Stalker of ESPN's Erin Andrews gets 2-1/2-year prison sentence | Media

Media

ESPN reporter rebukes stalker's tearful apology in court: An Illinois insurance executive who secretly shot nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was sentenced Monday to 2 ½ years in prison after giving a tearful apology that was harshly rebuked by his victim.

Michael David Barrett pleaded guilty in December to interstate stalking after prosecutors accused him of following the reporter to at least three cities and shooting the videos through hotel peepholes.

Barrett, 48, of suburban Chicago, had agreed to a 27-month prison sentence after pleading guilty. But it was up to the judge to decide how long he would actually serve.

Andrews urged the judge at the hearing in Los Angeles for a harsher sentence and said she fears for her life every time she enters a hotel.

"You violated me and you violated all women," Andrews told Barrett. "You are a sexual predator, a sexual deviant and they should lock you up."

After the sentencing, she said, "Thirty months isn't enough."

U.S. District Judge Manuel Real said he gave Barrett the maximum sentence under the law.

"The victim, Andrews, will be suffering with this problem for the rest of her life," Real said. "There is no life sentence that can be imposed upon him, except his own guilt."

Barrett cried as he addressed Andrews in court, saying he would spend the rest of his life regaining the respect of his friends and family and atoning for his mistakes.

Andrews said she had no sympathy for Barrett's claim he was publicly humiliated.

"It's my body on the Internet," she said. "I'm being traumatized every single day for what he did. ... This will never be over for me."

Barrett was ordered to pay $5,000 in fines and $7,366 in restitution.

College football

Akey agrees to new deal: Idaho coach Robb Akey, who guided the Vandals to a 9-5 record last season, told The Idaho Statesman newspaper he has agreed to a five-year contract extension.

Akey, an ex-Washington State assistant, is in the third year of his deal for $258,000 per year, the lowest salary of any Western Athletic Conference coach. Athletic director Rob Spear said contract details are being worked out.

Leavitt sues South Florida: Former coach Jim Leavitt has sued the University of South Florida over his firing for allegedly grabbing a player by the throat and hitting him in the face.

Leavitt seeks to recover some of the $9.5 million left on his seven-year contract.

Tennis

Agassi-Sampras exchange at a charity match turned testy: Andre Agassi told ESPN.com he was "out of line" and apologized for poking fun at fellow legend Pete Sampras during a charity match last week.

Longtime rivals Agassi and Sampras were wearing microphones during the match at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California.

At one point, Sampras mimicked Agassi's pigeon-toed walk, which drew laughs from fans.

Agassi chided Sampras for being stingy; in his biography, Agassi criticized Sampras for being a poor tipper. Sampras responded with a high, hard serve that forced Agassi to duck.

NHL

Ovechkin suspended for two games: Alex Ovechkin, a two-time league most valuable player, was suspended for the Washington Capitals' next two games because of a reckless hit.

The forward drove Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards from behind in the first period Sunday and received a major penalty and a game misconduct.

Ovechkin will forfeit more than $232,000 in salary.

Campbell, out with what his team is calling an upper-body injury, is expected to miss at least three games.

Modano has appendectomy: Dallas center Mike Modano, 39, is out indefinitely after having surgery to remove his appendix.

Figure skating

Rochette won't compete at worlds: The toll from skating at the Winter Olympics days after her mother's death last month has worn down bronze medalist Joannie Rochette.

The Canadian champion withdrew from next week's world championships in Turin, Italy.

Tour says it is not discriminating against Weir: Claims that U.S. Olympian Johnny Weir was not included in the "Stars on Ice" cast because of his sexual orientation are untrue, tour officials said.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said Weir was excluded because he was not "family friendly." Weir has repeatedly avoided questions about his sexual orientation.

Iditarod

Mackey leads: Musher Lance Mackey, seeking to win the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for the fourth consecutive time, was the first to arrive at the White Mountain checkpoint, 77 miles from the finish in Nome, Alaska.

Hans Gatt was in second place. Top contenders might arrive in Nome as early as Tuesday.

Seventy-one mushers started the race and 14 have scratched.

A 3-year-old dog in rookie Justin Savidis' team was found after being lost for nearly five days.

Scott White of Woodinville was in 50th place.

Seattle Times news services