Bird prefers mural with a few less tattoos
Larry Bird likes the mural but not the tats.
Artist Jules Muck said she’ll remove most tattoos from a large painting of the former NBA star on an Indianapolis multifamily residence. The tattoos include two rabbits mating on his right arm and a spider web on a shoulder.
The mural is a replica of Bird’s appearance on a 1977 Sports Illustrated cover when he played college ball for Indiana State.
Bird’s attorney, Gary Sallee, says the former Indiana Pacers executive “needs to protect” his brand and “doesn’t want to be seen as a tattooed guy.”
Muck told the Indianapolis Star that an “Indiana” tattoo will remain on Bird’s arm in the mural.
Baseball
Hawaii advanced to the American championship game Saturday at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., with a 12- 9 win against Southeast representative Virginia. Virginia, which had not given up a run before meeting Hawaii, will play in a semifinal Thursday against the Southwest.
• Eastbank, La., eliminated Elmora Elizabeth, N. J., from title contention and claimed its spot in the semifinal with a 4- 1 win.
• Japan claimed its entry into the International championship Saturday with a 7- 2 victory against Chung Nam, South Korea. South Korea will play again Thursday in a semifinal against Curacao of the Caribbean.
Pro football
The XFL, which begins play in February, revealed team logos and names for its eight franchises. They are the Los Angeles Wildcats, New York Guardians, DC Defenders, Dallas Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, St. Louis BattleHawks, Seattle Dragons and Tampa Bay Vipers.
Hockey
The Ottawa Senators signed forward Colin White to a six- year contract with an average annual value of $ 4.75 million.
• The New York Islanders agreed to terms with former Penguins forward Derick Brassard on a oneyear contract.
Soccer
The Montreal Impact fired coach Remi Garde and replaced him with Wilmer Cabrera. The move came 27 games into the Garde’s second season with the team, which is struggling to hang on to a Major League Soccer playoff spot.
College basketball
Former Arkansas forward Gabe Osabuohien has transferred to West Virginia and will have two years of eligibility remaining. Arkansas coach Eric Musselman dismissed Osabuohien, 6 feet 8, from the Razorbacks last week without disclosing the reason.
Elsewhere
Cleveland Edwards, who was a basketball AllAmerican at Robert Morris when it was a junior college and played at Pitt under Tim Grgurich for three years ( 1969- 72), died Saturday in Las Vegas at age of 71. He was an assistant on Jerry Tarkanian’s staff when UNLV won the national title in 1990. Edwards also was an assistant at Robert Morris ( 197375) and Pitt ( 1975- 80) and served as an NBA scout for 10 years.