Kidd Acknowledges Fleeing Accident Scene

Jason Kidd, expected to be one of the top selections in next month’s NBA draft, met Monday with authorities in Oakland and acknowledged fleeing the scene of a traffic accident.

There were no injuries in the wreck early Sunday on I-80.

The car Kidd, an All-American point guard at California, was driving sideswiped another car, skidded and overturned. The other car was moderately damaged. Kidd left in a third car, his two passengers staying at the accident scene, police said.

“While driving two friends home I was involved in an accident,” Kidd said. “I panicked and mistakenly left the scene. I was not intoxicated, and I have spoken with the authorities regarding this matter. Thankfully, no one was injured.”

Witnesses told the CHP that Kidd’s car was weaving in and out of traffic and speeding before hitting the other vehicle.

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Derrick Coleman of the New Jersey Nets was arrested in New York and charged with assault in connection with a street brawl with three teen-agers last month outside a Manhattan nightclub.

Police said they planned to issue a desk-appearance ticket for third-degree assault and then release Coleman.

The teen-agers said they were attacked when one taunted Coleman and teammate Jayson Williams after the Nets had lost to the New York Knicks in the NBA playoffs. The youths have sued Coleman for $7.6 million.

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Freddie Joe Nunn, an NFL free agent after nine years with the Arizona Cardinals, was freed from jail in DeKalb, Miss., after telling authorities he had shot and killed a grocery store owner Saturday in self-defense.

No charges have been filed but authorities said the case would go to the grand jury.

College Football

NCAA Division I-A conference commissioners met in Atlanta behind closed doors with television executives and bowl officials to discuss plans to restructure college football’s postseason play.

Officials with the Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big 12--formerly the Big Eight--and Big East conferences are considering plans to limit the number of bowl games played on New Year’s Day and to change how teams are selected.

Soccer

Brazil cut defender Mozer from its World Cup team because he has a form of hepatitis and replaced him with Aldair.

An appeals court reportedly has ordered several officials of the Italian Olympic Committee to stand trial in connection with huge cost overruns to get the capital’s stadium ready for the 1990 World Cup.

Boxing

Seeking to take advantage of World Cup publicity, Riddick Bowe’s manager, Rock Newman, has chosen Hollywood Park to be the site of the July 15 bout between his former heavyweight champion and Larry Donald. The fight will take place on an off day between the semifinal and final World Cup matches at the Rose Bowl, and will be sanctioned by the World Cup.

Alberto Jimenez of Mexico City won a 10-round split decision over Arthur Johnson of St. Louis in a flyweight bout Monday night at the Forum. Jimenez is 27-3-1 with 23 knockouts. Johnson, who represented the United States in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, fell to 8-2 with five knockouts.

Another 1988 Olympian, Montel Griffin of Chicago, won a 10-round unanimous decision over David Vedder of Santa Clara in a light-heavyweight bout.

Miscellany

Gymnast Kim Zmeskal, the 1991 world champion before faltering at the 1992 Olympics, plans to return to amateur competition.

The NCAA has notified Maine it intends to conduct a preliminary inquiry into possible violations, primarily involving the hockey team.