Published Saturday, February 06, 2010 12:11 AM

SPORTS IN BRIEF

Wire reports

Irvin's lawyer says claim of rape is 'civil extortion'

MIAMI -- A woman claims in a lawsuit filed only days before the Super Bowl that former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin sexually assaulted her at a South Florida hotel, an allegation labeled a false attempt at "civil extortion" Friday by Irvin's attorney.

The woman, identified only as "Jane Doe," filed the lawsuit Thursday in Broward County Circuit Court seeking unspecified damages for the assault that allegedly occurred July 4 or 5, 2007, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

The incident was reported to Seminole tribal police on July 20, 2007, but the woman later signed a waiver of prosecution, Seminole tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said.

Ron Ishoy, a spokesman for the Broward State Attorney's office, said the matter remains under investigation but no charges have been filed. Because the woman waited more than two weeks to report the incident, there was no physical evidence or hotel surveillance video, Bitner said.

Irvin, 43, is a member of the pro football Hall of Fame who starred at wide receiver for the Cowboys from 1988 to 1999.

Irvin's contract for a radio show in the Dallas-Fort Worth market on ESPN was terminated Friday, although the network said the decision was made before the lawsuit surfaced.

Irvin's attorney, Larry Friedman of Dallas, said he was approached by the woman's lawyer shortly before Irvin was to appear on last season's Dancing With The Stars competition. The lawyer demanded Irvin the woman $1 million or a lawsuit would be filed to coincide with the Super Bowl.

Friedman filed a countersuit against the woman on Friday, claiming, among other things, civil extortion and defamation.

Rockets win on road, while Mavs fall at home

Aaron Brooks had 19 points and eight rebounds to help the Houston Rockets to a 101-83 victory over the Grizzlies on Friday night in Memphis.

In Dallas, Jonny Flynn scored 19 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves finished the game on a 13-2 run to snap a 13-game losing streak against the Mavericks, 117-108.

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