Larry J. Bird's Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech

During his brilliant career, Larry Bird has done it all, achieving every honor possible in the game of

basketball

, including championship awards and having his jersey retired, but now he receives the game's highest honor by taking his place in the Hall of Basketball Fame. We've seen some of his greatest moments, we've heard from his friends and former teammates, all that's left is to hear from the man himself, ladies and gentlemen, Larry Bird accompanied by his former coach with bathroom selfies, billfish, these Hall of Fame for his former Septon teammate, Bill Walton, thank you, thank you very much, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you very much, thank you.

Hello, I was going to ask Bill Walling to write my

speech

for the evening. They say his career is much longer than his career, so I just tried to stay away from that day. A brief history about Coach Fitch back in 1980. I first came to the Boston Celtics. I first came to the Boston Celtics. When we went to us. When we went to a road. On trips we had something called seniority, sometimes there were enough first class seats for everyone, so of course the newbies and one or two year veterans had to go to the back of the plane.

Well, that's what I did for the first two or three years. trips and one day I said at the airport and I was thinking, I wonder what kind of ticket I'm going to get today and I'm going to get a pink ticket for first class. I got a white ticket for the economy class seat as we just arrived. after a three-game trip and I played really well, so I thought, well, this is the time to make my move. Rea milky or I... I came, sure enough, he handed me a white boarding pass, I say, excuse me, go, tell Coach Fitch that.

I'm a first class player, I expect a first class seat, of course, Ray came back and Coach Fitch says, tell him to get on the plane. You know, I've always considered myself a very proud person. The boys said it was. I am very proud to come from the small town of French Lick and West Baden Indiana. Although I was always very proud to spend four wonderful years at Terre Haute Indiana and at this Indiana State University, I think I am very proud to say that I spent 13 years. playing for the ball front they have buried me.

I've been very fortunate throughout my career to have great coaches, they all started in a small town and in West Baden in French Lick. I had two high school coaches, Jim Jones and Gary Holland, been a long time with me taught me the fundamentals of the game when I was in seventh eighth grade playing on the outdoor courts every day when we were there at two and three o'clock it didn't matter, Coach Jones would always stop by and see how he was progressing every day, he would give us a new drill to work on, whether it was a pick-and-roll that I ran with Robert Perry over and over again.

It was a basic free throw or just a basic rebound. step, but every day he gave me and my friends something to work on, he said: I will come back after Walt so you are progressing, we would stay there and we would stay there and we would stay there just knowing that he would come back, he actually served time. After a while, Coach Jones would do this, we would go out, we would play, we would spend three or four hours waiting for him, he would finally come back some days, it would be five hours, but sure enough we would be there because we didn't want to let him down, coach.

Jones came back one day and I told him coach, what does he do when he leaves here? So I have other places to go, but I will always come back to tell you that you are progressing well now, 20 years later or really, 20 is now 30 years. Then I asked him and he said, Hey Larry, some of them went to play golf, but I had another coach in high school, Gary Holland, he taught me something, tell me what a green light was, one night I was playing a

basketball

game and He told me, Larry, you have the green light. light, that's a green light, what's going on, you have the ability to play the game the way you want, do you want to shoot?, shoot if you want to pass, just make the plays, if you play hard, play well. we win every time the green lights have been on for 30 years, you know, I'm very honored to be here with Coach Fitch coming to the NBA playing football, so my first read on what to expect, but Coach Fitch treats me like a player, he worked me. tough, he taught me a lot about the game, I will do a lot to him, he is what made me who I am today, especially coming from the professional ranks, he wanted to achieve the same piece that I wanted to achieve next, winning championships.

I commemorate 1956 to win. In one game, he says it takes one more rebound to win this championship. Let someone receive the ball. If we do it, you'll finally put a smile on my face. And he was smiling broadly at that point because he knew we had it figured out and we went out there to finish it off. That game was the most incredible feeling he's ever had in basketball. I played a lot of basketball until I got to Boston, but I never really won anything, so that night was very special, not only for me but for my coach and other coaches.

I had the great Casey Jones, one of the greatest human beings born on this earth, very lucky and honored to play for him. Remember in Los Angeles and the fifth game of the championship series we were there and we were down by two or three points at halftime and we went out to warm up before starting the third quarter and Kasey came out and called me, he said, Larry, he said, I hate to tell you this, he said there has been a death threat in your life like it was a piece of a piece. Okay, these are serious death threats, you have to make a decision if you want to finish the game or sit back in the locker room, wait until we're done or leave the arena, that's why I'm going to play, so Kasey just turns around . and he walks away.

I go straight across the layup line on the other side. I look over here, Kasey, you scumbag, pointing at me. I'm on my way to K's session. Now what? Because well, the horns are getting ready down here. Larry, he says, whatever you do, don't come. In the group he said: could you please stand here? He said: Could you please stand here on center court? He said you never know the guy might be a bad shot, so I just tuned up the horn shots. I walk over to Casey, he's growing up in the play. I put my arm around him, he looks up, lowers his head and crouches a little so the boys can surround him.

He says. Thank you so much. Now you have to understand that this is the NBA Finals and how great Casey was under those circumstances. I had Chris Ford and Jimmie Rodgers very good coaches. There are a lot of great stories to tell tonight, but I won't tell them all. The only thing I wish would happen tonight is for my mom to be here because I know she's so proud. looking down, she always told me at the end of her life, a few years ago, she has blonde head skills, snow, you know, boy, you did very well, Larry, I'm very proud of it I would also like to thank my wife we ​​are putting. with me for 21 years, but if you think the first 20 words are difficult, she waits for the next twenty-one girl.

I would also like to thank Jill Eon, who has been helping me for the last 20, 21 years and now she has been a huge help. For me she has been a great friend, very professional. I do not know what else to say. I would say she's been amazing. I would also like to thank Red Auerbach for drafting me when I was a junior in college and only waiting for a year and I would also like to thank Donnie Walsh for giving me the opportunity to coach the Indiana Pacers, something I never thought I would want to do. , but after prodding Donnie and promising him that he would win a championship, he took the bait. and I'm in Indiana thank you very much.

I am very excited and honored to be here tonight. God bless each and every one of you.