I saw him live a number of times against my Knicks - I'm not sure there was ever a game that I didn't utter to my husband "OMG, did you see what he just did?" lol It was inevitable that he'd do something that would just shock you. Always loved him even though I always hated the Celtics (and still do! lol) Love these reactions - keep 'em coming!
Im a knicks fan too and I hate the celtics and the bulls. and yet Larry Bird and Michael Jordan are the two best players ive ever seen play. I lean slightly toward Bird tho.
Nobody worked harder for his big moments than Larry, so many injuries and so much heart im so glad he was there to get a gold medal, Larry earned his the hard way--
This is the first time I've seen this Larry Bird video and I thought I'd seen them all I'm an old lady I'm not even a basketball fan but there's some personalities you have to love and respect and the Legend Larry Bird is definitely one of them😊😊 blessings from Toronto
My father was a basketball maniac who had three daughters. We grew up in NYC back in the 50s. Girls didn't play sports back then. Once we got a TV in the mid 60s, he would plop us down to watch any basketball game that was on… Usually the Knicks. Of course they became my favorite team, and when they won the championships in '70 & '73 I think we actually had a party! As we got into the late 70s, I wasn't as into basketball anymore, but once Larry Bird started to play in the '80's, my dad called me to check him out. It wasn't long before I realized that he was something very special. I was fortunate enough to see him a few times at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. From the minute his foot stepped on the court I knew I was watching something very special. I can't say I didn't root for the Knicks, but I also rooted for Larry Bird. I have to say he's my favorite all-time player. He's my goat. I really enjoyed your reaction and as far as I'm concerned, basketball isn't the same anymore. The 70s and 80s were just the best. Tough guys who played hard, and the refs let them.
Nice… I was a big fan of the early 70s Knicks too who ended up with 3 daughters. One of them gave me a grandson who loves Steph now and has brought back my love for the game, along with a hoop in the driveway. Bird and Dennis Johnson were my guys in the 80s… and then came Michael.
While attending college Larry's team was playing ours and we heard they had a future all American on their team. So during warm ups we tried to guess which black player he was! Well we were wrong and he beat our league champion team and set our arena scoring record! Peace from Northern Michigan!
I started as an NBA fan in the 1970s, all the way up until about 7 years ago, and without a doubt, 100%, I consider the 1980s to be the Golden Age of the NBA. The insane amount of extremely talented, Hall of Fame players was staggering, and the type of play during that era is unmatched; the aggressiveness, the defense, rough play inside the paint, etc. are now all gone. And the man who epitomized the Golden Era was Bird, along with Magic. IMO, Bird was the best in that era, especially from 1984-1987 (and MJ played during those years). What is hard for younger fans who did not watch Bird in real time is realize just how great he was, and really how famous he was during that time, with no internet, no cable TV, no cell phones, no laptops, etc. Just regular broadcast TV, radio, and the print media. I remember during the 92 Olympics watching the Dream Team play, players on the opposing teams were so much in awe, it was hard for them to play because they were just flabbergasted to be on the same court as their heroes. And the team was mobbed by crowds during the Olympics everywhere they went, they were without a doubt the big story of that Olympics.
Larry played ball with his team, superb passing, tough and a shit talker with a 3 pt PhD. Notice Catlin Clark displays a lot of Bird's traits on floor.😮
In my humble opinion Larry Legend is the greatest of all time. Every game, he played to win not to get stats. His greatness was established and sharpened by Magic and the Lakers. Further, even when he was passed his prime because of injuries, he denied MJ and the Bulls a playoff spot 2 years in a row. 0 for 6 from Jordan says something. MJ had to have the ball to win, Larry just had to be in the game.
Bird gave his all every game! Have never seen another like him! GOAT!!! Larry Legend!!! Love the stories.....who else can call their shot ...like Bird?! Anyone??!! lol
Always happy to see youngsters acknowledge the greatness of the past heroes. Larry Bird was a legend in his own time. There will always be comparisons between one era and another wouldn't it be awesome if we could see those eras play against each other in their prime? We think we know who would win but we might be surprised. I graduated high school in 1977 so I got to watch Bird and Magic and all the greats of that era I occasionally watch an NBA game but just don't connect with players of today like I did in the 80s and 90s.
I worked in the Boston Garden in the 1980's. Bird would be the only player on the court a couple of hours before every game, taking practice shots from every spot on the court for a half hour. Then, he'd be back with the rest of the team for normal warm-ups. He was truly "the hardest working man in show business". He worked and willed himself to be the best.
Rodney was a phenomenal player who had inside out game power forward horribly broke his neck C3 spinal injury at the peak of his game and was paralyzed from the neck down. He played for Nuggets and the Suns.
No doubt Sir Charles would have been canceled for that comment.. We can't speak our minds anymore even though we are supposed to have freedom of speech in this country.. Offend 1 woke person and you're done.. It's not the way we should have to live.
I sort of met a good portion of the '86 Celtics team at Logan Airport in Boston. I was 18. They were sitting at the gate next to us waiting to board their plane for a road trip. My dad and I talked to coach KC Jones for a minute but didn't encroach on the players and their own conversations. We told them all good luck on their road trip and I recall Robert Parish waving to us in acknowledgement, but that's the only player interaction I can recall specifically.
Larry had to deal with the same racism Caitlin Clark is dealing with now. The big difference is Larry would come up fighting after a cheap shot and he’s 6’9”…
I came up during the Bird era and was a fan of the Celtics because of him. I am glad to see all these young people today giving props to one of the greatest to ever lace up and take it to the hoop.
