In Brief

BASKETBALL

Karl's cancer influencing decision of L.A.'s Jackson

Seeing Denver Nuggets coach George Karl sidelined last season with cancer will influence Phil Jackson's upcoming decision on whether to return as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the renowned coach said at a meeting of Western governors in Whitefish, Mont., on Sunday.

Jackson told reporters after his speech to the Western Governors' Association that he's waiting to hear from doctors on whether he's healthy enough to make it through another 82-game regular season.

The 64-year-old said he wouldn't want to leave his squad without a coach in the middle of the season, as Karl was forced to do earlier this year while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for throat and neck cancer.

"My concern to be quite blunt, is I don't want to have happen what happened to Denver and George Karl," Jackson said.

Also: Another son of Michael Jordan appears headed to play for Central Florida.

Jeffrey Jordan posted on his Twitter account that he was off to UCF, his "new school."

The 6-foot-1-inch point guard left Illinois in May after playing two seasons. Jeffrey Jordan would join his younger brother, Marcus, who was a freshman for UCF last season.

MISCELLANEOUS

Lions president issues apology after DUI arrest

Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand apologized after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving while at a charity golf tournament in northern Michigan.

Lewand said in a statement released Saturday night that he is "deeply sorry" for his actions and takes "full responsibility."

Team spokesman Matt Barnhart confirmed that Lewand was arrested and released Friday night. Lewand was attending a charity golf event in Houghton Lake, about 150 miles northwest of Detroit.

Lewand also said that "as a person in active recovery, I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure nothing like this ever happens again."

Also: Wallace Spearmon and Consuella Moore won national titles in the 200-meter dash at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Spearmon finished in a wind-aided 19.77 seconds to edge Walter Dix (20.14).

Moore, who recently returned to the track after an extended absence, won in 22.40, edging out Shalonda Solomon.

The United States beat Australia 9-2 to remain unbeaten at the world softball championship in Caracas, Venezuela.

The United States has won the tourney six straight times.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. unanimously outpointed Ireland's John Duddy late Saturday night in a 12-round middleweight fight at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Chavez (42-0-1) dominated the early part of the fight with a steady dose of hooks and jabs, but Duddy (29-2) kept the pressure on and pushed Chavez to 12 rounds for the first time in his eight-year career.

University police say three incoming UCLA football players arrested last week face felony theft charges for allegedly stealing a student's purse.

Sgt. Paul Stewart said the victim called police to the dining area of the Hendrick Hall dormitory, where she found her bag missing from a storage locker Wednesday. After an investigation, three 18-year-old freshmen -- Joshua Shirley, Shaquille Richardson and Paul Richardson -- were taken into custody.