Larry bird, the nbas most valuable player for the three years 19841986 and the boston celtics star since 1979, shares his insights on one of americas favorite games. Espn classic plain and simple, bird one of the best. Larry birds place in nba history stretches from the record book to the rule book. Learn the inspiring story of the legendary forward larry bird. He thought we were both entertainers, for lack of a better word.
Basketball players including nba superstars such as stephen curry, lebron james, michael jordan, kareem abduljabbar, kobe bryant, shaquille oneal, larry bird, wilt chamberlain and magic. The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest forwards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketballs premier forwards, larry bird. Larry bird, in full larry joe bird, born december 7, 1956, west baden, indiana, u. I love basketball basketball legends basketball players celtics basketball basketball shoes basketball pictures lakers celtics boston celtics lakers vs. Larry bird s place in nba history stretches from the record book to the rule book. This was the last of three seasons when star were the only manufacturer of nba cards. Denzel washington jake shuttlesworth, ray allen jesus shuttlesworth. Once every generation or so, a player comes along who can truly be called a superstar. Instead, he played a final season at indiana state and led the sycamores to the ncaa title game. Fall is spending his time in quarantine reading some classic books. The celtics cards were available in green and white versions. This years winner was larry joe birdas in basketball jesus, 12time all star, 3time nba champion, dream team member, and 1981. A comprehensive database of more than 17 boston celtics quizzes online, test your knowledge with boston celtics quiz questions. Bill simmons is a columnist for page 2 and espn the magazine, and hes a writer for jimmy kimmel live.
When larry bird joined the celtics in 1979, i was just nine years old, dreaming about playing for the hometown team some day. Larry continued to shoot his way further from the basket until he was at the 3point line. Enjoy these times the great larry bird was just a ruthless. December 7, 1956 west baden, indiana american basketball player and coach. Fans of professional basketball may know that 197980 was not only bird s rookie season, it was also the first year of the threepoint line, which at 239 is quite a distance to hurl a basketball with either form or accuracy. Larry joe bird born december 7, 1956 is an american former professional basketball player, coach and executive in the national basketball association nba. Larry birds 60point performance is one of the most legendary games in. Ot how bobby knight lost larry bird to indiana state. Nba larry bird vintage and throwback jerseys, dream team gear and larry bird memorabilia is all at the official online store of the nba. He was a great allaround shooter one of the greatest, but not a three point specialist.
Larry bird has helped define the way a generation of basketball fans has come to view and appreciate the nba, said commissioner david j. Bird gives a lot of advice, which unlike many basketball guides youd foolish to follow. Larry bird had a profound impact on the boston celtics franchise throughout the 1980s, leading the. Larry bird is the greatest of alltime the grueling truth. John bischoff is a freelance writer and project director for the phoenix projects. His accolades are numerous, including making 12 nba allstar teams, winning three nba championships with the celtics, three mvp awards, and two finals mvps. Larry bird captured the imagination and admiration of basketball fans. For news, stories, highlights and more, go to our official website at h. Album stadium arcadium special edition writers john frusciante, flea, chad smith, anthony kiedis.
Bird was a much better shooter, bird shot 40% from the 3pt line, jordan 30%. His anecdotes of popular culture television and movies, in bill simmons knows a lot about the game of basketball. The first edition of the novel was published in 2009, and was written by larry bird. If shuttlesworth can convince his son jesus to attend the governors alma mater and play. Space jam stars michael jordan, who is enlisted by the looney tunes to help them win their freedom in a basketball match. Now completely updated to include statistics and photographs from the 198788 season, bird on basketball. Hall of fame basketball superstar hall of fame sports greats jack kavanagh on. Larry bird trading card values sportlots price guide.
Percentage wise he was good but not exactly surgical. For seasons with the boston celtics, from 197980 through 199192, bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play as a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, a defender. Nicknamed larry legend, bird led his teammates to multiple divisional titles and nba championships. Larry bird set basketball trading cards for sale ebay. For bird, its probably the video from the nba superstars in the 80s when they showed a bird montage along with john cougar mellencamps small town. Larry bird and the power of repetition the gospel side. Sep 08, 2011 bird is the best small forward of all time and jordan is the best shooting guard of alltime. If shuttlesworth can convince his son jesus to attend the governors alma mater and play college basketball there, then hell receive a shortened jail sentence. When the game was ours provides an intimate look into the evolution of the relationship between larry bird and earvin magic johnson. A vintage performance from celtics star larry bird, who scored a teamhigh 36 points to go along with 12 rebounds and eight assists. He famously retired from the nba at his peak when he revealed that he was hivpositive in 1991, and he later went on to become an extremely successful entrepreneur. Birds basketball hall of fame enshrinement speech duration. Also, how to be a better teammate and look for open shots. Larry bird talks about michael jordans 63 points versus celtics fzerkaou.
