Gilbert Arenas calls gun incident ‘misguided effort to play a joke’

Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas says he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.

Arenas released a written statement Monday after meeting with law enforcement officials. Arenas’ lawyer says the player voluntarily met with prosecutors and detectives and answered every question during a two-hour interview.

In his statement, Arenas repeated his assertion that he brought four guns to the Verizon Center to store in his locker in order to get them out of his house and away from his children. He said he mistakenly believed that recent changes in District of Columbia law made it legal for him to store unloaded guns there.

Arenas said he took the unloaded guns out of his locker on Dec. 21 “in a misguided effort to play a joke on a teammate.” He denied threatening or assaulting anyone. The New York Post has reported that Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other.

“Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas said. “I should not have brought the guns to D.C. in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns -- even if unloaded.”

Two officials within the league who have been briefed on the investigation told the Associated Press on Saturday that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room.

BOXING

Mediation is set for mega-fight

The mediator who today will attempt to resolve the conflicts in negotiations to stage a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega-fight March 13 in Las Vegas released a prepared statement Monday saying he’s “satisfied all parties are negotiating in good faith.”

Retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein is scheduled to preside over the mediation today in Santa Monica. Weinstein previously bridged the gap in another major divide, bringing promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy together in 2007, a union that helped create several major fights.

-- Lance Pugmire BASEBALL

Beltre, Red Sox close to a deal

A person familiar with the negotiations says free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre and the Boston Red Sox are close to agreeing on a one-year contract.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an agreement, which would be subject to a physical, had not been reached.

A home run threat known for strong defense, Beltre spent the last five years with Seattle. Injuries limited him to 111 games last season, when he batted .265 with eight homers and 44 runs batted in.

Jason Bay’s contract with the New York Mets includes a $17-million option for 2014 with a $3-million buyout, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press.

Bay took a physical Monday, a necessary step to finalize the deal, and the Mets scheduled a news conference today to introduce their first major free-agent signing of the off-season.

Bay is guaranteed $66 million under the four-year contract and could make $80 million over five seasons, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been announced.

The Colorado Rockies and catcher Miguel Olivo agreed to a $2.5-million, one-year contract that includes a club option for 2011.

ETC.

UCLA football schedule changes

UCLA has shuffled its 2010 football schedule and will start Pacific 10 Conference play on Sept. 11 against Stanford at the Rose Bowl, one week after opening at Kansas State.

The Bruins’ nonconference home game against Houston has been pushed back a week, to Sept. 18, and UCLA will now play at Texas on Sept. 25 in a nationally televised game on ABC.

Other changes: UCLA’s game at Oregon will be played on Thursday, Oct. 21, instead of Oct. 23, and the Bruins will play at Arizona State on Friday, Nov. 26, instead of Nov. 20, which is now an open date.

Michael Andretti’s IndyCar team has signed Ryan Hunter-Reay to drive a limited schedule in 2010 with the hope of making it a full-time ride.

Phillips-Van Heusen and its Izod brand will sponsor Hunter-Reay’s No. 37 car, the fourth entry on Andretti’s team this season. Izod also is the new title sponsor for the series.

American snowboarder Kevin Pearce remains in critical but stable condition at a Utah hospital because of a brain injury he suffered in a fall while training Thursday in Park City.