I got this from Netgalley, so I can read and review it before it’s published. Before I begin, I will tell you that when I was 13 years old in 1990, Larry Bird was my favorite player in the NBA. Don’t know why, when I had my hometown San Antonio Spurs to cheer for. A friend of the family, at that time, worked for the Boston Celtics and somehow, word got to him, and an autographed picture from Larry arrived for me. How awesome is that?
This book primarily looks at Larry’s high school and college playing days, and everything that happen during those days. From his father’s suicide to Larry working manual labor jobs to Larry not talking to the media, to Larry’s work ethic as a basketball player, and to Larry’s toughness on the court. Coaches and players he played with and against are interviewed throughout the book. I am glad that Larry never gave up basketball, as he probably could’ve easily done that as enjoyed outdoor labor!
He started his college playing days at Indiana under head coach Bobby Knight and was recruited by Dave Bliss. But, he left and eventually attended Indiana State. In 1979, Indiana State went undefeated before losing to Michigan State and Magic Johnson. Yep, Bird and Magic and that rivalry continued in the NBA. A lot of details on games and how the Indiana State basketball came to be (from the coaching staff and all of the players) is in the book.
The last few chapters flash forward to a where are the key players now, and that was interesting for me to learn.
