He defended. No physical items will be shipped.- Because of differences in monitor and printer calibrations, colors may appear different in printing than on the screen. If you tell a teammate youre ready to play as tough as youre able to, youd better go out there and do it. His stellar play sprouted unfaltering confidence in his ability regardless of the situation. This seller usually responds within a few hours. Absolute Legend, absolute killer on the basketball court and the epitome of self confidence! Yall got a white guy trying to guard me, thats disrespectful. He took charges. Here's how.
Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission. Miller, a rookie at the time, started talking trash while Bird was on the line. Obviously. Don't let your teammates down in any situation. -- Larry Bird, It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out ofbounds. -- Larry Bird, When I go to the line I'm thinking 'All net.' 12, Steph Curry takes jab at Grant Williams, Celtics during ESPYs open, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Swagger gives players a distinct edge, and those who dont have it are often left in the dust. Beyond that, his teammates held an unwavering strong belief that he could excel in those situations, which further propelled him forward. After a year away from the sport, he returned to his position as the Pacers president of basketball operations in June 2013. Its who can get the ball to the scorer. Bird had an uncanny knack of rising to the occasion, and it can be directly linked to his never-ending confidence. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. How is the Boston Celtics' offseason being rated beyond the local media? Former Celtics forward Kevin Gamble recalled Birds utmost confidence in the huddle exemplified through an unfiltered response. In a 2004 interview with ESPN, Larry Bird revealed how much he admired the athleticism of African-American players. Pretty much anyone who questioned his abilities was asking for trouble, and Bird had some very unique ways of proving to others just how good at basketball he was.
Our Larry Bird quotes showcase some of the basketball knowledge, competitiveness, and spunk of this Hall-of-Famer. You can never count out players who have swagger, mostly because theyre too full of themselves to realize they arent as talented as the opposing teams players. 87% of the ones you do take, you'll miss too. CoffeeWirePrints Its being able to take it as well as dish it out. Swagger. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Bird again stepped down in May 2017, having constructed teams that qualified for the play-offs in 8 of his 13 seasons in that position, and then took a role in the Pacers organization as a scout and consultant. I could play in this league and I would dominate this league.. Bird retired in 1992 and moved to a front-office position with the Celtics. We take intellectual property concerns very seriously, but many of these problems can be resolved directly by the parties involved. Swagger. 11, Projecting the Boston Celtics' depth in the 2022-23 NBA season. An argument could easily have been made that if not for injuries, he could have been the dominant player in the 80s instead of his rival Magic Johnson. Bird, resting the ball on the palm of his bound right fist and guiding it with his left hand, made eighty-six shots, and Shaughnessy owed him $160. Welcome addition to the "Man Cave." Bird wasnt the most athletic player on a basketball courthell, he wasnt even close. A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. When Eddie House drops three after three and screams in his opponents face after every shot? LikeSportscastingon Facebook. Dont give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. Barkley had a bad start to his career at the old Boston Garden, where he would lose his first 13 matches, including the postseason, against the Boston Celtics. He wont be able to get his jumpshot off in the pros, or he wont be quick enough, or he wont be able to rebound. Next years Celtics will have an unbelievable amount of bravado, an unparalleled confidence, and an unshakable trust in their capabilities. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. -- Larry Bird, I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it. Although its been nearly three decades since Birds last NBA game, his legacy remains strong as ever. Thats the only way youre going to get respect from the players. Then, after hitting a shot from that exact spot, Bird was actually upset with himselfhe hadnt wanted to leave time on the clock for the Sonics to have a last chance. When Kevin Garnett barks in peoples faces, crawls on all fours, and then drops 26 and 14 in the deciding game of the Finals? Ive been in the huddle with him and hed be like, Hey man, just give me the fing ball and get out of the way,' Gamble said via The Athletic. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals., Leadership is getting players to believe in you. At the end of the day, Larry Bird will always be remembered as the man that said he would torch the league and did it. File is scaled to measure 11"x17" when printed. They may not have the most talented roster in the league, but the Cs will be second to none when it comes to championship swagger. Push yourself again and again. Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved.