Larry bird basketball vintage sports magazines for sale ebay. Theres only one location where the nba season can be. With all the greatest of alltime debates going on today, my question is why do people forget larry bird when the debate is raging. Larry bird the baddest man ever to shoot a basketball nba legends duration. Larry bird jerseys, larry bird dream team gear larry bird. Enjoy fast flatrate shipping on all the larry bird apparel and collectibles in stock. Plain and simple, bird one of the best by larry schwartz special to when i played, larry bird was the only one i feared. Stern when bird retired due to a painful back condition. Bill simmons, the fromthewomb hoops addict known to millions as s sports guy, is that writer. Magic johnson was one of the best rivalries in sports.
But as every fan knows, larry bird doesnt just play basketballhe wins. Investors business daily larry bird was a high school sophomore when he discovered how he wanted to spend. Rick pitino was shooting 3pointers all the time and i go jesus christ. After retiring from the basketball, bird became the head coach of the indiana pacers, where he also experienced great. Every college basketball player dreamed about playing in the tournament. Maybe larry bird wasnt a hero, but he sure as hell seemed like it. Best basketball movies to watch while the nba season is halted by the coronavirus. Larry bird was inducted into the naismith memorial basketball hall of fame in 1998. To understand basketball, you have to understand larry bird. Bird attended springs valley high school in french lick and was a key component of the schools basketball team, becoming its alltime leading scorer by the time he graduated in 1974. Fans of professional basketball may know that 197980 was not only birds rookie season, it was also the first year of the threepoint line, which at 239 is quite a distance to hurl a basketball with either form or accuracy.
Larry joe bird born december 7, 1956 is an american former professional basketball player, former coach, and former executive who most recently served as president of basketball operations for the indiana pacers in the national basketball association nba. Along the way, he watched free agency transform from something rarely discussed to practically a yearround conversation with his own name one of the talking points and the 3. Enjoy these times the great larry bird was just a. The book of basketball is essentially a thought dump from simmons. Along the way, he watched free agency transform from something rarely discussed to practically a yearround conversation with his own name one of the talking points and the 3point. Arguably the greatest allaround player the game has ever known, he led the boston celtics from the. Pdf when the game was ours book by larry bird free. A good feature of the book are the stats page showing larry bird s career stats. The main characters of this sports and games, sports story are. The rockets took game 5 in houston to send the series back to boston, but they werent prepared for larry bird, whose magnificent performance in game 6 29 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists helped the cs earn a 11497 win and clinch their 16th nba championship. Larry bird basketball jesus ultimate highlight reel.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 340 pages and is available in hardcover format. Arguably the greatest allaround player the game has ever known, he led the boston celtics from the basement to three world championships, collecting three nba most valuable player awards along the way. Bird on magic, free agency and shooting 3s larry bird s place in nba history stretches from the record book to the rule book. Few players have left a mark on 1980s professional basketball like larry bird, the famous forward for the boston celtics. In 1978, he was selected by the boston celtics with the 6th overall pick in round but did not sign with the celtics. The day larry bird said, its just god disguised as michael. On playing and coaching the game i love larry bird, jackie. In one of the better chapters of the book, larry explains the difficulties with his back. The inspiring story of one of basketballs greatest forwards basketball biography books clayton geoffreys on.
I can remember watching kentucky play and rick pitino was shooting 3pointers all the time and i go jesus. The final time larry bird played basketball, he hit the. Bird watching by larry bird with jackie macmullan if jackie mac teams up with larry bird on a book, im reading it. I really enjoyed this book because basketball is easily my favorite sport, and i love filling my brain with more information about the game. Larry bird talks about michael jordans 63 points versus. With no boston celtics games on the docket for a while, nbc sports boston will give fans their fix of cs action with some of their most memorable games in recent history. And it all came to a head on june 12, 1984, at boston garden. Larry bird played basketball for indiana university for three years. If shuttlesworth can convince his son jesus to attend the governors alma. Bird, along with magic johnson, saved the nba and i think that there is little doubt that if it wasnt for larry and magic, michael jordan could never have achieved the level of fame he ultimately did. He and i and a couple of the older veteran guys on our team with indiana took on. He was the fourth of joe and georgia bird s six children. Larry bird became one of the most famous and respected players in the history of the nba thanks to his competitive spirit and his dedication to teamwork.
