Lawrence Taylor is given probation in sex case

The teenage girl at the center of the sex-crimes case against football great Lawrence Taylor made a surprise appearance at his sentencing in New City, N.Y., on Tuesday, eager to declare that he should be behind bars.

She was denied the chance to speak in court, and Taylor was sentenced to six years’ probation, as agreed when he pleaded guilty in January to sexual misconduct and patronizing an underage prostitute.

The former New York Giants linebacker must register as a sex offender, but a hearing on exactly how that will affect him was postponed to April 12.

The girl, now 17, arrived with lawyer Gloria Allred, who described her as “a sex-trafficking victim.” Allred would not say whether the girl plans a lawsuit against Taylor but said, “We look forward to representing her as she continues her fight for justice.”

The girl was 16 — under the age of consent — when she met Taylor last May.

Speaking outside the Rockland County Courthouse, she denied she was a prostitute and said another man forced her to go into Taylor’s Montebello hotel room by punching her in the face.

“I believe Mr. Taylor could see my face and how young I was,” she said.

She added, her voice breaking, “I am upset that he will not go to jail for what he did to me.”

ETC.

Anaheim mayor confirms NBA talks

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait confirmed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that there are ongoing negotiations to place an NBA team in Honda Center — without naming the Sacramento Kings — and said bonds required to help facilitate a deal would be backed privately, not out of the city’s general fund.

Toward the close of the meeting, Tait said a special City Council meeting on Tuesday would help detail how the city could help Honda Center make upgrades to best position the arena to land the NBA franchise.

The Kings are expected to appear before the NBA Board of Governors April 14-15 to explain their case for a move, according to numerous officials who are close to the situation but unauthorized to speak publicly about it.

Tait said at Tuesday’s meeting that, “The good news is that we are continuing to move closer to bringing a professional basketball team to Anaheim.”

He said, “a financing structure is being proposed that would allow for private investment to fund improvements at Honda Center. … Should a deal go forward, the city taxpayers and the city’s general fund will not be at risk in any way.”

— Lance Pugmire

Pittsburgh Penguins veteran Matt Cooke has apologized for an illegal hit that earned him the stiffest suspension of his NHL career, telling local reporters that he needs to change the way he plays the game.

Cooke told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review late Monday that he “made a mistake” when he landed an elbow to the head of New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

The oft-penalized left wing was suspended by the NHL for the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which means he’ll sit a minimum of 14 games.

---

Russian gymnast Nikolai Andrianov, whose 15 medals made him the second-most decorated male athlete in Olympic history (behind U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps), has died at age 58.

The International Gymnastics Federation said he died Monday in his hometown of Vladimir, 120 miles east of Moscow.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said his next term will be his last if he is reelected in June. Blatter is running for his fourth term but faces a challenge from Qatar’s Mohamed bin Hammam in the election to be held in Zurich, Switzerland.

---

American Melanie Oudin moved into the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Julia Goerges of Germany.

Sixteen-year-old American wildcard Madison Keys challenged former top-10 player Patty Schnyder of Switzerland before losing, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2).