Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Huskee11, post: 4671365, member: 7171"] He didn`t go directly. He almost didn`t go at all. Bill Hodges, Coach of Indiana State, did a great job convincing him to go to ISU. Between Indiana and Indiana State, Larry worked back home as a garbage man. He was also ironically one of the game`s greatest trash talkers ever. As a result of his situation, the NBA rules back then allowed Bird to be drafted after the 1977-1978 season even though he had an additional year to play for ISU if he wanted. Red Auerbach took the gamble and drafted him sixth overall (after such luminaries as Rick Robey and Purvis Short) and Bird did take that extra year of college eligibility. After the 1978-1979 season, though, the Celtics signed him just before their rights to him were going to expire with the 1979 draft. Auerbach`s gamble paid off, and it led to three Celtic championships and a lot of great memories. [/QUOTE]