The book does a great job telling the story of how two men became bitter rivals and eventually close friends. Bird was a much better rebounder, at 69 he averaged 10 rpg, 4 more than jordans career number. Three pointers werent really the main part of bird s game, hed hit them on occasion but never in quantity. Nbc sports bostons classic celtics series continues friday night with an alltimer.
Larry bird career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the nba and ncaa. An apostle of basketball jesus larry bird espn april 25, 2003 by bill simmons posted on 04252003 4. If you enjoy reading autobiographies, then the book drive. The slate of celtics classics begins friday, march 20 with kemba walkers first game at. Larry bird was a professional basketball player, coach, olympian, and television personality best known for his historic run with the boston celtics in the 1980s. Get the best deals on larry bird set basketball trading cards when you shop the largest online selection at. Larry bird was the greatest forward ever to play the game of basketball. His shooting, passing, and court savvy thrilled both basketball purists and the casual nba fan. Our online boston celtics trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top boston celtics quizzes.
The baddest man ever to shoot a basketball nba legends. This is a story no one has ever heard, but the last time larry played basketball was, i believe, the 2000 season. There was a dare from a coach, a field filled to the brim, a nearly ruined nba career and bird walking away from baseball. The nba is the premier professional basketball league in. This one is kind of like the sequel or epilogue to drive. Larry birds game and the emotion he created in boston was palpable. A stainedglass style tribute to the larry joe bird aka larry legend aka the hick from french lick aka the basketball jesus. On march 12, 1985, larry bird had one of the best performances of his career, dropping 60 points on the atlanta hawks. Jun 22, 2019 larry bird s place in nba history stretches from the record book to the rule book. One of the very first one of one cards for bird, and a lot more have been produced in recent years. Larry bird has been the boston celtics star player since 1979 and led the team to its sixteenth nba championship in 1986. Bird was a better passer than jordan, the best passing forward of alltime. Boston celtics forward larry bird could have sworn the individual who dropped a.
May 20, 2016 nba hall of famer and indiana pacers president larry bird said the current era of professional basketball might be the games greatest. I coach girls basketball in my town and often refer to the greatness of larry bird and why i love him. Many basketball experts consider larry bird among the greatest allaround players in the history of basketball. Bird s basketball hall of fame enshrinement speech duration. May 05, 2009 there is only one writer on the planet who possesses enough basketball knowledge and passion to write the definitive book on the nba. The inspiring story of one of basketball s greatest forwards basketball biography books clayton geoffreys on. Free download or read online when the game was ours pdf epub book. Nicknamed the hick from french lick, bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. If nba season resumes after coronavirus outbreak, players. Basketball player larry bird grit and discipline helped him. With all kinds of locations being tossed around for a possible return of the nba in a singlesite playoff tournament after the coronavirus crisis eases las vegas, the bahamas, orlando, hawaii, louisville, and atlantic city have been reported, chris mannix of sports illustrated thinks only one place makes sense.
This twodisc documentary looks at his impressive career, his humble beginnings in french lick, in, and offers extensive game footage. We were both there to make basketball more fun to follow. Larry bird is the author of when the game was ours 4. A hall of fame player later became a successful coach and team executive. Relive celtics legend larry bird epic 60point game with these. It seems that boston celtics big man tacko fall is spending his time in quarantine reading some classic books. Basketball player larry bird grit and discipline helped him lead championship teams. Mumbai, india twentyseven years after larry bird, magic johnson, michael jordan and the dream team made the world fall in love with the game of basketball in 1992, india showed its adoration for the boston celtics great during the first nba india games last week. He provides some personal thoughts on the game and i quite like the photos used in it. The day larry bird said, its just god disguised as.
I make the girls read articles about him and his hard work and dedication to be great. The story of my life by larry bird is a great option for you. The day larry bird said, its just god disguised as michael jordan. Discount prices on books by larry bird, including titles like basketball legends 2018 calendar english, german and french edition. Sep 06, 20 the 15 best basketball books of all time. In the end, i chose this one over drive with bob ryan and larry bird. Here is a mixtape recapping some of larry birds career in the nba. His year pro career was storied, with three world titles and three league mvp awards.
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