I had similar moment in my youth playing hockey with my dad. He'd take me out time to time to play old timer hockey. A bunch of them were former pro junior and NHLers that played because they loved the game. I was 16, they were 40 plus for the most part. Of course us young bucks started talking shit when we'd score and got a lead on them. The next 4 face offs were brutal. They won the face off and controlled the puck until it went into our net and repeat that 3 more times. We were skating all over the place, out of breath and the ease they made it look was amazing. We got humbled quickly. Now I get to do the same to the youngsters when they start chirping us old-timers :) Of course being older now I feel it the next day, where they don't haha.
I'm from NE Ohio and the Cavs are my team, but Bird is my all time favorite player. My dad got tickets to go see the Cavs against Bird and his Celtics. The most impressive thing I saw from Bird was his pregame shoot around. He was just throwing up shots without looking and getting nothing but net.
I’m too young to have watched him but that’s crazy. He messed up his back so early into his career and still did what he did. I’d hate to think how great he would’ve been if he had been 100%.
First visit. Started watching and falling to sleep. Lol. But I think I watched all of the playoff games. I am 68 and falling to sleep now. You sound great and knowledgeable. Games were more than money. It was about everything. Pride, unity, love, and they gave it all. It was a phenomenon that has not repeated itself. I watched a lot of College basketball also. I have been many of the Kentucky Wildcats. I went to the University of Kentucky and was a totally a football man. It didn't mater if it was College or Pro. But you get whipped up in a frenzy with Kentucky Basketball. Now I am a Caitlin Clark fan big time. She brings something you can't fake. It's a phenomenon and you know it when you see it all. Thanks Cliff
I grew up watching Larry and the Celtics with my Grandmother who passed away in the spring of '92. I stopped watching basketball when Larry retired because the game was losing the poetry of play the '80s had. I have interest in basketball again because there's a player who reminds me of Larry and who I know my Grandmother would love. So I'm starting to become a Fever fan.
Great reaction young fella! There are a handful that are in the GOAT debate, but there is only ONE "LEGEND"!!! And he did by not being fully healthy for one game of his NBA career, having mangled his finger on his shooting hand before signing his rookie contract! And he did it all in the 80's, the greatest and toughest era to do it in!! I played NAIA college basketball and going into my sophomore year we recruited a kid out of Wyoming junior college, and he was from French Lick. He said Bird was a good, humble dude! I know a few other people that met him and said how down to earth he was! They all say though that he likes to drink beer 👍! It makes it even better when your childhood hero(s) turn out to be good, decent people!!!!! Keep up the great reactions! Much love and respect 🤙
Watching the Dream Team during that '92 Olympic run was like watching seasoned grizzled veterans ( and they absolutely were ) playing against jv high school teams. It was a complete dismemberment of every team they played against , they showed no mercy.
Growing up in South Africa, we only started getting Inside the NBA with Ahmad Rashaad and Willow Bay in the 90's. Also we started getting recorded games at that time. It was the start of The Shaq and Hardaway era. Prior to that, we would get reports in the newspapers and and it was always Bird versus Johnson. My Elder brother and I were always on Team Bird
Larry Bird was who I grew up on and 80s basketball is still so special to me. It is still exciting this many years later. 90s is good but it is more about Jordan. 80s was Magic, Bird and Jordan and Kareem, etc.
Never saw this one before....thanks for sharing!!! I am a fan of the Bird and Majic era......What really makes me love that time is because those guys actually respected each other.....kick each other's ass on the floor but when it was over they had respect
I watched his entire career in real time. He was an incredible player. One of a kind and the best basketball player in history. He wasn’t the most athletic athlete but he was the best player.
Lived within a mile of the old Boston Garden. Took my young son to see Celtics and Bird. We had a good angle to see one of his three pointers. I told Son to keep that shot in his memory bank. Son is now 54 years old. He told me the other day that he still had that picture locked n forever.
Saw him live twice playing my Hawks in the Omni. You could absolutely tell that he wasn't playing the same game as the others and not at the same depth either. We didn't have a duo that could cover Bird and McHale both. We didn't have anyone who could guard Bird at all, but Nique did ok I guess. Anyone else he ate alive. It came down to whether Nique could score as much as Bird and both times I was there he couldn't and the Celtics won.
I am a 74 year old woman. I was not a fan of basketball (except to follow our high school team when I was young}. Then one night while out with friends, our favorite spot had a Celtics game in their TV. I was mesmerized by Larry Bird, and watched the Celtics games every chance I had. Larry is THE GOAT, THE LEGEND!!
The friendship between Larry and Magic started at Larry's Mom's house. They were making a commercial together in French Lick, and Larry invited Magic back to Mom's house for lunch. After lunch, Larry told his Mom to tell Magic, who her favorite basketball player was. His Mom told Magic that he was her favorite. That lunch started their lifelong friendship!!
This one is really good, hadn't seen it before, so thanks!! I grew up about an hour from Boston so had to be a Celtics fan (you didn't dare root for anyone else!), watched most of their games on TV, but did have the thrill of seeing Larry at the Garden a couple of times. He was absolutely magical to watch~ I love seeing you youngsters watching these compilation videos, but what few know who never saw him play an entire game was, he played full tilt like that in every single game. Highest level, eyes in the back of his head, insane passing, court vision and IQ in another realm. In case you can't tell by now, I'm a huge Larry Bird fan~ in fact, he's my favorite player ever. 💚🍀🍀🍀
I was lucky enough to have see Larry play twice, once in Boston against Atlanta and a preseason game in Hartford CT I was sitting 7 rows up and at half time I reached over and he gave me a high five when I think about that night I can't remember that many plays from that game but I remember the high five like it was yesterday 33 in green
Im a 80s baby so i didnt really know basketball till the early 90s. So the 90s holds a place in my heart. Never got to see larry live but ive went and seen his childhood home. And that was cool
I only remember being at 2 of Bird's games, though it could have been more. The 1983 game where he scored a then career high 53 vs. IND, and Game 2 of the 1991 series that also happened to be vs. IND. I met Bird a couple of times briefly after Celtics' practices at Brandeis University in 1991 or 1992. He would talk for a few minutes with whoever was around him before heading into the locker room. I also met Dee Brown and Rick Fox similarly
Late 80’s and 90’s. I’ll never forget that 92 pacers playoff game and I watched it on TV. LB cocking back tears when Magic spoke was amazing. Fun fact: Magic had to wear a Celtics t shirt under his warm up jersey that night
Seattle Supersonics was my squad before they got sold out to Oklahoma... I loved the Payton and Kemp era. With Detlef Schrempf and Shawn Perkins. I loved that damn team.
