Jackson violated probation, judge rules

Basketball
It was an off day for the Golden State Warriors, but Stephen Jackson had an important court date. A judge in Rochester Hills, Mich., ruled yesterday that Jackson violated his probation in Michigan when Indiana prosecutors charged him with firing a gun outside a strip club Oct. 6. The Warriors guard was serving probation after pleading no contest to assault and battery charges in September 2005 for his role in the 2004 brawl between Indiana Pacers players and fans in Auburn Hills, Mich. Jackson, who was traded from the Pacers to Golden State earlier this month, faces up to 30 days in jail on the probation violation . . . New Jersey Nets star Jason Kidd filed new divorce papers this week citing irreconcilable differences in his request to end his 10-year union to Joumana Kidd, who he says physically and emotionally abused him . . . Sacramento Kings coach Eric Musselman pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol in October . . . The Atlantic Coast Conference admitted a timing error was made in the closing seconds of Duke's 68-66 win over Clemson Thursday, giving the Blue Devils 4.4 seconds to drive the length of the court and win on a layup as time expired . . . Notre Dame point guard Kyle McAlarney plans to return to the school and basketball team following his suspension for a marijuana possession arrest, his father said.

Baseball

Jeff Weaver and the Seattle Mariners have just about finalized a one-year contract worth $8,325,000, a person familiar with the negotiations said. The 30-year-old righthander helped the Cardinals win the World Series last season . . . The Mariners gave 36-year-old reliever Arthur Rhodes a minor league contract . . . Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, 59, was hospitalized and in good condition with an undisclosed ailment, his son said . . . The Yankees completed a $750,000, one-year contract with 32-year-old infielder Miguel Cairo.

Auto racing

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was charged with driving under the influence after he was identified as the driver of a car that sideswiped another on the Las Vegas Beltway Thursday. Unser's vehicle had little damage, but the other car crashed into a cement center median. The driver reported no injuries at the scene.

Miscellany

Two Americans whose 2006 Olympic hopes were dashed were celebrating yesterday. Noelle Pikus-Pace, who missed the Turin Games after breaking her leg in a training accident, won the women's skeleton world championship at St. Moritz, Switzerland. In San Sicario, Italy, nearly a year after her medal dream was shattered by a training crash, Lindsey Kildow finished second to Renate Goetschl in a World Cup super-giant slalom. Julia Mancuso of the US finished eighth, ending her run of five straight top-three finishes . . . Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler will miss 3-4 months after undergoing hip surgery . . . Petr Kalus and Ben Walter scored two goals apiece as the visiting Providence Bruins beat the Portland Pirates, 6-2 . . . David Beckham could play again this season for Real Madrid -- if he is fit and has the right attitude -- said manager Fabio Capello . . . Former French soccer star Michel Platini was elected president of the Union of European Football Associations . . . Brown University assistant wrestling coach Michael Burch, a former UC-Davis wrestling coach who filed for Title IX violations after he was terminated following his support for female wrestlers, was awarded a $725,000 settlement.