Larry Bird

The Boy From French Lick

(Sneak Preview)

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.