Rodney Rodgers Career Got Cut Short Because He Got Into A Motorcycle Accident & It Paralyzed Him. The 80's Were The Best Because For Years Just About Every Team Had Some Of The Most Well Know Stacked Players On It. In The 90's The Big Names Were Over Their Prime Time Years & On There Way Out. I Don't Care What Anybody Saids BUT The Main Reason Jordan Was Able To Win 6 Rings Was Because The Teams He Played Against Didn't Have The Same Kind Of Players Of The 80's. Remember Jordan Couldn't Get No Where Playing Against Them Players Of The 80's. And For Sure Not Larry/Celtics Team. But Like Everyone Has, They Only Have So Many Years As A Prime Player. It's Just Larry Walked On To A Team That Only Won 29 Games, Then The Next Year, Larry's First Took That Same Team To 61 Wins; Larry's First Year He Walked On As A Prime Player. Jordan Could Never Do That. It Took Jordan 7-Years To Get His First Ring & It Took Larry His 2nd-Year To Win One. It Wasn't That Larry Just Made Himself Better He Made His Teammate's Better & Not Many Players Can Say They Have Done It All For Themselves BUT Was Able To Get The Others Into The HOF. Still To This Day NO ONE Has Ever Seen A Player With A Higher IQ Basketball Court Vision Like Larry's. Magic Was Right When He Said, "There Will Never Ever Be Another Larry Bird".
that’s not true the enforcement of rules and not letting teams play like scumbags is what opened the door for jordan.. once those guys were forced to play on only their talent shit changed .. the only problem is they over corrected that aspect of the game to where you can somehow go the full court on 3 dribbles without traveling and light taps are now flagrants..
@@bleinhauser Ok So Your Saying They Had To Make The Game-SOFT For Jordan To Win.🤣😆🤣 In All The Full Games I Watched I Never Seen Larry Play To Hurt Someone. Yea The Pistons Got Bad With Really Trying To Hurt People & Guess What They Would Try To Hurt Larry Too. But That Didn't Stop His Skills To Win Against Them. Yes They Played A Lot Harder In The 80's & A Lot In The Paint & Going For Rebounding. So Most Of It Wasn't Done On Purpose BUT Yea At Times Someone Would Try And Hurt Ya. But I Never Notice Larry Ever Trying To Hurt Another On Purpose. So Your Right Jordan's Skills Just Took Off BUT Not In Those First 7-Years. Then They Changed The Rules-Soften & All Of A Sudden Jordan Had Those Winning Skills.
@@gailshepard-cook6350 larry might not have but mccale sure did:. it wasn’t made soft the cheap shot was just penalized.. now it’s soft .. the 90s was the perfect era where you could still get away with an elbow here and there but couldn’t take out someone’s in the airs legs having them land on their back risking their careers. larry 6 years older than jordan , magic 3 or 4 years older and thomas just 2 years older .. jordan won his first ring what 5!years in? that’s hardly out of their prime except maybe bird who retired around that time but not because of age as much as a bad back… then you had malone, ewing, barkley, hakeem all in their primes lj and mourning , kemp and payton, shaq and penny.. all didn’t win or won when jordan wasn’t playing
Here's my story. When the big three were playing in the garden, I was a kid living thirty miles north of Boston. My step father was the manager of a factory which eventually turned into Eastpak, the back pack company. His boss had Celtics season tickets but almost never used them. They were center court, row five. My step father had no interest, so my brother and I took full advantage. Directly behind us in row six sat the president of the C's Red Auerbach smokin' his stogies. We still laugh today about how unathletic the Celtics players appeared. They looked more like factory workers. But after tip-off they played like the Harlem Globetrotter. We all knew we were watching something special. We'd see Larry point to a spot on the floor so we knew where the next bucket was coming from. One night we were talking after the game and the garden emptied. We werre the last ones there. There was a ball on the floor So we reinacted the "Bird steals the ball, passes to D.J. He lays it in!!" You can't buy those kind of memories.
It was just a different era! When I saw the lineup for the dream team... I thought, Oh shit! The Olympics and the world are about to get a WAKE-UP CALL!
My granddaddy is Black & Cuban & so is my grandma ' when they escaped Cuba late 1979 ' my granddaddy had a Job waiting for him in Boston & he got to see him play because my granddaddy work sponsored had investments with Boston Celtic ' My granddaddy said he was was a minster ' he was big ' because my grandad always thought he looked smaller & to watch Larry Bird and see him at his peak was a memory he will take to his grave ' & the very same man who sponsored my granddaddy was Irish & eventually asked my granddaddy if he wanted to go to Ireland & help his buisness over there ' my grandparents thought about & said yes . They moved to Dublin & for my granddaddy birthday recently ' I was able to get his pictures he took at games & have transferred onto a memory card & made into a live show ' also my grandaddy I had never saw my granda cry , he cried then & he has a top Larry Bird signed? my grandad said when he passes away he want to wearing the signed top" & wants buried in that top . ❤❤❤ & my grandma will make sure that his wish is carried out 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Larry was tall AF.,all 6 10 no cap..lived and died basket ball...the ncaa best player..almost a ncaa champ playing for Indiana state..3 time mvp..3 championship rings...saved basketball
Was lucky enough to see Larry Birds entire career with the Celts. Last time I saw him play live was when he showed up to Celtics training camp at Brandise University wearing his Olympic sneakers but scrimmaging with the free agents at the time. Totally agree 80s-90s NBA were the Golden Years! Tough physical inside and outside basketball! No touch fouls and guys getting clobbered in the playoffs. I absolutely hated the Pistons back then but as the Cs started rebuilding I really loved them too. I also loved how bad ass the Knicks were in the 90s especially against the Bulls and Pacers in the playoffs. Great hoop back then!
