INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Larry Bird is leaving the Indiana Pacers.
The newspaper reported the move Tuesday, citing an unidentified person with direct knowledge of the situation, and said Bird was meeting with team owner Herb Simon. The Pacers and Simon declined comment on the report. The NBA draft is Thursday.
The 55-year-old Bird was Pacers coach from 1997-2000, returning to the front office in 2003. He took over from Donnie Walsh in 2008 as president of basketball operations and was this season’s NBA’s Executive of the Year after building a tough, young team that lost to eventual champion Miami.
The former Indiana State star won three MVP awards and three NBA titles during his Hall of Fame career with Boston.
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Rafael Nadal lost the first four games of his first-round match at Wimbledon before turning things around against Thomaz Bellucci, beating the Brazilian 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-3.
Nadal had a shaky start Tuesday on Centre Court. He was two points away from going down 5-0 in the first set, but Bellucci netted an overhead backhand at 30-15 and Nadal went on to break for 4-1 to start the comeback. He won the next three games to make it 4-4 and Bellucci then self-destructed in the tiebreaker, making several unforced errors.
The two-time champion was hardly troubled after that and served out the match with an ace.
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Second-ranked Victoria Azarenka overcame a late slip-up to beat American Irina Falconi 6-1, 6-4 Tuesday in the first round at Wimbledon.
The Australian Open champion looked to be cruising when leading 4-1 in the second set but allowed Falconi to break twice and keep her chances alive. Azarenka wouldn’t allow a comeback, however, converting her second match point when Falconi netted a forehand return.
Azarenka reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last year before losing to eventual champion Petra Kvitova, while Falconi lost in the first round for the second year in a row.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Adam Oates is the new coach of the Washington Capitals.
The team announced Tuesday that the 49-year-old Oates will be the replacement for Dale Hunter, who resigned at the end of the season.
Oates played 19 seasons in the NHL, including parts of six seasons with the Capitals. Ironically, he replaced Hunter as captain after Hunter was traded during the 1998-99 season.
Oates’ last year as a player in the NHL was 2004. He has spent the last three seasons in the league as an assistant coach, first with the Tampa Bay Lightning and then the last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland at N-Y Yankees 6:05 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Baltimore 6:05 p.m.
Toronto at Boston 6:10 p.m.
Detroit at Texas 7:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Minnesota 7:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Oakland at Seattle 9:10 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 6:05 p.m.
Arizona at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
St. Louis at Miami 6:10 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Chi Cubs 7:05 p.m.
San Diego at Houston 7:05 p.m.
Washington at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE TONIGHT on ESPN Radio 1410)
L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.
