People talk 05/02/03

Fox Sports Net show hit with harassment lawsuitLOS ANGELES -- A hairstylist on Fox Sports Network's "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against co-host and former NBA player John Salley and others involved with the show.

Lisa Brescher began working for the sports talk program in August 2001, and from the first day "was subjected to an environment of unrestrained sexual harassment," according to a Superior Court lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Fox Sports Network said in a statement Thursday that an internal investigation could corroborate none of Brescher's claims.

"Unfortunately, this is a case where a disgruntled worker thinks that there is money to be made by making outlandish accusations against a high-profile company and its stars," Fox spokesman Lou D'Ermilio said.

Brescher, 29, left on a disability claim in February, the lawsuit says; it was unknown whether the disability was because of the alleged harassment or some other injury. She's seeking unspecified damages.

Messages left for Salley at Fox were not returned.

The lawsuit also names News Corp., Fox Entertainment Group, Fox Sports Net and producer and co-host Tom Arnold.

It alleges that Salley, who won basketball championships with the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, made unwelcome sexual advances.

When Arnold learned of the alleged problem, the lawsuit says, he replied that "he didn't care."

Leno apologizes to doctor for Hitler insinuation

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno has apologized to an eastern Kentucky doctor for insinuating that he looked like Adolf Hitler.

In a recent bit in which Leno goofed on newspaper ads, he showed an ad announcing that Dr. Ricky Collins would be joining the staff of a local medical clinic. The ad included a photograph of Collins, who has dark hair and a small mustache, with the words: "A familiar face in a new place."

"There's Ricky Collins," Leno said in the routine. "He's no longer the chancellor of Germany. He's now a doctor."

Leno said he didn't intend to offend Collins or his wife, who called to complain, but he insisted the photograph was funny.

"The key to the whole thing is it says here's a friendly face and he's scowling," Leno said.

Still, Leno said the apology was sincere. "I said you're a really nice man, and your wife is very upset, and I'm sorry," he told The Mountain Eagle of Whitesburg.

Collins said he accepted the apology.

Roth gets unwelcome visitor in his yard

PASADENA, Calif. -- David Lee Roth got an unwanted visitor when a man being chased by police climbed over a fence and tried to hide in the rock star's yard.

The former Van Halen frontman's publicist said Roth used a shotgun to hold the man at bay until police arrived, but police spokeswoman Janet Pope could not confirm that Wednesday.

"He was laying on the grass when our officers arrived," Pope said of the man arrested.

She said Charles Cooley, 47, was being pursued by officers responding to complaints of someone throwing rocks at windows around 2 a.m. Saturday. He was arrested for investigation of amphetamine possession.

Roth publicist Lathum Nelson said the singer stood on his second-floor balcony and pointed a shotgun on the intruder until officers arrived.

-- From wire reports