Sports briefs for June 30, 2005

Thursday, June 30, 2005 | 10:05 a.m.

Sorenstam, Erickson fined for Tahoe homes

Golfer Annika Sorenstam and pitcher Scott Erickson are the latest to run afoul of environmental regulations at Lake Tahoe.

Sorenstam has agreed to a $7,500 fine for moving dirt illegally at her beach-front home in Incline Village at the north end of the lake.

Erickson, a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreed to a $25,000 fine for construction of an illegal hot tub at his Stateline home on the south end of the lake.

Representatives of the two agreed to settlements last week with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, a bi-state authority that regulates everything from discharges into the lake to the colors of homes on the shores of the cobalt waters straddling the California-Nevada line atop the Sierra.

"We work through these kinds of issues all the time," TRPA spokeswoman Julie Regan said Wednesday.

TRPA officials said someone complained to the agency in March that the pile of dirt had been placed next to the state highway near Sorenstam's home. The agency prohibits moving dirt between October 15 and May 1, when soils are most prone to erosion because of wet weather.

Erickson and M&R Construction Corp. must remove the hot tub, which took up 120 square feet of building coverage at his 16,000-square-foot house. The fine also covers an illegal retaining wall.

Spartans lose WR

Michigan State senior Agim Shabaj, the Spartans' third-leading receiver in 2004, will miss the 2005 season after being declared academically ineligible.

Czechs sign Turek

Former NHL goaltender Roman Turek today. Turek canceled his contract with the Calgary Flames in April.

Oden picks Buckeyes

Seven-foot center Greg Oden, the most prominent prospect affected by the NBA's new ban on drafting high schoolers, said he will play with Ohio State starting with the 2006-07 season.

No Fed Cup for Serena

Serena Williams, citing a need to practice more, said she won't be part of the U.S. team that plays defending champion Russia in the Fed Cup tournament next month in Moscow. -- Sun wire services