87% of the ones you do take, you'll miss too. Copyright 2022 YB Media, LLC. He once challenged a local Boston reporter to a free-throw shooting contest after he made a comment about an injury he had suffered to his hand and ended up challenging him to a free-throw shooting competition, which he obviously won: After injuring a finger in a bar fight during the 1985 conference finals against the Sixers, Bird was practicing with his fingers heavily taped. Birds dominated the league throughout much of the 1980s behind leading the Celtics to championship success. (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). But what about when Rasheed Wallace comes off the bench to provide the Cs with exactly the defensive presence, offensive versatility, and championship experience they need in their second unit? Before the contest Bird entered the locker room and asked the other contestants "who's coming in second?" But please contact me if you have any problems with your order. It grows on itself. -- Larry Bird, There are many times when you are better off practicing than playing; but most people just don't understand that -- Larry Bird, My opinion about basketball, the way I was taught, was when you step on the court, you play to win. -- Larry Bird, It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer. -- Larry Bird, I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. But did you know that the fight came after Bird had outscored the Doctor 42-6 through the first three quarters, chirping in his ear after every score to continuously let him know just how badly he was outplaying him? Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Most will print it on the spot while you wait.- This image is for a digital download only. I could play in this league and I would dominate this league..
One of the NBAs most versatile and clutch performers didnt want to take any shortcuts when proving his abilities. Once I got out of college, I came to the pros, and well, Hows he gonna do? You can make all the excuses you want, but if youre not mentally tough and youre not prepared to play every night, youre not going to win. To trick counterfeiters, Benjamin Franklin deliberately misspelled Pennsylvania when printing official currency for the American colony. RELATED: Larry Bird Knew Adopting the Lakers Style of Play Wouldve Changed His Off-Court Habits: I Would Have Gotten a Lot of Sleep. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Larry-Bird, AEI Speakers Bureau - Biography of Larry Bird, Larry Bird - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Over the course of his 13 seasons with the Celtics, the self-described hick from French Lick cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Push yourself again and again. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. Whether it was John Salley being told he had better ask for a double team by Bird when he was guarding him, or Clyde Drexler being told hes a rookie and he doesnt know anything about the NBA, Bird would sling his trash talk at anybody who he found himself up against on the court. And I never learned anything by losing., I was always making decisions and they were easier decisions because I had control of the game, I had control of the ball. Bird won his first championship three seasons after being drafted into the NBA, and then went on to be League MVP for 3 seasons from 1984 to 1986. As a coach you sort of put the ball in other player's hands and let them make decisions for you. I should be talking about the Celtics newest addition, Rasheed Wallace, right? This post originally appeared onCeltics Wire. On a few occasions it boiled over into altercations, but more often than not such verbal assaults by the Hick From French Lick as Bird was often called would simply end in a Celtics victory. Bird was drafted by the Celtics after his junior year at Indiana State (1978) but did not play professionally until the 197980 season, when he won the Rookie of the Year award after contributing to one of the largest single-season turnarounds in NBA history (a 32-win improvement). He gained a well-earned reputation for talking smack on the court but nearly always backed it up with his shooting, passing, and overall game. I really dont like talking about money. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. I still wonder if somebody - somewhere - was practicing more than me. -- Larry Bird, Eminem. Beyond that, Bird will always remain a key part of shaping the NBA into what is become. Updates? When Kendrick Perkins refuses to be intimidated by Dwight Howard and mostly bottles him up for an entire seven-game series? The two took turns shooting in rounds of ten. Bird won three NBA titles and two Finals MVP awards in five appearances, earned three regular-season MVP awards, and received 12 All-Star selections and nine All-NBA First Team nods. Print on your own printer or use a local print shop or office supply store such as Staples or Fedex Office. Don't let your teammates down in any situation., It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out ofbounds., When I go to the line I'm thinking 'All net.' When I don't think that, I'm likely to miss., I think a lot of blue collar people related to me because a lot of people work for their money., When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I did. Birds trash talk wasnt limited to just NBA players. How about when the Celtics called a timeout in a tie game with the Seattle SuperSonics? Please check your email for a confirmation. I dont know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. And I never