Can He Handle Defense At This Kind of Court?

One reason to look forward to the start of Allen Iverson's $20 million civil assault trial in D.C. federal court today: Lawyers for the plaintiffs are begging the judge to let them show the jury a clip from the NBA superstar's appearance on Ashton Kutcher's "Punk'd."

It seems the clip shows Iverson being told that he can't get into a nightclub party until the Bush twins leave -- totally not true, ha ha, but a typical gag from the VIP practical-joke TV show -- and a friend getting up in the bouncer's face insisting that he has to get his man inside. This is relevant, lawyers say, because it shows the relationship Iverson had with the entourage that, on an unrelated occasion, allegedly beat up two Maryland men who dared to sit in the baller's reserved seats at D.C. nightspot Eyebar two years ago.

But considering that this is the same killjoy judge who refused to let the plaintiffs subpoena 50 Cent, it's probably not gonna happen.

The alleged victims, Marlin Godfrey and David Anthony Kittrell, assert that they suffered serious injuries -- including a concussion and perforated eardrum -- after their run-in with the former Hoya's posse. Iverson himself could be called to the stand as early as Thursday or Friday, and is expected to deny that either he or his security guard and co-defendant Jason Kane had anything to do with the beatdown, according to court filings.

Meanwhile, a second federal suit stemming from alleged Iverson-entourage high jinks in a D.C. nightclub -- in this case, a local man who claims Iverson's security walloped him at Zanzibar in June '04 -- is slowly moving toward trial as well. Iverson has denied those charges and doesn't acknowledge being in the club that night.

Hey, Isn't That . . . ?

· Garrison Keillor dragging a roller bag through Union Station yesterday after giving the closing address at the big American Library Association convention. Red high-tops with a dark blue suit. When a fan shook his hand and gave the I-love-your-work speech, the author/radio host dodged eye contact, simply said, "You look good in that gold tie. Very well turned out." Then rolled off into the station.

Special L.A. dispatch:

· Newly single "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Larry David and online punditry empress Arianna Huffington having a cozy dinner at Giorgio's in Santa Monica. Please tell us it's a budding romance, Arianna -- a historic alliance of L.A. liberals? "Oh, no no no no no -- both Larry and Laurie David are longtime friends. I did go armed with a list of women who want to date him, not that he needs any help." All Prius owners, we assume? "I think that may be a requirement."

Update

What happened? This was the year Democrats, energized by their new majority on Capitol Hill and the addition of several brawny freshmen, figured they'd finally recapture the trophy at Roll Call's annual Congressional Baseball Game. Instead, the Republicans beat them on Monday night at RFK, 5-2, for the seventh year in a row.

"We should have won 2-1," the team manager, Rep. Mike Doyle (Pa.), moaned yesterday. " Joe Baca [Calif.] pitched beautifully. But in the third inning we made five errors, and that was the ballgame right there. . . . It's one of those things that happen when you play once a year. I don't know what you say about it."

And how about the team's great hope -- former Redskin Heath Shuler (N.C.), who hit the ball out of the park in practice? Just didn't come together in the game. His hard shot down the third base line was stopped by a hustling Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.); Shuler struck out his next two times at bat.

Any lessons for next year? Don't ask Doyle. "I'm starting with an 0 and 2 record," he said. "By next year, I could be fired as manager."

Love, Etc.

· Expecting: CNN crime yakker Nancy Grace, 47, is pregnant with twins, fruit of a heretofore undisclosed April marriage to Atlanta banker David Linch, she announced on her show last night. We know, we know -- it's a lot to take in.