Sports briefs October 28, 2004

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 | 10:22 a.m.

Martina cries foul over political tactic

Angered by a local politician's use of her photo that she says implies her endorsement of his candidacy, Martina Navratilova has sought out the man's opponent in next week's election to offer her support.

Joe Renna, who's running for a county office in northern New Jersey, met Navratilova at a street fair last month, and she agreed to pose for a picture with him. He then sent the photo to a weekly newspaper in Cranford, N.J., under the headline "Rubbing tennis elbows." The caption said Renna plans "to meet thousands of people across the county over the next few weeks."

"It was implying that I knew who he was, that he was running for office," Navratilova said.

She said she called Renna and told him, "How dare you do this to me, that you take a picture with me implying I'm endorsing you?"

Seve investigated

European tour officials are investigating an accusation that Seve Ballesteros assaulted fellow Spanish golfer Jose Maria Zamora off the course during an over-35 amateur tournament last month in Ballesteros' hometown of Pedrena, Spain.

Ex-champ sentenced

Former world and Olympic champion ski jumper Matti Nykanen was sentenced in Helsinki, Finland, to more than two years in prison for stabbing a man during a drunken stupor in August.

BYU records sought

Utah County prosecutors investigating rape allegations in Provo against four Brigham Young football players have subpoenaed records of the school's honor code investigation.

Wrangler called up

Wranglers forward Jason Spence was recalled by the AHL Lowell Lock Monsters.