learned anything by losing. -- Larry Bird, I was always making decisions and they were easier decisions because I had control of the game, I had control of the ball. Shams: 'Celtics have engaged in conversations' with 76ers on potential Ben Simmons trade, Celtics announce all 15 members of All-Celtics roster for NBA's 75th anniversary celebration, Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds., I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. I wasnt real quick, and I wasnt really strong. Well, in talking about swagger, I am talking about Sheed, and I am certainly talking about the 2009-2010 Celtics. The stories of him talking trash to his opponents are legendary, but that kind of confidence can only come with supreme ability, which Bird possessed in spades. Sign up for the Celtics Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Remember when he asked his competitors in the 1987 three-point contest who was coming in second place? I bet you all remember, or at least have heard of, Birds fight with Dr. J in 1984. Bird was a 12-time All Star and won three consecutive league Most Valuable Player awards (198486), the first noncentre to do so. The Celtics would eventually lose in the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it was no fault of Birds. Read all about Larry Bird: Clutch Player (and Trash Talker). Learn more. Copyright 2009-2022 Michael & Gabriel, Inc.2022 Privacy Policy Note: Sports Feel Good Stories earns an affiliate commission from some of the sites we link to. I make 110% of my shots. -- Larry Bird, Push yourself again and again. Larry Legend was obviously full of confidence, and in a sport as reliant on confidence as basketball, its no surprise that Bird became as good as he was. When Dan Shaughnessy asked doubtfully if he was going to play like that in the game, Bird informed the reporter that he could tape up his entire hand and still outshoot him. Bird walked over to his defender, Xavier McDaniel, and told him not only that he was going to hit a game-winning shot, but also where he was going to hit it. Bird was in the middle of his three-year MVP haul in Barkleys rookie season. And Bird knew he would be able to do that just days after he came into the league, as he once explained in an interview. In June 2012 he resigned from the Pacers front office, just weeks after winning the previous seasons Executive of the Year award. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Copyright 2022 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. In Episode 3 of Icons Club, Jackie MacMullan details how a young David Stern leveraged the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson to market the game like never before: Chuck, I need to talk to you. I knew I had control of the game. -- Larry Bird, Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball.
Larry Bird, in full Larry Joe Bird, (born December 7, 1956, West Baden, Indiana, U.S.), American basketball player who led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) and is considered one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. Always free! The best players will play. Or the time documented in Reggie Millers book, I Love Being the Enemythe Pacers and Celtics were in a close game with little time left on the clock and Bird shooting free throws. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals. A 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) forward, he was known for his unflappable confidence and clutch shooting ability, which together created an intimidating presence on the court. The only major sport invented in the United States, basketball has become a global phenomenon. Bird was raised in French Lick, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University, where he helped revive the basketball program and led the team to a 331 record in his senior season. My son was listening to that and I was like, What is that junk? Then I started listening and I thought, You know, that kid is pretty good. His undying faith in his own play let Bird reach heights he otherwise never would have attained.
Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission. Miller, a rookie at the time, started talking trash while Bird was on the line. Obviously. Don't let your teammates down in any situation. -- Larry Bird, It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out ofbounds. -- Larry Bird, When I go to the line I'm thinking 'All net.' 12, Steph Curry takes jab at Grant Williams, Celtics during ESPYs open, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Swagger gives players a distinct edge, and those who dont have it are often left in the dust. Beyond that, his teammates held an unwavering strong belief that he could excel in those situations, which further propelled him forward. After a year away from the sport, he returned to his position as the Pacers president of basketball operations in June 2013. Its who can get the ball to the scorer. Bird had an uncanny knack of rising to the occasion, and it can be directly linked to his never-ending confidence. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. How is the Boston Celtics' offseason being rated beyond the local media? Former Celtics forward Kevin Gamble recalled Birds utmost confidence in the huddle exemplified through an unfiltered response. In a 2004 interview with ESPN, Larry Bird revealed how much he admired the athleticism of African-American players. Pretty much anyone who questioned his abilities was asking for trouble, and Bird had some very unique ways of proving to others just how good at basketball he was.
