Briefs | Attorney says ESPN's Erin Andrews was secretly videotaped nude

Media

Lawyer says ESPN reporter was secretly videotaped in the nude while alone in a hotel room:

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was secretly videotaped in the nude while she was alone in a hotel room, and the video was posted on the Internet, her attorney said.

The blurry, five-minute video shows Andrews standing in front of a hotel-room mirror. It is not known when or where the video was shot.

Andrews' attorney, Marshall Grossman, confirmed Tuesday the video posted on the Internet shows the 31-year-old reporter. He said she decided to confirm it "to put an end to rumor and speculation and to put the perpetrator and those who are complicit on notice that they act at their peril."

Andrews, who started working for ESPN in 2004, plans to seek criminal charges and file civil lawsuits against the person who shot the video and anyone who publishes the material, Grossman said.

Graham Cluley, who writes a blog for antivirus-software maker Sophos, wrote that several links purporting to send Internet users to the Andrews video actually sent them to sites with malicious software and computer viruses.

Autos

Driver, in court documents, says independent test was negative for meth: An independent drug test on Jeremy Mayfield was negative for methamphetamines, contradicting the results of a NASCAR test taken 40 minutes earlier, the driver claimed in court documents.

In response to NASCAR's claim Mayfield again tested positive for methamphetamines July 6, Mayfield submitted an affidavit to the U.S. District Court that said he traveled to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., shortly after NASCAR collected a sample at his Catawba County home.

Mayfield said in the court filing he received confirmation from Laboratory Corporation of America in Raleigh, N.C., that his sample was negative July 10 — the same day NASCAR informed his counsel that its sample was positive.

Mayfield said the results of his test are "consistent with my lifestyle as I have not and do not use or abuse methamphetamines."

Hydros

Ex-driver Remund is sentenced to 13 years for arson: Eugene "Mickey" Remund, 76, a high-profile driver in the 1970s and 1980s, Friday was sentenced to 13 years in a California state prison for arson.

Authorities said Remund attempted to burn down the Lemon Grove, Calif., homes of his former wife, Gale Remund, and stepdaughter, "Skeeter" LaGrace, in June 2008.

Gale Remund and LaGrace told Judge William McGrath they continue to be afraid of the defendant, Deputy District Attorney Chantal De Mauregne said.

"They really believe if he gets out, he'll come back to finish them off," said De Mauregne, according to a sandiego6.com report.

College football

Penn State receiver is kicked off team: Penn State receiver James McDonald is off the football team, after police charged him with driving under the influence.

A one-sentence statement from the athletic department said the fifth-year senior would not be invited back to play for the Nittany Lions this fall.

State College police filed two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence against McDonald, 22, after he was pulled over July 9 for an expired registration.

Golf

Watson gets call from Nicklaus: Tom Watson, 59, who lost a four-hole British Open playoff to Stewart Cink on Sunday at Turnberry in Scotland, missed a 9-foot par putt on the final hole of regulation that would have won the tournament. Before that putt, Watson used his putter from behind the green.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus phoned and, according to Watson, said: "Watson, that's the first time I ever sat down and watched all 18 holes of any golf tournament, any golf tournament."

Watson added, "He said I couldn't have played the 18th hole any better ... That soothed me a little bit. Good friend."

Tennis

Dechy retires: Nathalie Dechy, 30, of France is retiring. She is ranked 88th in the world.

In a statement, the French tennis federation said Dechy is expecting a child and wants to devote more time to family life.

Sailing

Judge to consider America's Cup rules: America's Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland is not in contempt of a New York court. U.S. challenger BMW Oracle Racing is not going to get tossed out of the sport's marquee event.

That much is certain after the latest legal showdown between the bitter rivals, who in February will face off in two of the fastest and most powerful sailboats built.

When the best-of-three showdown begins, there might be a first in America's Cup history — engines that would be used to trim the huge sails and move water ballast on the rival multihulls. Alinghi has chosen a catamaran and BMW Oracle Racing a trimaran; both are 90 feet long and can sail 2 to 2 ½ times the speed of the wind.

At the end of a hearing, Justice Shirley Kornreich of the Supreme Court of the State of New York said she would reserve a decision on rules clarifications sought by BMW Oracle Racing.

Seattle Times news services