Media: Illinois man pleads guilty to stalking ESPN's Erin Andrews

Media

Illinois man admits stalking ESPN's Andrews: An Illinois insurance executive pleaded guilty Tuesday to secretly shooting nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, who in court repeatedly called her stalker a sexual predator and said she hopes he "never sees the light of day."

Michael David Barrett pleaded guilty to interstate stalking after Andrews urged the judge to give him a harsh sentence and not allow him out on bail.

"His actions have had a devastating impact on me and my family," said Andrews, who attended the hearing in Los Angeles with her father and attorney.

Andrews said she is constantly reminded that Barrett's videos appeared online, subjecting her to cruel taunts from sports fans while working as a sideline reporter.

"I don't know him," she said. "I haven't met him. I hope he never sees the light of day."

U.S. District Judge Manuel Real allowed Barrett to remain free pending sentencing Feb. 22.

A plea deal filed last week says prosecutors and Barrett agreed to a 27-month prison sentence. But the judge will decide how long he actually serves and how much restitution he will have to pay Andrews.

Barrett has admitted renting hotel rooms next to Andrews three times and shooting two videos of her while she was naked. He was accused of posting the videos online and trying to sell them to Los Angeles-based celebrity gossip site TMZ.

College football

Big Ten officials evaluate expansion to 12 teams: The Big Ten might be getting bigger.

Commissioner Jim Delany said the 11-team conference is going to explore options over the next 12 to 18 months for expansion.

Big Ten officials also considered expansion in 1993, 1998 and 2003. Penn State was the last team to join, in 1990.

Notre Dame rejected an offer in 1999.

Cincinnati prefers Jones: According to multiple media reports, Central Michigan coach Butch Jones is Cincinnati's choice to replace Brian Kelly, who left to take the Notre Dame job last week.

Alabama has six AP All-Americans: Alabama will bring a lineup powered by a record number of AP All-Americans to the Jan. 7 BCS National Championship Game against Texas. Six players on the top-ranked Crimson Tide, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, made The Associated Press All-America first team.

Running back Ingram was a unanimous choice, as was linebacker Rolando McClain. They were joined by defensive tackle Terrence Cody, cornerback Javier Arenas, guard Michael Johnson and kicker Leigh Tiffin. Oklahoma twice (1987, 2003) had five first-team All-Americans.

Heisman ratings rise: The Heisman Trophy show Saturday on ESPN averaged a 4.1 rating, up 32 percent from the previous high of 3.1 set the past two years and in 2002.

Brown's $5 million salary is an issue at Texas: Some Texas faculty question whether coach Mack Brown is worth $5 million annually when the school faces tough budget choices.

University system regents last week raised Brown's annual pay from $3 million. His salary is paid from athletic-department revenues.

A resolution approved during a UT Faculty Council meeting said the $5 million deal was "unseemly and inappropriate." The group lacked a quorum for an official vote.

Tennis

ITF says Wickmayer remains ineligible: Yanina Wickmayer remains ineligible to compete despite a court injunction in Belgium that suspended her one-year ban for violating anti-doping rules.

Wickmayer, a U.S. Open semifinalist, and fellow Belgian Xavier Malisse had their doping bans suspended Monday, but International Tennis Federation spokesman Nick Imison said neither had been officially cleared to compete.

Auto racing

Mercedes wants Schumacher to be its driver: Mercedes chief executive Nick Fry said he hopes 40-year-old Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One and drive for the German team next season. German media reported last weekend that a deal had been struck to bring the seven-time champion back to F1 with Mercedes.

"On Saturday night in Germany, the news that Michael might return was the first thing on and the Copenhagen climate talks was second," Fry said. "Not sure if they have their priorities right, but it shows the impact."

Soccer

Beasley connects: U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley's first Rangers goal since last year's Scottish Cup final helped the defending league champions return to first place with a 3-0 victory over Dundee United. Celtic is a point behind Rangers.

Bid meeting: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, University of Miami president Donna Shalala and comedian/actor Drew Carey attended the first board meeting of the U.S. bid committee seeking to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. The meeting was in New York.

Carey is an owner of Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.

U.S. team to play Honduras next month: The United States will play its first World Cup warmup match of 2010 against fellow qualifier Honduras on Jan. 23 in Carson, Calif.

Hockey

Canadian women beat U.S. again: Jayna Hefford scored twice to help the Canadian women's team beat the United States 6-2 in an exhibition game in Calgary, Alberta. Canada is 4-0 in the series leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

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