Pittsburgh ? Ben Roethlisberger apologized to the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans and his family Thursday, hours after being released from a hospital, saying he was fortunate to be alive and pledging to wear a helmet if he ever again rides a motorcycle.

“In the past few days, I’ve gained a new perspective on life,” the Super Bowl-winning quarterback said in a statement released by the team. “By the grace of God, I’m fortunate to be alive … “

Roethlisberger, 24, who wrecked his bike and cracked his head on a car windshield Monday, was discharged late Wednesday night.

The youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl was not wearing a helmet when he crashed into a car that was turning left in front of his motorcycle. Pennsylvania’s mandatory helmet law was repealed in 2003.

But Roethlisberger said in the statement that if he ever rides a motorcycle again “it certainly will be with a helmet.”

Doctors have said two rounds of tests showed no brain injuries, although there was a mild concussion. Doctors used small titanium plates and screws to reassemble Roethlisberger’s broken jaw and repaired other broken facial bones. He also lost two teeth and chipped several others, doctors said.

In the statement, Roethlisberger said that he realized he had a responsibility to safeguard his health in the offseason so he could continue to lead the team.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, citing confidentiality laws, has refused to confirm media reports that Roethlisberger does not have a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license.

Roethlisberger appeared to address those reports in his statement.

“I never meant any harm to others nor to break any laws,” Roethlisberger said. “I was confident in my ability to ride a motorcycle and simply believed such an accident would not happen to me.”

Police were still investigating and will not release their findings until their accident reconstruction is complete, spokeswoman Tammy Ewin said. Police have finished inspecting Roethlisberger’s Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle and the car, but Ewin would not elaborate on that part of the investigation.

A secretary for District Justice Oscar Petite Jr., who has jurisdiction where the crash occurred, said no citations or other charges have been filed.

NFL

Chiefs’ Welbourn retires

Kansas City, Mo. – Offensive lineman John Welbourn of the Kansas City Chiefs said Thursday he is retiring from the NFL, effective immediately. Welbourn, 30, was traded to the Chiefs from Philadelphia in 2004 after coming into the league as a fourth-round draft choice in 1999.

He was hampered much of his first year in Kansas City with a knee injury. This year he would have competed with newly signed Kyle Turley and Chiefs veterans Jordan Black and Kevin Sampson for playing time at right tackle. He was suspended the first four games of 2005 for violation of the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

“I decided to retire on my own terms rather than somebody else’s,” Welbourn told The Associated Press. “It was awesome playing in the NFL. I got to play with a lot of great athletes, Will Shields, Willie Roaf, to name a few. I’ve been playing football for 16 years and it’s a little scary to think I won’t be playing any more. But at the same time, it’s exciting to think I’ll be starting a whole new chapter in my life.”

Henry pleads innocent

Covington, Ky. – Bengals receiver Chris Henry pleaded innocent Thursday to charges accusing him of providing alcohol to three underage females. Henry, 23, has been arrested four times in the last seven months in three states. He was arraigned on his latest set of charges in northern Kentucky on Thursday morning, then went to Paul Brown Stadium for the team’s minicamp.

NFL, Anaheim officials meet

Santa Ana, Calif. – Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is convinced the NFL needs a team in the Los Angeles area. Where and when remain the multimillion dollar questions. Bowlen and NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue were among league officials who held a luncheon meeting Thursday with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, other city officials and Orange County business leaders.

NBA

Jordan part-owner of Bobcats

Charlotte, N.C. – Michael Jordan became part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats on Thursday in a deal that gives him a stake in most of majority partner Robert Johnson’s ventures.

Jordan’s investment makes him second only to Johnson as the largest individual owner of the Bobcats.

Johnson, who spent $300 million on the expansion Bobcats in 2002, said Jordan would be the managing member of basketball operations.

Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and won five MVP awards, bought into Johnson’s existing portfolio. The founder of BET has financial interests in several media, entertainment and financial services, and became the first black owner in the NBA when he beat out a Larry Bird-backed group for Charlotte’s new team.

Tennis

Federer’s grass streak at 38

Halle, Germany – Roger Federer won his 38th straight match on grass, edging Richard Gasquet of France, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (7), 6-4, Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open. If Federer wins the tournament, he’ll equal the record of 41 straight grass-court wins set by Bjorn Borg from 1976-81.

Federer will next play Olivier Rochus, who beat Marat Safin of Russia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Safin unraveled after the second set and converted only two of 13 break points.

Nadal struggles in victory

London – Top-seed Rafael Nadal outlasted fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the grass-court championships at Queen’s Club.

The French Open champion next faces Lleyton Hewitt, who edged Max Mirnyi, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Three-time defending champion Andy Roddick saved three first-set points against Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand before winning, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Ivan Ljubicic, who has won only two matches on grass in three years, lost, 7-6 (11), 7-5, to French teenager Gael Monfils.

Sharapova advances

Birmingham, England – Maria Sharapova beat Li Na of China, 6-2, 6-4, Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the DFS Classic. Sharapova will face Mara Santangelo of Italy for a spot in the semifinals. Santangelo defeated Ai Sugiyama, 7-6, 6-4.

College Basketball

Player removed from camp

Stillwater, Okla. – Former NBA player Byron Houston has been removed from a basketball camp for children at Oklahoma State after officials were alerted that the former Cowboys standout remains a registered sex offender.

Houston, 36, pleaded guilty in March 2003 to four counts of indecent exposure. Houston’s supervised probation ended Jan. 28, 2005, but his case does not expire until March 3, 2009. After that date, he is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

“Byron Houston is making significant strides in his life,” Oklahoma State head coach-designate Sean Sutton said. “Because of a previous arrangement with the judge in his case, we believed he was allowed to work basketball camps this year. When told that was not the case, we took the proper steps. He is no longer working our camps.”

Houston had been working with Sutton and his father, retired Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton, as well as other college and high school coaches and former professional and college players as supervisors and instructors for grade-school players participating in the camp.

Houston, Oklahoma State’s all-time leading scorer, was taken by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds during a four-year NBA career with Golden State, Seattle and Sacramento.

Roby decision expected

Boulder, Colo. – Colorado guard Richard Roby says he will decide by Saturday whether to return to college for his junior season or go pro.

Roby, the leading scorer for the Buffaloes the past two seasons, worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday and expects to have met with about 10 teams before he decides. He told the Daily Camera in Thursday’s editions he was encouraged by what NBA general managers have told him.

Knight’s insurance not liable

Indianapolis – Bob Knight’s insurance company has been ruled not liable for damages resulting from the coach’s 1999 confrontation with a former assistant at Indiana.

Knight, now the basketball coach at Texas Tech, settled with former assistant Ron Felling in 2002. But in 2004, Knight sued Indiana Insurance Co. and the university, seeking to recover his expenses for his defense and for the money he paid Felling.