Sports briefs for October 7, 2004

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 | 10:31 a.m.

Kobe case judge says accuser must be named

The name of the woman who has accused Kobe Bryant of rape must be made public if she wants to continue her lawsuit against the basketball star, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

It's in the public interest to hold open court proceedings, and given that the woman's name already has been widely circulated there would be little benefit in withholding it, wrote Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch.

Despite the decision, the Eagle County woman will continue her civil lawsuit against Bryant, said Lin Wood, an Atlanta lawyer representing the woman.

"This young girl is prepared to go forward against Kobe Bryant knowing she will be identified," Wood said. "She looks forward to having her day in court and publicly saying what Kobe Bryant did to her."

Bryant was accused of sexually assaulting the hotel clerk, then 19, in June 2003 in his hotel room in a resort near Edwards, Colo.

Prosecutors last month dropped criminal charges against Bryant after the woman said she didn't wish to proceed with the case.

Mayorga detained

Former welterweight champoin Ricardo Mayorga was placed under house arrest in Managua, Nicaragua, almost immediately upon his return from New York and his loss Saturday to Felix Trinidad. Mayorga, who surrendered in court, faces sexual abuse charges.

Utah hires coach

The expansion Utah franchise of Major League Soccer hired U.S. Under-17 coach John Ellinger. The team, which will announce its nickname and colors Saturay, will begin play in 2005.

Favre in-law killed

Casey Tynes, the 24-year-old brother-in-law of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, died after an ATV flipped while he was riding on Favre's land in Sumrall, Miss.