NBA

Jackson apologizes for incident

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 11, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson is "happy to be alive" after being punched in the mouth and hit by a car during a fight at a strip club in which police say he fired a gun in the air.

"I want to apologize to my teammates, to the fans and to this organization," Jackson said Tuesday after his first practice since the fight early Friday. "It was a very unfortunate incident. I definitely take responsibility for my action and everything I've done."

Team president Larry Bird said he was disappointed.

"This is a tough one, there's no question about it," Bird said. "We're not very happy with what happened, but we've got to move on and really concentrate on the season."

Indianapolis police Tuesday arrested Deon Willford, 23, on felony counts of criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and a misdemeanor count of driving without a license.

Willford drove a car that hit Jackson, sending him tumbling over the hood, said Indianapolis Police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Mount. Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air in apparent self-defense. Jackson has stitches in his lip and other scrapes and bruises.

CLIPPERS: Los Angeles signed veteran free-agent forward Lamond Murray for a second stint with the team.

NUGGETS: The team exercised its three-year option on coach George Karl's contract, keeping him with Denver through the 2009-10 season. Karl was hired Jan. 27, 2005, leading the team to a 76-46 regular-season record and .628 winning percentage.

TRAIL BLAZERS: The team removed the interim tag from general manager Steve Patterson's title. He has been team president since 2003.

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 01:34:03]