As the snow storm hysteria increases, take a moment to soak up the wisdom of Larry Bird. In a short first-person piece, Tom Chiarella of Esquire Magazine does a damn good job capturing Larry Legend’s essence. Here are a few choice excerpts, which appear in the January 2009 “Meaning of Life” issue on news stands now.
“I used to love the feeling of running, of running too far. It made my skin tingle. When I used to play, if I was in my room and I was on the road, I’d just go out for a run before games. In the city. Around the parking lot. On the track. I’d run around the top of the arena. Just something to keep me moving. A lot of players just couldn’t do that. It wore them out for the game. I always thought it was better to run.”
“I played football for two years. I never did like the practices in that game. Never did make a lot of sense to me. Playing the game made a lot of sense.”
“When I was a kid, I never thought about anything. Never had to think about where I was going to school or what I was going to do. I just lived minute to minute. If I was playing basketball and someone said, ‘Let’s go to the baseball field,’ we would go. Never had a vacation. We never had the funds. Being outside, that was my vacation.”
“When I was playing for Boston, that was all about team and history. Pride’s when you play for your country.”
“If my wife says she’s taking the kids and leaving for a few days, I just say, ‘Have at it.’ I’m good at being alone for no apparent reason.”
“I was a garbage man. I had no problem with that job. None. I’d go back and do it again if I had to.”
“The best basketball announcer is one who allows you to close your eyes. Johnny Most could set his clothes on fire, spill coffee all over the place, and he still became an icon.”
And the best:
“Eminem. My son was listening to that and I was like, ‘What is that junk?’ Then I started listening and I thought, ‘You know, that kid is pretty good.’ It’s the story telling.”
Larry Bird would like Eminem, wouldn’t he? Kindred spirits, parallel careers. White hoop star, white rap star. Both dominated their fields. Both well respected by their peers. Although I don’t think Marshall Mathers is as worshiped in Detroit as Larry Joe Bird is in Boston.
C’s go for their 17th straight win tonight. Derrick Rose is in town with the Chicago Bulls. We’ll see if Rajon Rondo shows him a thing or too…
