Larry Bird stepped down as president of the Indiana Pacers today, announcing his decision at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where there was no shortage of smiles and laughter and jokes and platitudes. Boy, folks have a short memory nowadays. Or too long of one. Yes, the Pacers and Bird enjoyed a renaissance this season. The team reached the Eastern Conference semifinals and Bird was named Executive of the Year. It’s interesting how one solid season from an NBA legend obscured a track record
By Chris Sheridan KAUNAS, Lithuania — Just when you thought you’ve seen it all … Well, you’ve never seen it all. That’s something you always have to keep in mind when attending a FIBA tournament. Greece defeating the United States in the semifinals of the World Championship in Japan in 2006? That was right up there, probably No. 1 in my book. Russia beating Spain in Madrid for the gold medal at EuroBasket in 2007? Yeah, that’s up there, too. Might have been the closest
By Chris Sheridan VILNIUS, Lithuania — This particular pick-and-roll play was both a thing of beauty and a small but memorable chapter in this country’s long basketball history, a moment that will stick in the country’s collective memory bank for ages to come. Sarunas Jasikevicius had the ball out near the circle and used the 7-foot frame of Jonas Valanciunas to create some space between himself and his defender. As the 19-year-old center rolled to the basket after setting the pick, the 35-year-old point guard lofted a perfect