Lakers' Bynum sorry, but banned 5 games

Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been suspended for five games next season for his flagrant foul on Dallas guard J.J. Barea Sunday in Los Angeles' final playoff game.

The NBA announced the suspension yesterday. Bynum was ejected for the foul late in the two-time defending champions' 36-point loss to the Mavericks in Game 4. The league also fined Bynum $25,000 for ripping off his jersey while heading to the locker room, which means the suspension will cost him more than $700,000.

Bynum expressed contrition at the Lakers' training complex, saying the foul was "terrible" and "unacceptable." Bynum said his actions "don't represent me, my upbringing, this franchise or any of the Laker fans out there that want to watch us and want us to succeed," Bynum said. "I want to actually apologize to J.J. Barea for doing that. I'm just glad that he wasn't seriously injured in the event. All I can say is, I've looked at [a replay], it's terrible, and it definitely won't be happening again."

Bynum hit Barea with a flying elbow in the ribs while the Dallas guard drove to the basket in the fourth quarter. Barea wasn't seriously hurt.

Pacers keeping Bird as president

The Indiana Pacers are keeping Larry Bird as team president. The team made the announcement after Bird met with owner Herb Simon in Los Angeles. Bird was in the final year of his contract.

Things didn't look so good for Bird at the beginning of the year. The Pacers were 17-27 when the team fired coach Jim O'Brien. But interim coach Frank Vogel went 20-18 and guided the team to the playoffs, where Indiana challenged the Chicago Bulls before losing the first-round playoff series 4-1. The Pacers now will decide if the 37-year-old Vogel fits into their plans. -- AP