Re: Isaih's remarks

["Greg Odegaard" <gmodegaa@longvred.rmc.com>]

I have to comment on this matter too.  Coach Bird played as hard and well
up until the last days as anyone.  Look at the games against Indiana in the
playoffs (banged his head) and the overtime win over Portland (49 points)
in the last year, MOL.  What LB did as well as anyone, PERIOD, was make his
teammates better.

I to this day use his quote, regarding his playing style and that of his
teammates; "There is nothing I can't stand more than seeing a teamate
watching the ball go out of bounds".  I expect that the Pacers and the
Celtics will be rivaled by no one in years to come in the areas of hustle
and effort.    

BTW, I went to the game on Wednesday night in Portland, when the Pacers
came from about 20 down to almost win the game.  It was most enjoyable to
see LB actions and body language as he coached the team backed into the
game, and to watch them then eventually lose to the late effort by the
Blazers.  It was a great game.  There were a few noted Celtics fans at the
game, a number of things yelled in encouragement and a few not, by fans
close to the Pacer bench.  The most noted thing about the game was LB's
comments after; "Maybe we didn't win because I wasn't on the court".  He
had been asked if he wished he could have been on the court at crunch time,
and could he have helped win the game.  He noted he had trust in his team
to pull it out, which they almost did, but as he said, partially in jest,
maybe the outcome would have been different, if he was in uniform.  Hard to
imagine him in anything but the Celtics green.  At least I have 2 must see
games in Portland each year now.

Greg

----------
> From: bob miller <bob@mymenus.com>
> To: celtics@igtc.COM
> Subject: Re: Isaih's remarks
> Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 7:48 AM
> 
> >Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 10:39:22 -0500
> >From: tom bisson <tbisson@doe.state.vt.us>
> >Subject: Re: Isaih's remarks
> >
> >First, Isiah's remarks concerning Larry Bird were wrong because it was
> >said out of bitterness and jealousy, but there is a grain of truth in
> >it.
> 
> >I>n Larry's last few years his feet and his back severely reduced his
> >ability and, in fact, he was probably just a good player - not the great
> >player he had been in previous years. Despite his athletic decline, his
> >legend lived on and, I think, rose-colored his accomplishments in his
> >later years. For instance, Larry would make a good pass leading to an
> >assist and announcers would oooh and aaah saying what a terrific play it
> >was and how nobobdy could do that but Larry, blah, blah blah. It was
> >embarassing at times and I can understand some of the resentment that
> >vmust have developed. I see some of the same reactions to the play of
> >Jordan - all his moves now are seen as fabulous. What is amazing is how
> >some players are able to live on reputation and respect near the end of
> >their careers to such a great extent in a business as ruthless as
> >professional sports. Those athletes who are given that level of respect
> >have truly earned it.
> 
> Ah... no way. This was in 1987. Larry was coming off three MVP seasons.
> This was NOT at the end of his career.
> 
> And "just a good player?" Give me a break. Even in crippling pain, Larry
> was better than just about anyone on the court. The one area that
declined
> IMO was his defense, especially in one-on-one situations, where he never
> excelled anyway. I remember his next-to-last game, when he threaded some
> amazing passes to teammates for layups, and yes, not too many could make
> those passes.
>