John Stockton came from a little known (at the time) college in Spokane Washington. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were actually a Cinderella team . One of the smallest colleges in NCAA. After Mark Few took over as coach they have gone to March Madness 22 yrs in a row reaching sweetc16 and top 8 several times and played for national championship I think twice. Bing Crosby graduated from that college also. Many NBA players have come from that college.
I saw many games on TV. I had several uncles and a good friend, and his dad mega Celtics fans. I always said he was just lucky. I hated him. (I was a Lakers fan and Magic) But after probably saying it 20Xs. It made me appreciate what a game busting pain in the butt. He really was. Larry Bird IS basketball. Deep blue collar guy. Played hurt, and it didn't ever appear to even slow him down. Larry Bird HAS to be in anyone's top3 overall team player. Look what he did to MJ. Swept the individual goat out of the playoffs in back to back seasons. 0-3 0-3 Jordan scored an NBA record 63pts in a game. Went home a loser. 😮 😢 😂 need I say more. And I've got plenty.
I've never watched an NBA game in my life. Since I graduated high school in 1969, I have only watched men at my college. Mostly I've watched girls high school BBall, because they can't dunk, and have to learn to play the game & shoot the ball. I did watch a couple Virginia Tech games in person when Carrie Mason, from my local high school girls team played for them & started as a freshman point guard. In high school I once watched Carrie Mason shoot 15 straight free throws & more than once outscored the opponent single handedly.
As a Pistons fan during the Bird era I absolutely hated him, but there was never a doubt of how great he was! I had the pleasure of seeing him play several times. If he’s not on your all time starting 5 you don’t know the game. Period end of story! Chuck Daly RIP. Great coach! On a side note the fact Isaiah Thomas wasn’t on the dream team is a shame.
I'm so outta tune with sports (I'm a computer geek), that back in 1996, I got tickets to see the Celtics in New Jersey. I said to my girlfriend "I've always wanted to see Larry!" Haha... Jokes on me, lol.
Christian Laettner is the only member of the ''92 Dream Team that is not in the NBA hall of fame. That's how ridiculous that squad was. Magic , Bird , Drexler , Jordan , Barkley , Malone , Mullin , Robinson , Ewing , Pippen , Stockton and Barkley are all in the NBA hall of fame. Coach Chuck Daly is in the hall of fame also.
Dr. J was my favorite player and thus my team back then was the 76'ers. Yet when it came to Celtics-Lakers, I always cheered for the Celtics. Kevin McHale is from Hibbing, MN, and I grew up 6 miles away in a town called Chisholm, and saw McHale play and thus cheered for the Celtics. Loved that era though and quit watching until the past season. Go T-Wolves!
first game I watched Jordan bird one or two over time he sank a three to win, I think, was still a Jordan man but nowadays hearing about him he was lights out
I saw Bird play many times back when I had New York Knicks season tickets. The dude could do anything and everything on the court. And his passing was unworldly bro. Great vid. Glad to see another Larry Bird reaction from you.
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I'm 67 years old. I started watching basketball in 1980 because of Larry Legend and Magic. They saved basketball.
I saw him live a number of times against my Knicks - I'm not sure there was ever a game that I didn't utter to my husband "OMG, did you see what he just did?" lol It was inevitable that he'd do something that would just shock you. Always loved him even though I always hated the Celtics (and still do! lol) Love these reactions - keep 'em coming!
Im a knicks fan too and I hate the celtics and the bulls. and yet Larry Bird and Michael Jordan are the two best players ive ever seen play. I lean slightly toward Bird tho.
Nobody worked harder for his big moments than Larry, so many injuries and so much heart im so glad he was there to get a gold medal, Larry earned his the hard way--
This is the first time I've seen this Larry Bird video and I thought I'd seen them all I'm an old lady I'm not even a basketball fan but there's some personalities you have to love and respect and the Legend Larry Bird is definitely one of them😊😊 blessings from Toronto
I really love Bird and Magics friendship as well💐👌
Love that Larry Legend still at the end of his career talked trash and backed it up. Hurt, in pain.. still showed his brilliance on the court.
My father was a basketball maniac who had three daughters. We grew up in NYC back in the 50s. Girls didn't play sports back then. Once we got a TV in the mid 60s, he would plop us down to watch any basketball game that was on… Usually the Knicks. Of course they became my favorite team, and when they won the championships in '70 & '73 I think we actually had a party! As we got into the late 70s, I wasn't as into basketball anymore, but once Larry Bird started to play in the '80's, my dad called me to check him out. It wasn't long before I realized that he was something very special. I was fortunate enough to see him a few times at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. From the minute his foot stepped on the court I knew I was watching something very special. I can't say I didn't root for the Knicks, but I also rooted for Larry Bird. I have to say he's my favorite all-time player. He's my goat.
I really enjoyed your reaction and as far as I'm concerned, basketball isn't the same anymore. The 70s and 80s were just the best. Tough guys who played hard, and the refs let them.
