Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 5, 1993 TAG: 9302050208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and Knight Ridder/Tribune reports
DATELINE: BOSTON LENGTH: Medium
FANS CHEER `LARRY' A FINAL TIME
Larry Bird donned his old Celtics warmup suit and, for one last night, chants of "La-reeee, La-reeee, La-reeee" rained down from an adoring, packed house at Boston Garden.For one last night, he dominated the parquet floor. The crowd roared as, once again, he buried 3-pointers, saved the ball by diving to the court and passed the ball behind his back.
It seemed so real to the fans who had seen it all for 13 years.
But they were only memories, video highlights played on huge overhead screens at a 2 1/2-hour ceremony in which Bird's number "33" was retired Thursday night, hoisted to the dusty rafters on a green-and-white banner.
While the lights were down as the videos rolled, Bird would rise from his stool and stand as if the painful back that forced his retirement was acting up again.
Bird, never one to back down on the court, finally gave in to the agony and retired Aug. 18 after a 13-year NBA career.
The star-studded show was emceed by NBC sportscaster Bob Costas. Parades of his former teammates, video greetings from ex-opponents and an extended conversation with Magic Johnson preceded Bird's closing remarks.
"Magic," Bird said, "we're never playing again. You retired, right?" Magic nodded. "Then get the hell out of my dreams," Bird said.
They handed each other signed jerseys. "I signed yours on the back," Bird said, "because that's all I ever saw of you."
Magic couldn't tear himself away. Finally, he said, "Larry, you only told one lie. You said there would be another Larry Bird someday. Larry, there will never, never . . . " the crowd was applauding now, because they could see it coming " . . . never ever be another Larry Bird."
And Bird didn't cry. There were too many laughs during the evening for that.
"I'll miss working the pick-and-roll with Robert Parish," Bird said. "I'll miss getting the ball in low to Kevin McHale and watching him go to work. I'll miss those back-door passes from Dennis Johnson.
"Most of all, believe it or not, I'm going to miss the fans of Boston. Your voice, your excitement brought everybody to that level we needed to get over the hump. I did my very best to please each and every one of you. Tonight, my basketball career is officially over and I had a blast."
Then he took his 18-month-old son, Conor, from his wife, Dinah, and walked with him toward the Celtics locker room as the song "Small Town," was played in tribute to Bird's rural Indiana roots and the number "33" rotated in green laser lights on the center-court stage he had left.
Moments earlier, cradling Conor in his left arm and standing beside his wife, he helped hoist his number to the roof. He pulled one rope with his right hand, while team president Red Auerbach pulled the one on the opposite side to raise the banner.