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ESPN fires woman in Phillips affair

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The Associated Press

Published: October 27, 2009

BRISTOL, Conn. - The ESPN production assistant whose affair with baseball analyst Steve Phillips led to his termination also has been fired from the sports network, a spokesman said Monday.

Mike Soltys, a representative of ESPN, said Monday that 22-year-old Brooke Hundley had been fired, but he did not say when or why.

Phillips, a former general manager of the New York Mets, was fired Sunday after the network said his ability to represent ESPN effectively had been "significantly and irreparably damaged" by revelations about his affair with Hundley.

Steve Lefkowitz, a representative for Phillips, said Phillips has entered an inpatient treatment facility "to address his personal issues."

He stopped short of calling it sexual addiction but compared Phillips' problems to those of actor Michael Douglas, who has been treated for sexually compulsive behavior.

Phillips' wife, Marni, has filed for divorce.

Phillips is still living at home, hopes to return to broadcasting after treatment and had made the reservations at the unspecified rehabilitation facility before ESPN fired him, Lefkowitz said Monday.

"Steve Phillips is not a sleazebag. He's a good guy who just fell off the wagon," Lefkowitz said. "Whatever he did wrong, it wasn't under his control or he wouldn't be checking himself in for help. He knows he needs help and wants a life with his family - that is paramount to him above everything else."

Messages were left Monday seeking comment from Phillips' wife.

A message also was left for Hundley, and no one answered the door at her Bristol home Monday.

McGwire hired as Cards' hitting coach
ST. LOUIS - Mark McGwire is back in baseball, reunited with Tony La Russa as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach.

La Russa agreed to return for a 15th year as manager with a one-year contract, the first time he hasn't had a multiyear deal with the team. All of his coaches will return except for Hal McRae, who will be replaced by the former star.

"Mark is passionate about the game, passionate about the Cardinals," Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "Tony thinks he'll be a great coach, and I think he's got a lot to offer."

McGwire was not at the news conference at Busch Stadium, but La Russa and General Manager John Mozeliak said there will be no effort to shield McGwire from questions about steroids. The team anticipated a telephone news conference with McGwire.

"By no means is he trying to hide, and by no means are we trying to hide him," Mozeliak said.

McGwire hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 and retired with 583 homers and a .263 career average in 2001. He famously refused to answer questions about steroids use during a March 2005 congressional hearing, saying he wasn't there to talk about the past.

PADRES: Introduced Jed Hoyer as their new general manager.

Hoyer, who had been an assistant to Boston GM Theo Epstein, was hired to replace Kevin Towers, who was fired during the last weekend of the season.

PIRATES: Right-handed reliever Tyler Yates has chosen to become a free agent after Pittsburgh requested outright waivers on him.

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