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Police: Rams' Jackson won't be charged

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, accused of getting rough with the mother of his son, won't be charged in the domestic case, Las Vegas police say.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police spokesman Barbara Morgan said Tuesday investigators have closed the book on allegations brought against Jackson by former girlfriend Supriya Harris, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

"We did a thorough investigation," Morgan told the newspaper. "We interviewed the alleged victim, an eyewitness, the accused … [and] there was just insufficient evidence to go forward with this case."

Harris, 29, reportedly accused Jackson, 26, of pushing her several times and throwing her against a door at Jackson's Las Vegas home last March when she was nine months pregnant with the couple's son.

The newspaper said Jackson denied the allegations, saying on his Web site that he would address the issue "thoroughly through the appropriate avenues, but not through the media."

Pac-10 considers expanding

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- The Pac-10 Conference is seriously considering expansion, Commissioner Larry Scott said Tuesday.

Speaking during a conference call to reporters, Scott said he and conference officials were weighing expansion options, ESPN reported.

"It really is over the next six to 12 months that we'll start having serious analysis and serious conversations," Scott said, adding he has spent his first six months on the job listening to administrators from member schools.

With the hiring this week of Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Weiberg -- himself a former Big 12 commissioner and Big Ten executive -- Scott said the Pac-10 was embarking on "changes and repositioning you'll see for the conference over the next 12 to 18 months," ESPN reported.

"It makes sense (to consider expansion), if you are going to do it, to do it when you can monetize it and get value for it commercially," Scott added, saying the creation of a Pac-10 television network would be a priority.

Padres sign catcher Torrealba

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Catcher Yorvit Torrealba signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres Tuesday, the team said.

Torrealba, 31, played for the Colorado Rockies last season, but the team declined its $4 million option on the catcher after the end of the year. He appeared in 64 games for the Rockies, hitting a career-best .291.

His season was hampered by the kidnapping of his son and brother-in-law in his native Venezuela, which forced him to miss a month. Upon his return, he came through with many clutch hits for the Rockies, batting .324 after the All-Star break.

He was particularly effective in the National League Division Series against Philadelphia, when he went 5-for-14 with a home run and four RBI in the playoff loss.

Torrealba began his career in San Francisco in 2001, moved to Seattle in 2005 and spent four years in Colorado, where he batted .258 in 312 games.

6 NHL clubs to open in Europe next season

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Six NHL teams will open the 2010-11 hockey season with games in Europe, league officials announced Tuesday.

Among the European openers will be a two-game series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild in Helsinki, Finland, Oct. 7-8.

Also, the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks will meet for a pair of contests in Stockholm, Sweden, Oct. 8-9, while the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes will stage two games in Prague, Czech Republic, Oct. 9-10.

It's the fourth straight year the NHL has opened the season with European contests.

"The Premiere Games are a highly anticipated part of our season launch, and we are extremely pleased that six teams -- more than ever -- will open their season in Europe," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "With these games, nearly half of our clubs will have participated in Premiere -- a testament to how excited our teams are to be playing before our outstanding fans in Europe."