Wisconsin AD Alvarez, tennis star Sharapova receive death threats

Dec 2, 2008 - 5:12 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez and tennis superstar Maria Sharapova have received death threats from a former Badgers football player, according to a report Monday from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.

Leonard Taylor, who was a defensive back for the Badgers from 1995-98, threatened in voicemail messages to kill Alvarez and his family, according to a criminal complaint.

Citing a released criminal complaint, the newspaper reported that Taylor left dozens of messages with the Wisconsin athletic department within the last week.

"I'll kill you first, mother (expletive)," Taylor said in a message on November 24, according to the criminal complaint. "I've got 24 (expletive) hours, mother (expletive). I'm coming for your (expletive) (rear end). You might have a (expletive) war."

The report stated that Taylor's father, Leonard Taylor Sr., told Madison police his son has been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic; stopped taking his medication about three months ago; has stopped seeing his therapist; and has refused treatment.

The starting safety on the 1999 Rose Bowl championship team, Taylor was arrested Friday.

According to the newspaper, Taylor started leaving messages in September alleging that he had not been paid by an unspecified TV network for work he had done. Police then contacted Taylor and told him to stop leaving the messages.

But Taylor apparently resumed making the calls and, in a two-day span, he left 29 messages threatening Alvarez and Sharapova.