Newsmakers

Acquitted He may have been driving drunk when he struck and killed a woman in a car crash nearly three years ago, but Jim Leyritz wasn’t responsible for her death, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., jury ruled Saturday. The former New York Yankees baseball player burst into tears upon hearing the verdict, then into smiles of elation upon being convicted of simple DUI charge rather than the more serious charge of DUI manslaughter. He faced a sentence of up to 15 years had he been convicted of the more serious charge in the death of Fredia Veitch. Now, the first-time offender faces a maximum sentence of six months on the misdemeanor conviction.

Traded A person familiar with the trade said the New Orleans Hornets and Toronto Raptors agreed in principle to a five-player deal that will send Peja Stojakovic to Toronto in exchange for guard Jarrett Jack. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet official, said New Orleans also will receive center David Andersen and guard Marcus Banks, while guard Jarryd Bayless, acquired by New Orleans from Portland less than a month ago, will go to Toronto.

Sidelined New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur could be out for two weeks with a bruised right elbow. The Devils announced that an MRI on Brodeur’s elbow was negative. Brodeur originally hurt the elbow in a recent game in Chicago and aggravated the injury in the second period of Thursday night’s 3-1 loss in Toronto.

• Seton Hall will be without its top scorer for the next few weeks. The university announced that Jeremy Hazell broke a bone in his left wrist during the Pirates’ 83-78 win over Alabama on Friday night in the first round of the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands. Assistant athletic director Matt Sweeney said the 6-foot-5 senior is expected to miss four to six weeks. Sweeney said Hazell was hurt in the second half when he fell and tried to brace himself.

Returning Only a week after completing his service as an Army soldier in Afghanistan, Olympic bobsledder John Napier is planning a quick return to the World Cup sliding circuit. Napier will resume sledding in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Monday. After a planned five days of training there, he’s eyeing a return to the World Cup circuit in Calgary, Alberta, in early December.