Bernie Fine’s Wife Suing ESPN

The wife of former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine is suing ESPN for libel.

The suit claims the network spitefully destroyed Laurie Fine's reputation, hoping to capitalize financially in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State, according to FoxSports.com.

ESPN broadcast audio from a purported phone conversation between Laurie Fine and one of her husband's accusers, Bobby Davis.

At news conference on Wednesday annoucing the suit, Laurie Fine says she will not sue Bobby Davis because she doesn't want to hurt him, accorinding a general transcript of the announcement, which can be found a Syracuse.com. But she goes on to say Davis' claim is a 'transparetnly false story'.

Davis and his stop brother, Mike Lang, were the first two to come forward alleging sexual abuse by the former coach - allegedly in the 1980's. The Syracuse district attorney previously said an investigation found them to be credible people, however no charges were filed due to the statute of limitations.

Two other men who accussed the ex-coach of abuse later recanted their stories.

ESPN's story on the suit includes a PDF link to the full lawsuit.