Larry Bird was a force to be reckoned with in the NBA during the mid-1980s, outshining legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and even Michael Jordan. Bird won three straight MVPs from 1984 to 1986, becoming the third overall and last player to achieve this feat.
Related: Larry Bird Once Trash-Talked NBA Legend Pistol Pete Maravich
The Chicago Bulls cheerleaders once devised an unconventional strategy to stop Bird: inviting him out the night before a playoff game. Their plan was to get him so drunk that he’d be unable to perform the next day.
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This took place during the Celtics’ 1981 second-round playoff series against the Bulls, as recounted by Larry Bird’s former teammate Rick Robey:
“I can remember the night. He and I, we went out to Rush Street and, as you said, we had a couple of beers, maybe a few too many because the Chicago cheerleading staff happened to be in the bar that we were at and they kept sending us a few beers and a few beers.
“Before you knew it, it was late at night, and we had a few too many,” Robey continued. “We got in a cab, and they got us back to the hotel.
“About six hours later, we had to be up. We’re playing the 12 ‘o’clock game that afternoon, and we get to the arena, and we’re still a little tired. Matter of fact, Larry fell asleep on the taping table to get a little nap before the game.
“So we go out and Larry takes his first shot. He misses everything, and I’m going, ‘oh, lordy.’ Bill Finch is going to be all over me because he knew he was with me.
“And Robert Parish picks up three quick fouls. So that means I got to go into the game and play a bunch of minutes that night. We ended up winning the game and winning the series against Chicago.
“Bird had, like you said, around 40 points. And as we were walking off the floor, I can remember this. Larry looked over to those cheerleaders and said, ‘thanks a lot for those beers’.”
The Celtics swept the Bulls 4-0 in the series with Bird averaging 23.5 points, 13.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. Boston would win the NBA title, defeating the Houston Rockets 4-2.
This would be Bird’s first NBA championship, but certainly not his last. Larry Legend truly lived up to his name.