Nice… I was a big fan of the early 70s Knicks too who ended up with 3 daughters. One of them gave me a grandson who loves Steph now and has brought back my love for the game, along with a hoop in the driveway. Bird and Dennis Johnson were my guys in the 80s… and then came Michael.
While attending college Larry's team was playing ours and we heard they had a future all American on their team. So during warm ups we tried to guess which black player he was! Well we were wrong and he beat our league champion team and set our arena scoring record! Peace from Northern Michigan!
I started as an NBA fan in the 1970s, all the way up until about 7 years ago, and without a doubt, 100%, I consider the 1980s to be the Golden Age of the NBA. The insane amount of extremely talented, Hall of Fame players was staggering, and the type of play during that era is unmatched; the aggressiveness, the defense, rough play inside the paint, etc. are now all gone. And the man who epitomized the Golden Era was Bird, along with Magic. IMO, Bird was the best in that era, especially from 1984-1987 (and MJ played during those years). What is hard for younger fans who did not watch Bird in real time is realize just how great he was, and really how famous he was during that time, with no internet, no cable TV, no cell phones, no laptops, etc. Just regular broadcast TV, radio, and the print media. I remember during the 92 Olympics watching the Dream Team play, players on the opposing teams were so much in awe, it was hard for them to play because they were just flabbergasted to be on the same court as their heroes. And the team was mobbed by crowds during the Olympics everywhere they went, they were without a doubt the big story of that Olympics.
Larry played ball with his team, superb passing, tough and a shit talker with a 3 pt PhD. Notice Catlin Clark displays a lot of Bird's traits on floor.😮
In my humble opinion Larry Legend is the greatest of all time. Every game, he played to win not to get stats. His greatness was established and sharpened by Magic and the Lakers. Further, even when he was passed his prime because of injuries, he denied MJ and the Bulls a playoff spot 2 years in a row. 0 for 6 from Jordan says something. MJ had to have the ball to win, Larry just had to be in the game.
Bird gave his all every game! Have never seen another like him! GOAT!!! Larry Legend!!! Love the stories.....who else can call their shot ...like Bird?! Anyone??!! lol
I only watched the NBA because of Larry Bird. My most favourite sportsman of all time! So humble . . . (Bird, Magic, Jordan = LEGENDS) . . .
Always happy to see youngsters acknowledge the greatness of the past heroes. Larry Bird was a legend in his own time. There will always be comparisons between one era and another wouldn't it be awesome if we could see those eras play against each other in their prime? We think we know who would win but we might be surprised. I graduated high school in 1977 so I got to watch Bird and Magic and all the greats of that era I occasionally watch an NBA game but just don't connect with players of today like I did in the 80s and 90s.
I worked in the Boston Garden in the 1980's. Bird would be the only player on the court a couple of hours before every game, taking practice shots from every spot on the court for a half hour. Then, he'd be back with the rest of the team for normal warm-ups. He was truly "the hardest working man in show business". He worked and willed himself to be the best.
Rodney was a phenomenal player who had inside out game power forward horribly broke his neck C3 spinal injury at the peak of his game and was paralyzed from the neck down. He played for Nuggets and the Suns.
No doubt Sir Charles would have been canceled for that comment.. We can't speak our minds anymore even though we are supposed to have freedom of speech in this country.. Offend 1 woke person and you're done.. It's not the way we should have to live.
THE G.O.A.T. Watched many Celtic and Laker games. Bird and Magic introduced me to the NBA.....
I sort of met a good portion of the '86 Celtics team at Logan Airport in Boston. I was 18. They were sitting at the gate next to us waiting to board their plane for a road trip. My dad and I talked to coach KC Jones for a minute but didn't encroach on the players and their own conversations. We told them all good luck on their road trip and I recall Robert Parish waving to us in acknowledgement, but that's the only player interaction I can recall specifically.
Larry had to deal with the same racism Caitlin Clark is dealing with now. The big difference is Larry would come up fighting after a cheap shot and he’s 6’9”…
80s was the best decade. Bird, Jordan, and Magic. Unmatched.
100% agree
Bird. Top 5 greatest of all time. If not #1. PERIOD
I came up during the Bird era and was a fan of the Celtics because of him. I am glad to see all these young people today giving props to one of the greatest to ever lace up and take it to the hoop.
I had similar moment in my youth playing hockey with my dad. He'd take me out time to time to play old timer hockey. A bunch of them were former pro junior and NHLers that played because they loved the game. I was 16, they were 40 plus for the most part. Of course us young bucks started talking shit when we'd score and got a lead on them. The next 4 face offs were brutal. They won the face off and controlled the puck until it went into our net and repeat that 3 more times. We were skating all over the place, out of breath and the ease they made it look was amazing. We got humbled quickly.
Now I get to do the same to the youngsters when they start chirping us old-timers :) Of course being older now I feel it the next day, where they don't haha.
I'm from NE Ohio and the Cavs are my team, but Bird is my all time favorite player. My dad got tickets to go see the Cavs against Bird and his Celtics. The most impressive thing I saw from Bird was his pregame shoot around. He was just throwing up shots without looking and getting nothing but net.
Never had a chance to see him live but watched every game.
I’m too young to have watched him but that’s crazy. He messed up his back so early into his career and still did what he did. I’d hate to think how great he would’ve been if he had been 100%.
First visit. Started watching and falling to sleep. Lol. But I think I watched all of the playoff games. I am 68 and falling to sleep now. You sound great and knowledgeable.
Games were more than money. It was about everything. Pride, unity, love, and they gave it all. It was a phenomenon that has not repeated itself. I watched a lot of College basketball also. I have been many of the Kentucky Wildcats. I went to the University of Kentucky and was a totally a football man. It didn't mater if it was College or Pro. But you get whipped up in a frenzy with Kentucky Basketball.
