Raiders lead league in paying legal fees

Oakland, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders led the NFL in offense last year and are No. 1 in the league in litigation. Records obtained by The Associated Press show the Raiders and owner Al Davis spent $33.5 million in legal fees in 1997-2001 alone.

“While most of our owners spend their time in the offseason building their businesses and cementing relationships with their communities, Mr. Davis spends his offseason in the courtroom,” said NFL spokesman Joe Browne. “They’re No. 1 in terms of litigation costs.”

BASEBALL

SARS precautions planned

New York — Major league baseball plans to recommend that its teams visiting Toronto take precautions against SARS, such as not mingling with large crowds. Baseball originally said it would advise players to avoid signing autographs, but later amended that.

“While it is a concern, the risk of actual infection is still incredibly small,” said Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations for the commissioner’s office. “The advice we’re giving to the teams is basic health advice: Wash your hands, avoid sharing food.”

The 10 teams visiting Toronto through the All-Star break in mid-July will be advised against visiting hospitals and using public transportation.

Elliot Pellman, baseball’s newly hired medical adviser, will hold conference calls today and Monday with the teams to provide information and take questions about severe acute respiratory syndrome, baseball spokesman Rich Levin said.

The Toronto Blue Jays open a nine-game homestand Friday, beginning with the Kansas City Royals.

Levin said Pellman would make the calls “to settle people down” about SARS.

AUTO RACING

Andretti fine after crash

Indianapolis — Mario Andretti crashed during a practice session Wednesday for the Indianapolis 500, sending his car sailing through the air and flipping end over end.

Andretti walked away from the crash, according to video aired by television station WTHR. Andretti was checked out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s hospital but was unhurt, Indy Racing League spokesman John Griffin said.

The station reported that debris apparently was left on the track after a crash involving Kenny Brack, who hit the wall coming out of Turn 1. He also was not injured, Griffin said.

Andretti, a 63-year-old former driver who won the 1969 Indy 500, was testing the car for son Michael’s racing team.

Mario Andretti retired from Indy car racing in 1994, but he might try to qualify one of his son’s cars for team driver Tony Kanaan.