ESPN's Phillips admits affair, takes leave

ESPN's Phillips admits affair, takes leave

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2002, file photo, New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips introduces new Mets manager Art Howe during a news conference at Shea Stadiium in New York. ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips admits having an affair with an assistant at the cable network who taunted his wife with phone calls and a letter graphically describing their relationship, the New York Post reported Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips acknowledges having an affair with an assistant at the cable network, and has taken a leave of absence during the playoffs.

Phillips says in a statement released by ESPN Wednesday that he's sorry to have "put his family and colleagues through this."

ESPN has granted Phillips'request for time off, and has taken unspecified disciplinary action.

Police say 22-year-old ESPN production assistant Brooke Hundley called Phillips' wife in August after he broke off the affair and sent her a letter graphically describing their relationship.

Phillips says he will not press charges. The status of the police investigation was unclear Wednesday.

ESPN says Hundley is still working for the network.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips admits having an affair with an assistant at the cable network who taunted his wife with phone calls and a letter graphically describing their relationship, according to a police report.

After the 22-year-old ESPN production assistant Brooke Hundley was dropped by Phillips, she made repeated phone calls to his wife, Marni, saying "We both can't have him," according to a Wilton, Conn., police report.

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said: "We were aware of this and have already taken appropriate action. We have no further comment."

The police report was first reported Wednesday by the New York Post.

The 46-year-old Phillips is a former general manager of the New York Mets. Phillips admitted having sex with a team employee, who sued for sexual harassment. That case was settled out of court.

Phillips' wife, Marni, called police Aug. 19 when she came home to find Hundley in her driveway. "I knew instinctively that this was the woman Steve was involved with and I was terrified," she wrote in a statement to police.

Hundley's car smashed into a stone column as she backed out of the driveway and she escaped by driving across the lawn. Marni Phillips said she discovered a note describing her husband's relationship with Hundley attached to her front door.

Later that evening, the Phillips' 16-year-old son told his parents that Hundley had posed as a high school classmate and sent repeated instant messages asking personal questions about his family and his parents' marriage, according to the police report.

She also posed as a second friend, contacting him through the son's Facebook account, the report said.

"This woman has clearly displayed erratic behavior and delusional tendencies. She has shown up at our house. She has taken on the identity of at least two people (minors) to violate our son (a minor). I have extreme concerns about the health and safety of my kids and myself," Phillips said in a statement to police.

Phillips also signed a statement to police that he would not press charges. The status of the police investigation was unclear Wednesday. The report indicated that a detective planned to interview Hundley next week when she returned from vacation.

Neither Phillips, Hundley nor Wilton police immediately returned calls Wednedsay from the AP.

According to the report, Phillips told police and his wife about the affair after being pressed to do so by Hundley. He said the affair was three meetings that all took place this past summer. Marni Phillips told police she had received "harassing phone calls and text messages" from a woman who claimed to have information about her husband.

Phillips is being sued for divorce by his wife, the mother of their four sons, the Post reported.