Uecker case delayed
The stalking case filed by Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker against a woman he contends has been harassing him for years was delayed again Tuesday because the defendant could not be located.
Uecker filed a temporary restraining order against Ann E. Ladd, of Prospect Heights, Ill., earlier this month in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. A hearing was scheduled for last Thursday, but court records show the defendant had not been served with papers. The case was rescheduled for July 3.
Uecker, the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for more than 35 years, said the 45-year-old Ladd had been bothering him for six or seven years by sending unsolicited gifts, driving around his home in Wisconsin and contacting him in various cities.
“In the past year, however, Ladd’s pattern of harassment has escalated in frequency and intensity, and has resulted in repeated and serious invasions of my personal privacy,” he said in the filings.
All-star winner will have edge
Winning the All-Star game will still be worth something in October.
Home-field advantage in the World Series this year will again go to the league that wins the July matchup, owners and players agreed.
“I don’t like it, honestly. I think it should rotate every year,” Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said before the Braves’ game against Toronto.
Originally a two-year experiment in 2003 to make the midsummer classic more attractive to fans and more meaningful for the teams, the idea was extended last season.
“It’s great for the game, especially the fans,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.
Bill may aid Florida sites
Five Florida spring training sites are eligible to receive $15 million each over the next 30 years under a bill signed by Gov. Jeb Bush that also provides the Orlando Magic with $60 million to refurbish their arena.
Six baseball teams will be able to apply for the money, which would be split into $500,000 annual payments to help keep Arizona’s Cactus League from raiding the Florida Grapefruit League.
The Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Devil Rays are covered in the bill.
Smoltz would accept trade
John Smoltz said he’s ready to leave Atlanta if a trade can help the last-place Braves.
The 17-year veteran, who’s played his entire career in Atlanta, said his once-firm opinion against leaving the Braves changed this year. But he said he still hopes to finish his career in Atlanta.
Smoltz downplayed his comments that he originally made in an ESPN interview Sunday, saying he was only answering “the old if question, if they asked you to be traded.
“I said, two years ago I wouldn’t have thought about it,” he said. “I’m not an idiot. If it happens, I’d be open to it. That’s it.”