Bird nominated for hall of fame

[Colin Hall <colin@inet-direct.com>]

Bird tops hoops Hall of Fame candidates 
Eight players, three coaches nominated for induction
Posted: Mon February 2, 1998 at 10:54 AM ET 

 
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (AP) -- Larry Bird, a star on both the
collegiate and NBA levels, was among eight players and three coaches to be
nominated Monday for the Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Bird, the national college player of the year at Indiana State, a
three-time NBA MVP and a member of the league's 50th anniversary all-time
team, was one of four first-time nominees among the players, but the only
one who made it in his first year of eligibility. 

Other first-time nominees were Adrian Dantley and Chet Walker, who had
successful careers in both college and the NBA, and Marques Haynes, who
entertained millions as the ballhandling wizard of the Harlem Globetrotters. 

Nominated again as players were: Larry Costello, an NBA all-star in half of
his 12 seasons; Artis Gilmore, one of the stars who played in both the ABA
and NBA; Gus Johnson, considered one of the best power forwards in NBA
history; and Sidney Moncrief, the guard credited with making the Milwaukee
Bucks one of the best NBA teams of the '80s. 

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The coaches nominated were Alex Hannum, one of two coaches to win titles in
both the ABA and NBA, John Thompson, who has led Georgetown to one national
championship and three Final Fours, and Tex Winter, an assistant coach with
the Chicago Bulls for their five NBA titles and a long-time college coach. 

Bird and Magic Johnson are credited with helping vault basketball into one
of the world's most popular sports. His 1978-79 Indiana State team went
33-1, the lone loss to Johnson and Michigan State in the national
championship game, still one of the most watched college games ever. 

Bird led the Boston Celtics to three NBA titles (1981, 1984, 1986) and
their rivalry with Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers lifted the league to
unprecedented levels of popularity and revenues. Bird, in his first year as
coach of the Indiana Pacers, will coach the East team in the NBA All-Star
game. 

The nominees, selected by a screening committee, will need at least 18
votes from the 24-member Honors Committee for election. Further nominees
will be forthcoming in the women's, veterans and international categories. 

The newest class for enshrinement will be announced June 29, with the
induction ceremonies to be held in October. 

Copyright 1998 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
 


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