Now I am a Caitlin Clark fan big time. She brings something you can't fake. It's a phenomenon and you know it when you see it all.
Thanks
Cliff
At Larry’s retirement, Magic wore a Celtic jersey under his warmup jacket..
I grew up watching Larry and the Celtics with my Grandmother who passed away in the spring of '92. I stopped watching basketball when Larry retired because the game was losing the poetry of play the '80s had.
I have interest in basketball again because there's a player who reminds me of Larry and who I know my Grandmother would love. So I'm starting to become a Fever fan.
Youth and exuberance is no match for old age and treachery!
Great reaction young fella! There are a handful that are in the GOAT debate, but there is only ONE "LEGEND"!!! And he did by not being fully healthy for one game of his NBA career, having mangled his finger on his shooting hand before signing his rookie contract! And he did it all in the 80's, the greatest and toughest era to do it in!! I played NAIA college basketball and going into my sophomore year we recruited a kid out of Wyoming junior college, and he was from French Lick. He said Bird was a good, humble dude! I know a few other people that met him and said how down to earth he was! They all say though that he likes to drink beer 👍! It makes it even better when your childhood hero(s) turn out to be good, decent people!!!!! Keep up the great reactions! Much love and respect 🤙
I was a Celtics and Bird fan from the firstvtime I can remember watching basketball.
Watching the Dream Team during that '92 Olympic run was like watching seasoned grizzled veterans ( and they absolutely were ) playing against jv high school teams. It was a complete dismemberment of every team they played against , they showed no mercy.
His nickname is Larry Legend for a reason. Larry in the 80s was fire. Surgery on both ankles and a chronic back issue and still kicked butt
80's ball was epic. Bird and Magic are the a big contribution to that fact. There wasn't an ounce of quit in either one of them.
Growing up in South Africa, we only started getting Inside the NBA with Ahmad Rashaad and Willow Bay in the 90's. Also we started getting recorded games at that time. It was the start of The Shaq and Hardaway era. Prior to that, we would get reports in the newspapers and and it was always Bird versus Johnson. My Elder brother and I were always on Team Bird
Larry Bird awesome I grew up in Boston when he came in the league he was great
Larry Bird was who I grew up on and 80s basketball is still so special to me. It is still exciting this many years later. 90s is good but it is more about Jordan. 80s was Magic, Bird and Jordan and Kareem, etc.
Never saw this one before....thanks for sharing!!! I am a fan of the Bird and Majic era......What really makes me love that time is because those guys actually respected each other.....kick each other's ass on the floor but when it was over they had respect
I watched his entire career in real time. He was an incredible player. One of a kind and the best basketball player in history. He wasn’t the most athletic athlete but he was the best player.
Thank you for this video. It brings back many memories of when basket ball was a great sport and not the shadow of what it was we deal with today.
Lived within a mile of the old Boston Garden. Took my young son to see Celtics and Bird. We had a good angle to see one of his three pointers. I told Son to keep that shot in his memory bank. Son is now 54 years old. He told me the other day that he still had that picture locked n forever.
Saw him live twice playing my Hawks in the Omni. You could absolutely tell that he wasn't playing the same game as the others and not at the same depth either. We didn't have a duo that could cover Bird and McHale both. We didn't have anyone who could guard Bird at all, but Nique did ok I guess. Anyone else he ate alive. It came down to whether Nique could score as much as Bird and both times I was there he couldn't and the Celtics won.
I am a 74 year old woman. I was not a fan of basketball (except to follow our high school team when I was young}. Then one night while out with friends, our favorite spot had a Celtics game in their TV. I was mesmerized by Larry Bird, and watched the Celtics games every chance I had. Larry is THE GOAT, THE LEGEND!!
Got to see only one game in The Garden. 91. About 24 yrs old.
Bird was in a sweater on the bench. It is about the only thing I recall from the game.
The friendship between Larry and Magic started at Larry's Mom's house. They were making a commercial together in French Lick, and Larry invited Magic back to Mom's house for lunch.
After lunch, Larry told his Mom to tell Magic, who her favorite basketball player was. His Mom told Magic that he was her favorite.
That lunch started their lifelong friendship!!
This one is really good, hadn't seen it before, so thanks!! I grew up about an hour from Boston so had to be a Celtics fan (you didn't dare root for anyone else!), watched most of their games on TV, but did have the thrill of seeing Larry at the Garden a couple of times. He was absolutely magical to watch~ I love seeing you youngsters watching these compilation videos, but what few know who never saw him play an entire game was, he played full tilt like that in every single game. Highest level, eyes in the back of his head, insane passing, court vision and IQ in another realm. In case you can't tell by now, I'm a huge Larry Bird fan~ in fact, he's my favorite player ever. 💚🍀🍀🍀
I'm with you man. I started watching basketball in the early 80s and don't remember Rodney Rogers
I think he was injured somehow and had a shortened career. Car accident maybe?? Not sure.
I was lucky enough to have see Larry play twice, once in Boston against Atlanta and a preseason game in Hartford CT I was sitting 7 rows up and at half time I reached over and he gave me a high five when I think about that night I can't remember that many plays from that game but I remember the high five like it was yesterday 33 in green
I like Pat Riley as a coach and I'm sure Larry was legendary there as well😊
Im a 80s baby so i didnt really know basketball till the early 90s. So the 90s holds a place in my heart. Never got to see larry live but ive went and seen his childhood home. And that was cool
I saw him play the Utah jazz all through the 80’s and 90’s. He was amazing!
I only remember being at 2 of Bird's games, though it could have been more. The 1983 game where he scored a then career high 53 vs. IND, and Game 2 of the 1991 series that also happened to be vs. IND. I met Bird a couple of times briefly after Celtics' practices at Brandeis University in 1991 or 1992. He would talk for a few minutes with whoever was around him before heading into the locker room. I also met Dee Brown and Rick Fox similarly
Late 80’s and 90’s. I’ll never forget that 92 pacers playoff game and I watched it on TV.
