Bird eager to get started in Pacers front office

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Indianapolis • Larry Bird can't wait to get started making decisions again.

The only man to win the league's MVP Award, coach of the year award and executive of the year award is back as the Indiana Pacers' new president of basketball operations. It's the same position he held until walking away from the franchise last summer because of health problems.

Bird officially takes over from Donnie Walsh, who succeeded him in this role last season, on Monday.

Bird will be busy right away. His first task will be re-signing power forward David West, a key factor in the franchise's remarkable resurgence. West is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and the Pacers — and Bird — want him back.