Sports briefs for August 5, 2004

Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004 | 9:01 a.m.

Bryant trial judge expands gag order

The judge in the Kobe Bryant case expanded a gag order after lawyers for Bryant's accuser said she would rethink whether to participate in the upcoming criminal trial.

District Judge Terry Ruckriegle issued the sweeping order late Wednesday in response to a motion by the NBA star's lawyers. The defense motion was not released. The court, Ruckriegle wrote, "is seriously concerned that the continued public comment of participants in this case will disrupt the process by which a fair trial may be preserved."

Bryant is accused of raping a hotel worker at a resort near Vail last June. Lawyers for the woman, who is now 20, surprised some legal analysts by appearing on television Wednesday to discuss their client's concerns about the upcoming trial.

John Clune and L. Lin Wood expressed their frustration about court mistakes which hurt their client. The most recent was the release of closed-door hearing transcripts in which a defense expert testified that she believes the woman had sex after her encounter with Bryant but before she underwent a rape exam.

Agassi advances

Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick were among the second-round winners in the Masters Cincinnati tournamnent at Mason, Ohio. Agassi rallied after a second-set stumble to beat Thomas Johansson 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Rose Bowl re-ups

ABC and Rose Bowl officials agreed to an eight-year extension of their broadcast arrangement. It will keep the game on ABC through 2014.

Brit suspended

British cycling David Millar, who was barred from this summer's Tour de France after admitting to using the banned blood-boosting hormone EPO, received a two-year suspension from the British Cycling Federation.