Pacers’ Jackson Is Charged in Fight

Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson was charged with the felony and misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct Wednesday by the Marion County prosecutor, five days after he fought with a group of men outside a strip club in Indianapolis.

Pacers President Larry Bird said Jackson was upset by the charges.

“He knows it’s a major embarrassment for the franchise,” Bird said. “This is a big blow for Stephen. He didn’t expect this.”

Teammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter were also at the club, but were not charged.

Jackson was hit by a car, and police say he fired a gun in the air at least five times. He originally told police he was punched, but later said he was not, prosecutors said.

Jackson was scheduled to be in court today. The felony count carries a prison term of six months to three years.

The charges were another setback for Jackson, a participant in the 2004 brawl with Detroit Pistons fans. In fact, Jackson was ordered to serve an extra year of probation in that case because did not complete the terms of his sentence.

Marion County prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson could be ordered to serve three months in jail if it is determined that he has violated his probation.

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NBA Commissioner David Stern suspects complaints about the new ball will go away -- just as they did in soccer.

Some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including Shaquille O’Neal and Steve Nash, have said the ball is sticky when dry and slippery when wet.

“To make me feel better, I went back and looked at reactions when Adidas introduced its new soccer ball,” Stern said in Cologne, Germany. “There was virtually identical commentary.”

Stern, however, said he would monitor the situation.

“But as the players get more used to it, it will become less and less of an issue for us,” he said.

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Jay Williams, playing for the first time since a motorcycle crash nearly ended his career three years ago, had two points in 16 minutes of New Jersey’s 103-89 exhibition loss to Indiana.