship with Browns quarterback Charlie Frye, who grew up with a poster of Kosar's playing days with the Browns in his bedroom in Willard, Ohio.
At a banquet in Akron this week, Frye disclosed that he and Kosar talked "probably once a week" during last season. He said that he and Kosar recently watched a couple of Browns game tapes together.
Bernie's one of the smartest guys footballwise I've ever talked to," Frye said.
But when the subject of Kosar getting more involved with Frye as a mentor came up, Frye said, "Bernie has other things on his plate. He has his family in Florida."
Browns Hall of Famer Jim Brown, who holds the title of executive adviser with the Browns, also alluded to Kosar's family situation when he was asked recently if Kosar could have a formal role with the team.
Brown said, "Bernie can't commit to it. He has too much involvement with his family."
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