Sports briefs for April 21, 2004

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

Florida man indicted for threats to ND coach

A Florida man was indicted Tuesday on a charge that he threatened Notre Dame football coach Tyrone Willingham.

Andrew K. French, 24, of Fort Myers, Fla., faces a federal charge of transmitting in interstate commerce, a communication containing a threat to injure.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Schmid declined to say who was allegedly threatened, but Willingham confirmed after spring practice on Tuesday that he was the target.

"I think I'm one of many across the country, possibly, that could have received the same threat," Willingham said. He declined to say how he received the threat or the contents.

Schmid declined to give details of the allegations other than what was included in the indictment, which said the threat was made late last year. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Notre Dame Security-Police Department.

French, who turned himself in to U.S. Marshal's office on Monday, made his initial court appearance on Tuesday. He was released on $1,000 cash bond on the conditions that he not step foot on the Notre Dame campus and that he not try to telephone anyone employed by or associated with the university, Schmid said.

Shaq sues tournament

Shaquille O'Neal filed a lawsuit in Tampa, Fla., against a company he claims libeled and slandered him in a dispute over a celebrity basketball tournament.

U.S. sets roster

Forwards Landon Donovan, Josh Wolff and Jovan Kirovski were among 18 players picked Tuesday to be on the U.S. roster for the exhibition game against Mexico on April 28 at Dallas. Taylor Twellman and Conor Casey were the other forwards selected for the game, the next to last for the Americans before the start of World Cup qualifying June 13 against Grenada.

Corretja beats Ferrero

Alex Corretja beat two-time defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters.