Newsmakers: Nets hire Atkinson as new head coach
Hired The Brooklyn Nets hired Atlanta assistant Kenny Atkinson as their new coach on Sunday, though he won’t be taking over until the Hawks’ season ends. Atkinson spent the last four seasons in Atlanta and the four before that with the Knicks.
Ill UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma remains hospitalized for observation after being admitted on Saturday after taking himself off a plane.
Record A Major League Soccer record for fast penalty kick was set when Kaka scored for Orlando 1:37 into its 2-2 draw with New England. He scored after Julio Baptista drew a foul 15 seconds into the match.
Out Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley is likely out for the rest of the opening-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks with a hamstring injury.
Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss the European Championship after injuring his knee while playing for Juventus.
Starter After losing her left leg in the 2013 finish-line explosions at the Boston Marathon, Adrianne Haslet decided that she would return to the course – this time as a runner. Haslet will be one of 31 members of the One Fund community – survivors of the attacks, their families and supporters– who will be in the field. More than 30,000 runners are scheduled to head to Hopkinton, Massachusetts on Monday for the 120th edition of the race this Patriots Day. Among them are Haslet and Patrick Downes, a Boston College graduate who had his left leg amputated after the bombings.
Dispute FIBA has raised the stakes in a dispute with 14 European members over controlling continent-wide club basketball competitions by suggesting Spain could lose its 2016 Olympics place. FIBA said that its executive committee meeting next weekend “will discuss the possibility of taking decisions in relation to worldwide events.” These include the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where 2012 silver medalist Spain has already qualified, and Olympic qualifying tournaments in July, including two hosted by Serbia and Italy. Spain, Serbia and Italy are among 14 federations given a Wednesday deadline by FIBA to prove their clubs or leagues don’t have agreements with Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA). The ECA is a private, club-supported organizer of the established Euroleague and Eurocup events. FIBA and its subsidiary, FIBA Europe, have launched a rival Champions League to start next season.