Haggard suggested divorce after scandal

Haggard suggested divorce after scandal

DENVER — Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard says he wanted his wife to divorce him after a sex scandal involving another man, but she refused.

Haggard made the comments in a two-part episode of the syndicated television show “Divorce Court” to be broadcast April 1-2. The show released a partial transcript Tuesday.

Haggard resigned as pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs and as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after a male prostitute from Denver alleged a cash-for-sex relationship with him in November 2006.

Haggard confessed to “sexual immorality.”

Both Haggard and his wife, Gayle, appear on “Divorce Court,” but her comments about the possibility of a divorce weren’t released.

Ted Haggard said he wasn’t rejecting his wife but thought he had become so “toxic” that divorce was best for her and their children. He said she replied, “No way. I’m not going to do that.”

The Dead take action against ticket scalpers

LOS ANGELES — It was time, says The Dead’s Bob Weir, to give charitable causes a boost while directing a kick to the hindquarters of ticket scalpers.

So he and his bandmates announced they have held back some of the best seats for their forthcoming spring tour and are putting them up for bid in an online auction.

Want to sit in the third row, center-stage-right, for the tour’s opening show April 12 in Greensboro, N.C.? The bidding starts at $250 at charityfolks.com.

Proceeds will benefit a number of charities the group has supported for years, including its Rex Foundation, which was established by the Grateful Dead in 1983 and provides grants to support the arts, science, education and other causes.

Successful bidders won’t be able to collect their tickets until the day of a show to minimize scalping, Weir said.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Leonard Nimoy is 78. Actor Alan Arkin is 75. Actor James Caan is 69. Singer Diana Ross is 65. Singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 61. Singer-actress Vicki Lawrence is 60. Singer Teddy Pendergrass is 59. Actor Martin Short is 59. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 59. Talk show host Leeza Gibbons is 52. Actor Michael Imperioli (“Life on Mars,” “The Sopranos”) is 43. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 41. Actor T.R. Knight (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 36. Rapper Juvenile is 34. Actress Keira Knightley is 24. Rapper J-Kwon is 23.