Our Larry Bird quotes showcase some of the basketball knowledge, competitiveness, and spunk of this Hall-of-Famer. You can never count out players who have swagger, mostly because theyre too full of themselves to realize they arent as talented as the opposing teams players. 87% of the ones you do take, you'll miss too. CoffeeWirePrints Its being able to take it as well as dish it out. Swagger. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Bird again stepped down in May 2017, having constructed teams that qualified for the play-offs in 8 of his 13 seasons in that position, and then took a role in the Pacers organization as a scout and consultant. I could play in this league and I would dominate this league.. Bird retired in 1992 and moved to a front-office position with the Celtics. We take intellectual property concerns very seriously, but many of these problems can be resolved directly by the parties involved. Swagger. 11, Projecting the Boston Celtics' depth in the 2022-23 NBA season. An argument could easily have been made that if not for injuries, he could have been the dominant player in the 80s instead of his rival Magic Johnson. Bird, resting the ball on the palm of his bound right fist and guiding it with his left hand, made eighty-six shots, and Shaughnessy owed him $160. Welcome addition to the "Man Cave." Bird wasnt the most athletic player on a basketball courthell, he wasnt even close. A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. When Eddie House drops three after three and screams in his opponents face after every shot? LikeSportscastingon Facebook. Dont give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. Barkley had a bad start to his career at the old Boston Garden, where he would lose his first 13 matches, including the postseason, against the Boston Celtics. He wont be able to get his jumpshot off in the pros, or he wont be quick enough, or he wont be able to rebound. Next years Celtics will have an unbelievable amount of bravado, an unparalleled confidence, and an unshakable trust in their capabilities. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. -- Larry Bird, I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. All I can say is that the Good Lord must have wanted me to have it. Although its been nearly three decades since Birds last NBA game, his legacy remains strong as ever. Thats the only way youre going to get respect from the players. Then, after hitting a shot from that exact spot, Bird was actually upset with himselfhe hadnt wanted to leave time on the clock for the Sonics to have a last chance. When Kevin Garnett barks in peoples faces, crawls on all fours, and then drops 26 and 14 in the deciding game of the Finals? Ive been in the huddle with him and hed be like, Hey man, just give me the fing ball and get out of the way,' Gamble said via The Athletic. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals., Leadership is getting players to believe in you. At the end of the day, Larry Bird will always be remembered as the man that said he would torch the league and did it. File is scaled to measure 11"x17" when printed. They may not have the most talented roster in the league, but the Cs will be second to none when it comes to championship swagger. Push yourself again and again. Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved.
87% of the ones you do take, you'll miss too. Copyright 2022 YB Media, LLC. He once challenged a local Boston reporter to a free-throw shooting contest after he made a comment about an injury he had suffered to his hand and ended up challenging him to a free-throw shooting competition, which he obviously won: After injuring a finger in a bar fight during the 1985 conference finals against the Sixers, Bird was practicing with his fingers heavily taped. Birds dominated the league throughout much of the 1980s behind leading the Celtics to championship success. (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). But what about when Rasheed Wallace comes off the bench to provide the Cs with exactly the defensive presence, offensive versatility, and championship experience they need in their second unit? Before the contest Bird entered the locker room and asked the other contestants "who's coming in second?" But please contact me if you have any problems with your order. It grows on itself. -- Larry Bird, There are many times when you are better off practicing than playing; but most people just don't understand that -- Larry Bird, My opinion about basketball, the way I was taught, was when you step on the court, you play to win. -- Larry Bird, It doesn't matter who scores the points, it's who can get the ball to the scorer. -- Larry Bird, I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. But did you know that the fight came after Bird had outscored the Doctor 42-6 through the first three quarters, chirping in his ear after every score to continuously let him know just how badly he was outplaying him? Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Most will print it on the spot while you wait.- This image is for a digital download only. I could play in this league and I would dominate this league..
One of the NBAs most versatile and clutch performers didnt want to take any shortcuts when proving his abilities. Once I got out of college, I came to the pros, and well, Hows he gonna do? You can make all the excuses you want, but if youre not mentally tough and youre not prepared to play every night, youre not going to win. To trick counterfeiters, Benjamin Franklin deliberately misspelled Pennsylvania when printing official currency for the American colony. RELATED: Larry Bird Knew Adopting the Lakers Style of Play Wouldve Changed His Off-Court Habits: I Would Have Gotten a Lot of Sleep. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Larry-Bird, AEI Speakers Bureau - Biography of Larry Bird, Larry Bird - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Over the course of his 13 seasons with the Celtics, the self-described hick from French Lick cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Push yourself again and again. The Celtics won their first NBA title with Bird (and 14th overall) in 1981; they repeated with title wins in 1984 and 1986. Whether it was John Salley being told he had better ask for a double team by Bird when he was guarding him, or Clyde Drexler being told hes a rookie and he doesnt know anything about the NBA, Bird would sling his trash talk at anybody who he found himself up against on the court. And I never learned anything by losing., I was always making decisions and they were easier decisions because I had control of the game, I had control of the ball. Bird won his first championship three seasons after being drafted into the NBA, and then went on to be League MVP for 3 seasons from 1984 to 1986. As a coach you sort of put the ball in other player's hands and let them make decisions for you. I should be talking about the Celtics newest addition, Rasheed Wallace, right? This post originally appeared onCeltics Wire. On a few occasions it boiled over into altercations, but more often than not such verbal assaults by the Hick From French Lick as Bird was often called would simply end in a Celtics victory. Bird was drafted by the Celtics after his junior year at Indiana State (1978) but did not play professionally until the 197980 season, when he won the Rookie of the Year award after contributing to one of the largest single-season turnarounds in NBA history (a 32-win improvement). He gained a well-earned reputation for talking smack on the court but nearly always backed it up with his shooting, passing, and overall game. I really dont like talking about money. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. I still wonder if somebody - somewhere - was practicing more than me. -- Larry Bird, Eminem. Beyond that, Bird will always remain a key part of shaping the NBA into what is become. Updates? When Kendrick Perkins refuses to be intimidated by Dwight Howard and mostly bottles him up for an entire seven-game series? The two took turns shooting in rounds of ten. Bird won three NBA titles and two Finals MVP awards in five appearances, earned three regular-season MVP awards, and received 12 All-Star selections and nine All-NBA First Team nods. Print on your own printer or use a local print shop or office supply store such as Staples or Fedex Office. Don't let your teammates down in any situation., It makes me sick when I see a guy just stare at a loose ball and watch it go out ofbounds., When I go to the line I'm thinking 'All net.' When I don't think that, I'm likely to miss., I think a lot of blue collar people related to me because a lot of people work for their money., When I was a player, I didn't expect my teammates to play the way I did. Birds trash talk wasnt limited to just NBA players. How about when the Celtics called a timeout in a tie game with the Seattle SuperSonics? Please check your email for a confirmation. I dont know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. And I never learned anything by losing. -- Larry Bird, I was always making decisions and they were easier decisions because I had control of the game, I had control of the ball. Shams: 'Celtics have engaged in conversations' with 76ers on potential Ben Simmons trade, Celtics announce all 15 members of All-Celtics roster for NBA's 75th anniversary celebration, Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds., I have always been confident in my skills and once the game got going I knew I was probably the best player on the floor most of the time whether it was junior high, high school or college. I wasnt real quick, and I wasnt really strong. Well, in talking about swagger, I am talking about Sheed, and I am certainly talking about the 2009-2010 Celtics. The stories of him talking trash to his opponents are legendary, but that kind of confidence can only come with supreme ability, which Bird possessed in spades. Sign up for the Celtics Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Remember when he asked his competitors in the 1987 three-point contest who was coming in second place? I bet you all remember, or at least have heard of, Birds fight with Dr. J in 1984. Bird was a 12-time All Star and won three consecutive league Most Valuable Player awards (198486), the first noncentre to do so. The Celtics would eventually lose in the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it was no fault of Birds. Read all about Larry Bird: Clutch Player (and Trash Talker). Learn more. Copyright 2009-2022 Michael & Gabriel, Inc.2022 Privacy Policy Note: Sports Feel Good Stories earns an affiliate commission from some of the sites we link to. I make 110% of my shots. -- Larry Bird, Push yourself again and again. Larry Legend was obviously full of confidence, and in a sport as reliant on confidence as basketball, its no surprise that Bird became as good as he was. When Dan Shaughnessy asked doubtfully if he was going to play like that in the game, Bird informed the reporter that he could tape up his entire hand and still outshoot him. Bird walked over to his defender, Xavier McDaniel, and told him not only that he was going to hit a game-winning shot, but also where he was going to hit it. Bird was in the middle of his three-year MVP haul in Barkleys rookie season. And Bird knew he would be able to do that just days after he came into the league, as he once explained in an interview. In June 2012 he resigned from the Pacers front office, just weeks after winning the previous seasons Executive of the Year award. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Copyright 2022 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. In Episode 3 of Icons Club, Jackie MacMullan details how a young David Stern leveraged the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson to market the game like never before: Chuck, I need to talk to you. I knew I had control of the game. -- Larry Bird, Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball.
Larry Bird, in full Larry Joe Bird, (born December 7, 1956, West Baden, Indiana, U.S.), American basketball player who led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships (1981, 1984, and 1986) and is considered one of the greatest pure shooters of all time. Always free! The best players will play. Or the time documented in Reggie Millers book, I Love Being the Enemythe Pacers and Celtics were in a close game with little time left on the clock and Bird shooting free throws. So I beat them with my mind and my fundamentals. A 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) forward, he was known for his unflappable confidence and clutch shooting ability, which together created an intimidating presence on the court. The only major sport invented in the United States, basketball has become a global phenomenon. Bird was raised in French Lick, Indiana, and attended Indiana State University, where he helped revive the basketball program and led the team to a 331 record in his senior season. My son was listening to that and I was like, What is that junk? Then I started listening and I thought, You know, that kid is pretty good. His undying faith in his own play let Bird reach heights he otherwise never would have attained.