Larry Bird Preview 2

Larry didn’t much care what anybody thought about him or the
future of his game. He loved French Lick. In fact, he would have
been perfectly happy to continue with the job he had when he
was 18, working for the French Lick Street Department. He
loved that job. He loved mowing grass, removing snow, fixing
roads, and picking up trash. He worked outside, keeping his
town clean, and he loved it. But he also loved playing
basketball. And he just couldn’t get enough of it.

Larry Bird, at his full height of 6’9”, DID go on to become a
leader on the Indiana State University’s basketball team. He
DID go on to play in the NBA for 13 seasons on the Boston
Celtics. Those Celtics DID win the NBA championship title in
1981, 1984, and 1986. He WAS voted the most valuable player
more than once in the NBA, and he DID win an Olympic Gold
Medal in 1992. He even went on to coach the Indiana Pacers,
teaching those younger players to focus on the
fundamentals—just like he did.

And all of that is very nice, but Larry Bird himself would tell you
that he doesn’t much care about all that hoopla. He’s still the
same hick from French Lick.

And darn proud of it.