Larry Bird Essay

Larry Legend

Larry Bird has the appropriate nickname of Larry Legend. This nickname explains itself. He was a legend, and since he was a legend he is a household name sort of like Michael Jordan but not as recognized. Flashy dunkers and playmakers like Jordan get recognized and remembered but Bird is known for his shooting and only true NBA fans will know how great he truly was. In a video game called “NBA 2k15”, there is a training section available called “legends camp” and Larry Bird is the trainer for shooting. Larry Bird is arguably the best shooter of any legend. Larry Bird was born in the city of West Baden, Indiana. He was born on December 7, 1956. Bird attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana. After high school

When he joined the team for the 1976-77 season, he led the Sycamores to a 25-3 record and created much interest in the Indiana State basketball team. Home games sold out as soon as tickets became available. Although he was drafted by the Boston Celtics when he was a junior at ISU, Bird wanted to complete his senior year. The Sycamores ended up winning thirty-three straight games and would have had an undefeated season had it not been for the 75-64 loss to Michigan State University in the 1979 NCAA finals led by Magic Johnson. The game received the highest ratings ever for a college sporting event and made media stars out of Bird and his friendly rival, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who dropped out of college to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bird finished his degree in physical education at ISU in 1979 and received the John Wooden Award as Collegiate Player of the Year from the Los Angeles Athletic Association. When he completed his college athletic career, Bird ranked fifth on the NCAA list of all-time scorers. Before leaving ISU, Bird also began dating Dinah Mattingly. The couple got married on September 30, 1989 and had two children, Connor and

The two stars increased the popularity of professional basketball like no other players during the decade, with Johnson defining the meaning of a superstar and Bird demonstrating the value of hard work, hustle, and endless practice. Although the two players were very different, they maintained a friendly relationship off the court and a sportsmanlike rivalry on the court. When the two teams met up in the finals in 1984, the Celtics came out on top with four games in the seven-game series. Bird was getting his revenge for the loss of the NCAA Championship in college. The following year the Lakers won the championship in six games over the Celtics and in 1986 Boston won the finals for a third time with Bird. It was the last championship Bird claimed. In 1987 the Lakers beat the Celtics again in six