Attorneys: Accuser Should Be Identified

Kobe Bryant’s attorneys Monday asked the federal judge presiding over the Laker star’s civil case to have the alleged victim be identified by name in court filings, saying the 20-year-old woman shouldn’t be able to “have it both ways.”

The woman’s anonymity was protected throughout the 14-month criminal proceeding, which ended Sept. 1 with the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant being dropped after she refused to testify.

Her attorneys have asked Judge Richard Matsch to refrain from using her name in the civil case. Bryant attorney Pamela Mackey responded by saying the accuser has brought a “false accusation” and should be identified.

The woman, Mackey wrote, wants to preserve her anonymity “while exposing the intimate details of her sexual encounter with Mr. Bryant and requiring him to bear alone the burden of constant public scrutiny.”

Most media organizations have not published the woman’s name.

Steve Henson

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Tennis

Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters’ latest left wrist problem is a new injury that is expected to end her season but probably won’t require surgery.

She’ll have tests this week, according to her website. Clijsters returned to the WTA Tour last week after five months off because of the wrist, but she quit in pain during her semifinal at her hometown Gaz de France Stars tournament in Belgium.

Mark Philippoussis dropped his fifth straight opening match, losing to Tomas Zib, 6-3, 6-4, in the Japan Open at Tokyo.... Xavier Malisse beat sixth-seeded Dominik Hrbaty, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the first round of the Lyon Open at France.... Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi upset eighth-seeded Ai Sugiyama, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in the opening round of the Porsche Grand Prix at Filderstadt, Germany.

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College Basketball

New Mexico State Coach Lou Henson has been in the hospital for six days after coming down with what his wife described as a viral infection.

Henson, 72, has 775 victories in 41 seasons of Division I coaching. He was admitted to the hospital Sept. 28.

School spokesman Sean Johnson said he could not release details of Henson’s condition for privacy reasons. The university, however, said he was expected to make a full recovery and hoped to be back on the bench in time for the start of the season.

Assistant head coach Tony Stubblefield said he had visited Henson and that he was doing well. Stubblefield has been appointed interim head coach until Henson returns.

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Miscellany

Brazilian defender Edmilson won’t play for at least six months after having knee surgery, the country’s soccer team said.

Edmilson, 28, injured himself when he fell awkwardly after jumping for a header in Barcelona’s 1-0 win against Numancia in a Spanish league game Sunday.

France striker David Trezeguet has been ruled out of the next two World Cup qualifying matches after suffering a dislocated shoulder playing for Italian league team Juventus. If surgery is required, Trezeguet could sit out four months.

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird had surgery on her nose, which she broke last week in a WNBA playoff game against Minnesota. Bird was cleared by doctors to play in tonight’s decisive Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against Sacramento.

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Passings

Nick Skorich, an NFL head coach in Cleveland and Philadelphia and the offensive line coach on the Eagles’ 1960 championship team, has died at 83. Skorich died Saturday night of an apparent infection after recent heart-valve surgery.