Associated Press
CHICAGO ó Vinny Del Negro has accepted his first head coaching job, agreeing to take over a Chicago Bulls team that went from 49 wins to 49 losses in a season and missed the playoffs after making the second round in 2007.
Bulls general manager John Paxson plans to introduce Del Negro as the teamís new coach at a news conference this afternoon, team spokesman Matt Yob said Tuesday.
His selection ends a drawn-out search in which the Bullsí high-profile courtships of Mike DíAntoni and Doug Collins collapsed.
Paxson did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Del Negro, whose voicemail box was full Tuesday, did not immediately return a page.
PISTONS
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. ó Play hard or sit.
Basically, that is Michael Curryís coaching philosophy and it seems to be exactly what the Detroit Pistons need.
The Pistons gave Curry his first head coaching job Tuesday in part because theyíre confident he can get the most out of their remaining veterans, some of whom are former teammates.
iI donít think you make anybody play. I think you substitute,î Curry said at a news conference. iYou remove the ones that are unmotivated. Thatís pretty simple.î
UCLA
LOS ANGELES ó UCLAís Josh Shipp has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to the Bruins for his senior season.
The guard declared himself eligible in April on the final day underclassmen could enter the draft, but did not hire an agent, which allowed him to back out under NCAA rules.
NFL
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó Former NFL coach Sam Wyche felt like a winner again.
The 63-year-old Wyche took the Republican nomination for a Pickens County council seat Tuesday night, defeating incumbent Ben Trotter.
n KIRKLAND, Wash. ó Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren missed a second consecutive day of minicamp Wednesday with what a team spokesman continued to emphasize was a minor but undisclosed medical condition.
Holmgren, who turns 60 Sunday and is entering his 10th and final season as Seattleís coach, is expected on the field Wednesday. He had been expected back Tuesday.
SOCCER
CARSON, Calif. ó Defender Carlos Bocanegra and forward Brian Ching were added Tuesday to the U.S. roster that will train ahead of the Americansí opening World Cup qualifier against Barbados this weekend.