LB cocking back tears when Magic spoke was amazing. Fun fact: Magic had to wear a Celtics t shirt under his warm up jersey that night
LARRY LEGEND IS A UNICORN AND THE TRUE GOAT!!! 🐐 ☘️
Wish I had gotten Bird, but I still have (and happy with) my Sir Charles Dream Team jersey…. When basketball was basketball!!!
Seattle Supersonics was my squad before they got sold out to Oklahoma... I loved the Payton and Kemp era. With Detlef Schrempf and Shawn Perkins. I loved that damn team.
Rodney Rodgers Career Got Cut Short Because He Got Into A Motorcycle Accident & It Paralyzed Him. The 80's Were The Best Because For Years Just About Every Team Had Some Of The Most Well Know Stacked Players On It. In The 90's The Big Names Were Over Their Prime Time Years & On There Way Out. I Don't Care What Anybody Saids BUT The Main Reason Jordan Was Able To Win 6 Rings Was Because The Teams He Played Against Didn't Have The Same Kind Of Players Of The 80's. Remember Jordan Couldn't Get No Where Playing Against Them Players Of The 80's. And For Sure Not Larry/Celtics Team. But Like Everyone Has, They Only Have So Many Years As A Prime Player. It's Just Larry Walked On To A Team That Only Won 29 Games, Then The Next Year, Larry's First Took That Same Team To 61 Wins; Larry's First Year He Walked On As A Prime Player. Jordan Could Never Do That. It Took Jordan 7-Years To Get His First Ring & It Took Larry His 2nd-Year To Win One. It Wasn't That Larry Just Made Himself Better He Made His Teammate's Better & Not Many Players Can Say They Have Done It All For Themselves BUT Was Able To Get The Others Into The HOF. Still To This Day NO ONE Has Ever Seen A Player With A Higher IQ Basketball Court Vision Like Larry's. Magic Was Right When He Said, "There Will Never Ever Be Another Larry Bird".
that’s not true the enforcement of rules and not letting teams play like scumbags is what opened the door for jordan.. once those guys were forced to play on only their talent shit changed .. the only problem is they over corrected that aspect of the game to where you can somehow go the full court on 3 dribbles without traveling and light taps are now flagrants..
@@bleinhauser Ok So Your Saying They Had To Make The Game-SOFT For Jordan To Win.🤣😆🤣 In All The Full Games I Watched I Never Seen Larry Play To Hurt Someone. Yea The Pistons Got Bad With Really Trying To Hurt People & Guess What They Would Try To Hurt Larry Too. But That Didn't Stop His Skills To Win Against Them. Yes They Played A Lot Harder In The 80's & A Lot In The Paint & Going For Rebounding. So Most Of It Wasn't Done On Purpose BUT Yea At Times Someone Would Try And Hurt Ya. But I Never Notice Larry Ever Trying To Hurt Another On Purpose. So Your Right Jordan's Skills Just Took Off BUT Not In Those First 7-Years. Then They Changed The Rules-Soften & All Of A Sudden Jordan Had Those Winning Skills.
@@gailshepard-cook6350 larry might not have but mccale sure did:. it wasn’t made soft the cheap shot was just penalized.. now it’s soft .. the 90s was the perfect era where you could still get away with an elbow here and there but couldn’t take out someone’s in the airs legs having them land on their back risking their careers. larry 6 years older than jordan , magic 3 or 4 years older and thomas just 2 years older .. jordan won his first ring what 5!years in? that’s hardly out of their prime except maybe bird who retired around that time but not because of age as much as a bad back… then you had malone, ewing, barkley, hakeem all in their primes lj and mourning , kemp and payton, shaq and penny.. all didn’t win or won when jordan wasn’t playing
im sorry you’re right it was 7 years in
@@bleinhauserit must suck to be a jordanaire & forever making excuses for the fact that it was Larry that held Jordan down
Here's my story. When the big three were playing in the garden, I was a kid living thirty miles north of Boston. My step father was the manager of a factory which eventually turned into Eastpak, the back pack company. His boss had Celtics season tickets but almost never used them. They were center court, row five. My step father had no interest, so my brother and I took full advantage. Directly behind us in row six sat the president of the C's Red Auerbach smokin' his stogies. We still laugh today about how unathletic the Celtics players appeared. They looked more like factory workers. But after tip-off they played like the Harlem Globetrotter. We all knew we were watching something special. We'd see Larry point to a spot on the floor so we knew where the next bucket was coming from. One night we were talking after the game and the garden emptied. We werre the last ones there. There was a ball on the floor So we reinacted the "Bird steals the ball, passes to D.J. He lays it in!!"
You can't buy those kind of memories.
It was just a different era!
When I saw the lineup for the dream team...
I thought,
Oh shit!
The Olympics and the world are about to get a WAKE-UP CALL!
Great reaction video!
My granddaddy is Black & Cuban & so is my grandma ' when they escaped Cuba late 1979 ' my granddaddy had a Job waiting for him in Boston & he got to see him play because my granddaddy work sponsored had investments with Boston Celtic ' My granddaddy said he was was a minster ' he was big ' because my grandad always thought he looked smaller & to watch Larry Bird and see him at his peak was a memory he will take to his grave ' & the very same man who sponsored my granddaddy was Irish & eventually asked my granddaddy if he wanted to go to Ireland & help his buisness over there ' my grandparents thought about & said yes . They moved to Dublin & for my granddaddy birthday recently ' I was able to get his pictures he took at games & have transferred onto a memory card & made into a live show ' also my grandaddy I had never saw my granda cry , he cried then & he has a top Larry Bird signed? my grandad said when he passes away he want to wearing the signed top" & wants buried in that top . ❤❤❤ & my grandma will make sure that his wish is carried out
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Larry was tall AF.,all 6 10 no cap..lived and died basket ball...the ncaa best player..almost a ncaa champ playing for Indiana state..3 time mvp..3 championship rings...saved basketball
Was lucky enough to see Larry Birds entire career with the Celts. Last time I saw him play live was when he showed up to Celtics training camp at Brandise University wearing his Olympic sneakers but scrimmaging with the free agents at the time.
