NEW YORK — Dale Scott figures he'll hear plenty of foul language from angry hitters next season. Such is life for a Major League Baseball umpire.

“They'll still yell at me when a 3-2 slider doesn't break their way,” he told The Associated Press. “But they'll be yelling at me because they didn't like my call, not because I'm a gay umpire.”

Two weeks after Jason Collins retired as the NBA's first openly gay player, Scott, entering his 30th season, added his name Tuesday to a growing list of gay and lesbian sports figures taking similar public steps. St. Louis Rams draft pick Michael Sam, NBA official Violet Palmer and WNBA star Brittney Griner are among those who have come out in recent years.

NEW ORLEANS — Reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant returned from a foot injury and scored 27 points in his season debut for Oklahoma City, but Tyreke Evans and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Thunder 112-104 on Tuesday night.Durant played nearly 30 minutes, looking healthy whether he was throwing down a driving, two-handed dunk or snapping off one of his three 3-pointers.

MONTREAL — Former Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau has died. He was 83.The team confirmed the death of the Hall of Fame center and one of the most beloved players in Canadiens history.A supremely skilled center who spent 18 full seasons and parts of two others with Montreal, Beliveau was also a popular ambassador for the sport. He scored 507 goals, won 10 Stanley Cups and was captain for 10 seasons before his retirement in 1971. He then moved seamlessly into an executive position with the club.Beliveau was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972..

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Florida has targeted Colorado State's Jim McElwain to fill its coaching vacancy.McElwain is a former Alabama offensive coordinator.