Happy Birthday, LB

Larry Bird turned 50 today, as noted all around the internet.

Everyone has a favorite Bird story, if they like him, which not everyone does. Favorite Bird moments have been noted on the internet as well, here is mine.

Larry Bird was someone who thrived on hustle and outworking everyone else. The Hick from French Lick, as he called himself would do anything to get the ball or make the shot including running laps around the Boston Garden to stay in shape during the season and shooting jumpers hours before game time. He is easily the best white player to ever put on an NBA uniform and one of the best players in the 80s.

That didn’t mean that he couldn’t get the job done. He could.

My favorite Bird story happened on Christmas Day in a game against the Indiana Pacers.

Bird told Chuck Person of the pacers that he had a Christmas present for him. After releasing a three pointer near the Pacer’s bench, Bird turned to Person and sniped “Merry fucking Christmas,” to him.

How perfect is that? And why Chuck Person?

I have no idea, couldn’t care less. What matters is the Hick From French Lick had the balls to talk trash about a shot that hadn’t even fallen yet. He also had the balls to premeditate a Christmas present for an opponent.

There are other instances of Bird’s cockiness.

In 1986 he was scheduled to shoot in the three point competition during All Star weekend. Beforehand he told the rest of the competitors that he was planning on taking the trophy home.

“I want all of you to know I am winning this thing. Who’s playing for second?”

Needing the last money ball for the title, he let it fly, began walking away and raised a single finger above his head because he knew it was going in. Who does that?

Larry Bird, that’s who.

Other notable trash talking instances are out there, like what caused the famous fight between he and Dr. J.

In 1984 Bird was absolutely handling Dr. J outscoring him 42-6. Throughout the game Bird reminded Erving of their point totals, something that is unfathomable. After you score 20 points or so it has to be hard to know exactly how many points you have and still be effective. If you have scored three lay ups that tally is relatively easy to compute. Bird, apparently, always knew how many points he had and I’m sure he knew his rebound and assist totals as well. Dr. J, it seems, didn’t appreciate having a statistician on the court and started a fight. I’m no fighter, but I can’t say that I would appreciate it either.

Not everyone is a Larry Bird fan, mind you.

One of my college roommates for instance is not. He and his family were waiting in an airport during one of their vacations. Bird was as well waiting on a flight. I don’t know how young my roommate and his younger brother was at the time but like any fans or kids they went over to get an autograph. Bird, long finished playing, didn’t want to be bothered and declined. I don’t know if there was any discontent displayed by Bird (it may have been a simple decline) and perhaps that is a reason to not like him but as a player, the man was unbelievable.

And that damn shooting jacket he wore all the time, as ugly as it was, I think it was fitting that he wore it.

Happy Birthday Birdman.