Totally agree 80s-90s NBA were the Golden Years! Tough physical inside and outside basketball! No touch fouls and guys getting clobbered in the playoffs.
I absolutely hated the Pistons back then but as the Cs started rebuilding I really loved them too. I also loved how bad ass the Knicks were in the 90s especially against the Bulls and Pacers in the playoffs. Great hoop back then!
AWESOME VIDEO . . .
EVERYTHING WAS BETTER IN THE 80'S 90'S NOT JUST BB EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE WAS BETTER OLD SCHOOL RULES MUCH ❤❤TX
John Stockton came from a little known (at the time) college in Spokane Washington. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were actually a Cinderella team . One of the smallest colleges in NCAA. After Mark Few took over as coach they have gone to March Madness 22 yrs in a row reaching sweetc16 and top 8 several times and played for national championship I think twice. Bing Crosby graduated from that college also. Many NBA players have come from that college.
Great commentary, Richhouse. Just the right amount.
I’m from Indiana and have been a Pacer fan since the late 1960s. Better keep an eye on this team.
I saw many games on TV. I had several uncles and a good friend, and his dad mega Celtics fans. I always said he was just lucky. I hated him. (I was a Lakers fan and Magic) But after probably saying it 20Xs. It made me appreciate what a game busting pain in the butt. He really was. Larry Bird IS basketball. Deep blue collar guy. Played hurt, and it didn't ever appear to even slow him down. Larry Bird HAS to be in anyone's top3 overall team player. Look what he did to MJ. Swept the individual goat out of the playoffs in back to back seasons. 0-3 0-3 Jordan scored an NBA record 63pts in a game. Went home a loser. 😮 😢 😂 need I say more. And I've got plenty.
He led the way for so many people.
I've never watched an NBA game in my life. Since I graduated high school in 1969, I have only watched men at my college. Mostly I've watched girls high school BBall, because they can't dunk, and have to learn to play the game & shoot the ball. I did watch a couple Virginia Tech games in person when Carrie Mason, from my local high school girls team played for them & started as a freshman point guard. In high school I once watched Carrie Mason shoot 15 straight free throws & more than once outscored the opponent single handedly.
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My family had season tickets of Celtics from 1976 -2010.I wayched his whole career
As a Pistons fan during the Bird era I absolutely hated him, but there was never a doubt of how great he was! I had the pleasure of seeing him play several times.
If he’s not on your all time starting 5 you don’t know the game. Period end of story!
Chuck Daly RIP. Great coach!
On a side note the fact Isaiah Thomas wasn’t on the dream team is a shame.
100% 80s was amazing
Grew up in Boston with Larry. But I did love Bernard king
The 80’s was the greatest era of basketball. And no one played it better than Larry Bird.
I'm so outta tune with sports (I'm a computer geek), that back in 1996, I got tickets to see the Celtics in New Jersey. I said to my girlfriend "I've always wanted to see Larry!"
Haha... Jokes on me, lol.
Rodney!!! my Nuggets fella!!! I remember he hit 3 3's in a row to win a game...he was a beast but he could shoot now!!!
True GOAT
80 s was the best ..Larry was the 1 player of the decade ..icon..my goat..fun times..hated lakers lol..
Spurs and George Gervin ❤ So says Austin Tx!!😎🍸
My heart.❤
Christian Laettner is the only member of the ''92 Dream Team that is not in the NBA hall of fame. That's how ridiculous that squad was. Magic , Bird , Drexler , Jordan , Barkley , Malone , Mullin , Robinson , Ewing , Pippen , Stockton and Barkley are all in the NBA hall of fame. Coach Chuck Daly is in the hall of fame also.
Dr. J was my favorite player and thus my team back then was the 76'ers. Yet when it came to Celtics-Lakers, I always cheered for the Celtics. Kevin McHale is from Hibbing, MN, and I grew up 6 miles away in a town called Chisholm, and saw McHale play and thus cheered for the Celtics. Loved that era though and quit watching until the past season. Go T-Wolves!
I'm a proud Masshole... Boston / New England sports are always in my heart.
Just Subscribed bro lol you keep showing up
As a Sixers fan I had to watch Larry do some amazing things to beat us. I used to hate him, but now I really appreciate what I saw back then.
Larry Bird was THAT guy, even over here in England we know it
I watched the NCAA Championship Game between Larry and Magic, on TV.
I love Chris Webber. Go Kings!!!
Good reaction bro. Keep em coming
I did get to see Bird.
first game I watched Jordan bird one or two over time he sank a three to win, I think, was still a Jordan man but nowadays hearing about him he was lights out
Can't i say I love the 80's and the 90's?
You got to respect someone to call them a friend. And you got to respect anyone who challenges you. Those lines can cross sooner or later in time.
Can we stop for a second and realise how personal sir Charles took this..he was ripping it up
Bird was monster !
I saw Bird play many times back when I had New York Knicks season tickets. The dude could do anything and everything on the court. And his passing was unworldly bro. Great vid. Glad to see another Larry Bird reaction from you.
Only saw Larry once and it was the only game he didn’t score. After the game I couldn’t believe it because he affected the game in so many ways