Skinner assists, Williams case dropped

A trespassing charge against New Jersey Nets forward Sean Williams was dropped after Boston College coach Al Skinner intervened. Williams, a former BC player, was arrested by campus police after arriving to watch the Eagles play Duke Feb. 15. Williams had been served with a permanent no-trespassing order in May. The Suffolk County district attorney dropped the case after getting a letter from Skinner saying he'd invited Williams to the game and was unaware of the no-trespass order . . . Allen Iverson says he will come off the bench if that's what's best for the Detroit Pistons. Iverson has missed three straight games with soreness in his back. Detroit is six games under .500 with Iverson starting, which coach Michael Curry says Iverson won't do when his back is healthy enough for him to play. Iverson said his goal hasn't changed since arriving: to help the Pistons win a championship. He says he'll do "whatever it takes - regardless if I'm starting or coming off the bench." . . . Drew Gooden joined the Spurs after buying out his contract earlier this week in Sacramento.

Al Michaels is returning to the event where he made his iconic call. The announcer will serve as a host for NBC's coverage of next year's Winter Olympics, the 30th anniversary of his "Do you believe in miracles?" call of the "Miracle on Ice." The network announced Michaels will host more than 50 hours of live weekend and weekday daytime coverage from Vancouver. Vancouver will be his sixth Olympics - but first since the 1988 Calgary Games - and first as a host . . . Tampa Bay farmhand Steve Downie was suspended for 20 games by the American Hockey League for slashing an official with his stick late in a Feb. 28 game for the Norfolk Admirals . . . Dara Torres, 41, won the 50-meter freestyle in her first competition after the Beijing Olympics, taking the Austin Grand Prix in 24.91 seconds . . . Jen Hudak won a bronze medal in skier halfpipe at the FIS freestyle world championships in Japan . . . One person has been arrested in connection with a burglary at the Salt Lake City home of Olympic cyclist David Zabriskie. Leopold Jay Howard, 39, was booked for investigation of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, and other charges. A booking record alleges Howard broke into Zabriskie's home Feb. 15 and took $250,000 in property, including two cars. Police say a second man is being sought.

David Beckham's status as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy is still in question. Landon Donovan, though, is coming back. The Galaxy announced that Donovan, last season's team MVP, will return from an overseas loan to play for the MLS team this season. Donovan, 26, who was playing with Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga, will begin training with Los Angeles on Tuesday. Beckham, who's on loan to AC Milan, has a five-year contract with the Galaxy and is expected back next week. Beckham has said he wants to stay with Milan, and the Italian club has been trying to strike a deal to keep the international star in Europe . . . Kristine Lilly has agreed to terms on a multiyear contract with the Boston Breakers. Lilly, who has appeared in 342 matches with the US women's national team, played for the Breakers from 2001-03.

Former Miami coach Larry Coker has been hired to lead the new Texas-San Antonio football program, his first coaching job since the Hurricanes fired him in 2006. Texas-San Antonio plans to play its first season in 2011 . . . Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive has agreed to a three-year contract extension. Slive, 68, will have presided over the powerhouse league for 10 years when the deal ends July 31, 2012.

The attack on a cricket team in Pakistan this week prompted intelligence officials to caution local authorities to be on the lookout for possible similar assaults at US sporting events. The notice, along with details of the attack, is part of an intelligence assessment that points out there are no known plots against sporting events in the United States. US intelligence officials say the attack shows how easily it could be duplicated elsewhere . . . The largest horse track owner in the United States filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, saying it was unable to obtain new financing while supporting its existing debt. Magna Entertainment Corp., whose operations include Baltimore's Pimlico racetrack and Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., said it would continue to operate while it reorganizes . . . NASCAR Truck Series team owner Billy Ballew was arrested for drunk driving at Atlanta Motor Speedway . . . World record-holder Paula Radcliffe pulled out of next month's London Marathon because of a broken toe . . . France rallied to beat the United States, 26-17, to open the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, while favorites South Africa, New Zealand, and England rolled to more comfortable wins . . . Former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has been named coach of the US national rugby team.