Hall of Fame and Larry Bird

[snoopy1@xxxxxxx]

I was watching the Hall of Fame ceremony (live on ESPN Classic), and 
Larry's introduction of Magic Johnson was refreshingly funny--especially 
since with the tribute to Drazen Petrovic and the induction of the Harlem 
Globetrotters (if we REALLY need 29 teams, can't we change out one of the 
bad teams for the Globetrotters?)--it was a relief to hear the good 
spirited rivalry between Larry and Magic.  Larry recounted how after one 
Celtics-Lakers game in LA, won by the (Good Guys), Larry watched Magic go 
to his car, obviously upset at having lost to Boston.  Larry says he looked 
at him and thought, "Suffer, baby suffer."  He went on to say that he knew 
Magic wouldn't go out to eat, or socialize, but sit at home being 
aggravated.  "I KNOW, "Larry said, "I've been there TOO!"

Johnson looked like he got a bigger laugh out of it than anyone in the 
room.  Then when it was his turn to speak, said of Larry, "You...you are 
what a basketball player should be."

It was a great ceremony.  There was the brand new building for the Hall of 
Fame, and one of the oldest teams among the first to be inducted into it.

Thinking of that, it reminded me of yet another parallel between Larry and 
Magic.  Larry, who played in the Boston Garden--a respected, but old, 
venue--was inducted into the old building.  Magic, who played in a much 
newer arena, was inducted into the new building.

They're STILL competing...  :>))

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle