Thank you to my teammate Benson Panga for the Larry Bird, A Basketball Legend DVD which he gave me for Christmas last year. I was never a Bird fan. His playing style is BORING. He takes lots of jump shots, rarely drives to the hoop and probably dunks the ball once every season. Unlike HIS AIRNESS, Michael Jordan, at one point in his career dunks 25% of his shots, has a wide array of hang time moves and hustles like it’s the last game of life. However, after watching the DVD, my respect level to Larry Legend shot up tenfold. Here are some quotable quotes:
Larry Bird plays with the passion of an underdog. - Narrator
He was our best passer, our best rebounder, our best defensive player not necessary the leading scorer but he did all the other things that made other people look better. – Jim Jones (high school coach)
By Larry practicing playing 100%, he demanded that you play 100%. He demanded that you take a charge or you dive after that ball because he would do the same thing. – Bob Heaton (college teammate)
He is the most self motivated player that I ever saw. – Red Auerbach (Boston Celtics coach)
I fear no one but Larry Bird because if you keep it close and he has the chance to win it, he’s gonna win the game. – Magic Johnson
Larry Bird never quits, he never says die and he always feels he has the chance to win the game. –Danny Ainge (Boston Celtics teammate)
He wants every advantage whether it be a technical advantage or physical advantage but more importantly a psychological advantage. -Announcer
While accomplishment-wise, MJ has the edge, I tip my hats off to Larry Bird because I think he would have been a better manager if he joined the corporate world. In fact, his coach of the year award in 1998 and his current position as Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations only proves that he’s a better leader than my basketball idol.
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