Why I'm Obsessed with Larry Bird Videos

Old School ^ | 2/21/20 | Patrick Rooney

[rebuildus]

Learn from Larry!

[ealgeone]

The 80s were a time of great TEAM basketball. The entry of Bird and Magic into the NBA practically saved the league. I recall watching tape delays of the nba finals on a Friday night in high school. Tape delays. Not live. Taped.

That's how little attraction the league had.

The rivalry between Bird and Magic changed that.

I've watched a lot of videos with other players talking about Bird. The players recognized him for the talent he was. Yeah, he was a white guy playing a game dominated by blacks, but none seemed to care about the color of the skin....rather, could Bird play the game.

And could he.

[SouthWall]

A quick Larry Bird story.

Years ago, at a celebrity golf and tennis event I saw several people attempt to lob the tennis ball over Larry’s head.

It was not a good strategy.

[bray]

It is sad Bird got injured at the end of his career or would have won another title or two. Greatest team ever and most clutch shooter.

[shalom aleichem]

Larry’s videos are fascinating to watch, which I do for hours at a time.

[ealgeone]

Read he hurt his back shoveling gravel for his mom's driveway.

Why is a NBA allstar shoveling gravel????

[SamAdams76]

When Larry Bird retired, I pretty much stopped watching basketball.

I had seen all the basketball I ever needed to see.

[Mariner]

“Why is a NBA allstar shoveling gravel???? “

Because mom asked him to.

[Fido969]

Len Bias was the superstar who was supposed to carry the Celtics into the next era. When he died shortly after being drafted, it took the air out of the team. The Celts were never the same.

[mrsmith]

I was in Cambridge during the Bird years.
Got to know a little of the game.
Two things I ‘remember’: Bird getting two guys to crash into each other, and the ‘chief’ getting away with sticking his hand in the basket to block a goal.

Never cared for it in general though.

[semimojo]

So the black guy said, “What did you say about my mamma?” And the white guy totally backed down, meekly saying, “It’s just a figure of speech.”

Sure he did Patrick.

Sure he did.

[basalt]

the 1979 Michigan State - Indiana State final with Magic vs Bird really put NCAA basketball on the map...and they took it right into the NBA. Those 2 did save that league....

[ealgeone]

Remember watching that game with my dad. He said Bird had no help that game.

Bird was double teamed most of the night.

A lot of folks forget he was at Indiana with Bobby Knight for a little while. Guess he didn't like it and transferred to Indiana State.

[Alas Babylon!]

The white guy’s name was Joe, and the black guy was named Corn Pop.

Or I’m sure it’s a lot of malarkey.

[rebuildus]

So the black guy said, “What did you say about my mamma?” And the white guy totally backed down, meekly saying, “It’s just a figure of speech.”

Sure he did Patrick.

Sure he did.

Oh, I assure you, semimojo, he said it. Clear as a bell after all these years. Why is that so hard to believe? White people have been backing down for years, it didn't start yesterday.

[Gay State Conservative]

I remember seeing an interview with Isaiah Thomas in which he said that of all the guys he played against Larry Bird was the toughest,Magic Johnson was the smartest and Michael Jordan was the best.

[ealgeone]

In that interview Thomas said if you put him, Bird, Magic and MJ in a room to fight, Bird would be the one who walked out.

[cornfedcowboy]

Bird was known to light up a cigarette during halftime.

[CJ Wolf]

Different time back then... I used to light up a cig while waiting for the defense to do their work in hs football, before I went in on offense. I think they even sold beer to the 18 year old seniors at the snack stand.

[killermosquito]

I remember watching highlights of Bird having an incredible shooting night and the camera man kept showing the opponent’s bench going crazy everytime Bird scored. It was hilarious.