Hotel policy criticized in Andrews case

The attorney for ESPN reporter Erin Andrews criticized management at a hotel where prosecutors allege a Westmont, Ill., man altered a peephole to take nude videos of the journalist, saying Sunday that not only was the man booked in a room next to Andrews’ at his request but that the rooms were in an alcove removed from the main hallway.

“I think [the case] has significance far beyond Ms. Andrews,” said Marshall Grossman of the Los Angeles-based law firm Bingham McCutchen.

Grossman said Andrews was “gratified” that Michael David Barrett, 47, had been charged with one count of interstate stalking using harassing and intimidating surveillance, but he questioned the hotel’s attention to privacy and security.

In a 35-page criminal complaint filed Friday, FBI investigators allege that Barrett, an insurance salesman, contacted the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University and specifically requested a room next to Andrews, who was there in September 2008 to report for ESPN.

-- Georgia Garvey

WNBA

Catchings helps Fever get closer

Tamika Catchings had 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as the Indiana Fever moved within one victory of the WNBA title with an 86-85 win over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the finals in Indianapolis.

The Mercury’s Tangela Smith missed a jump shot from the foul line as time expired.

The Fever took a 2-1 lead in the series and can clinch its first championship with a win at home Wednesday.

Ebony Hoffman led the Fever with 18 points. Briann January scored 17, and Katie Douglas had 15.

Cappie Pondexter led Phoenix with 23 points and Le’Coe Willingham added 17. Diana Taurasi, the league’s MVP, scored 18 points but shot six for 16 from the field.

HORSE RACING

Sea The Stars triumphs in France

Sea The Stars made history by winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Longchamp, France, becoming the first horse to win three of Europe’s top races.

The 3-year-old colt, ridden by 50-year-old jockey Mick Kinane, started slowly before powering home to win his sixth consecutive race -- two lengths ahead of Youmzain, ridden by Kieren Fallon.

Youmzain was the runner-up for a third straight year, while Cavalryman, trained by seven-time Arc winner Andre Fabre, finished third under jockey Frankie Dettori.

Sea The Stars is the first horse to win the Arc, the 2,000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.

TENNIS

Serena Williams struggles, wins

Serena Williams made a stuttering start to her bid to topple Dinara Safina from the world No. 1 spot with an error-strewn 7-5, 6-4 win over Kaia Kanepi in the first round of the China Open in Beijing.

Safina, who must at least match Williams’ progress over the next week in Beijing to retain the No. 1 ranking, defeated Roberta Vinci, 6-4, 6-4, earlier in the day.

Nikolay Davydenko defeated Fernando Verdasco, 6-4, 7-5, to win the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Southern Mississippi quarterback is out

Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis will be out the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left foot against Alabama Birmingham.

It was originally thought Davis hurt his foot or ankle when he went down early in the fourth quarter of the 30-17 loss Thursday night. But after he experienced pain in the mid-foot area Friday, an MRI exam showed the redshirt sophomore tore a ligament.

TRIATHLON

Spain’s Gomez wins L.A. race

Spain’s Javier Gomez broke from a group of four in the final minutes of the run to win the Los Angeles Triathlon. Gomez finished in 1 hour 50 minutes 17 seconds to win the Olympic distance race composed of a swim off Venice Beach, followed by a 24.8-mile bike ride from the beach to downtown Los Angeles, and ending with a 6.2-mile run to the finish line across from Staples Center.

Britain’s Stuart Hayes came in second in 1:50:27.

Three-time defending champion Greg Bennett of Australia finished fourth.

Sweden’s Lisa Norden won the women’s race in 2:00:20, more than one minute faster than runner-up Sarah Haskins of the United States.

OLYMPICS

IOC to monitor betting practices

The International Olympic Committee is setting up a system to watch for corrupt betting practices linked to Olympic competitions.

It’s scheduled to be in place for the 2010 Vancouver Games. The monitoring program is part of broadening efforts in sports to tackle irregular betting and match-fixing.

A new Swiss company, International Sports Monitoring, will watch betting at the Vancouver Olympics in February and the 2012 London Olympics. It will get information on betting patterns from 400 to 450 oddsmakers, betting firms and lotteries and flag any irregularities for investigation.