LOCATED! The Holy Grail of IUBB Photos

[Demo 19,976]

36 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Apologies to Tom Abernathy, but that 1976 team would have likely started:

1. Quinn Buckner
2. Bobby Wilkerson
3. Larry Bird
4. Scott May
5. Kent Benson

unfathomable

That looks ridiculous in print.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,672]

59 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Being honest, Bird would've become Larry Legend wherever he went. Transcendent player. 

Bird wasn't THAT Bird going to Indiana. He became what he did in between Indiana and Indiana State. Pretty well known around these parts that the rec ball he played really toughened him up. He may have been good for Knight, he wasn't going to become Larry Legend without his specific path. It made him who he was.

[Honkyman 1,670]

6 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Bird wasn't THAT Bird going to Indiana. He became what he did in between Indiana and Indiana State.

I attended an All Star game in the summer of 1974 at Butler between the Indiana All Stars and a Russian team. I couldn't believe how good Bird was--hitting shots from all over and making great passes.  He was the best player on the floor. I left believing he was good enough to start at IU as a freshman. Obviously, no one knows exactly what would have happened to him if he had stayed at IU. 

[HoosierHoopster 6,973]

15 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Bird wasn't THAT Bird going to Indiana. He became what he did in between Indiana and Indiana State. Pretty well known around these parts that the rec ball he played really toughened him up. He may have been good for Knight, he wasn't going to become Larry Legend without his specific path. It made him who he was.

Yeah respectfully disagree. Rec ball didn't make him Larry Legend, he did. May have been good for Knight? Lol.

[Chris007 44,066]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

Apologies to Tom Abernathy, but that 1976 team would have likely started:

1. Quinn Buckner
2. Bobby Wilkerson
3. Larry Bird
4. Scott May
5. Kent Benson

unfathomable

They probably would have gone undefeated :-)

[Stuhoo 80,774]

51 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

They probably would have gone undefeated :-)

(in best Bob Knight voice)

"I tell you one godddam thing. Mother****ing Michgan sure as hell wouldn't have been ahead of us at halftime in that ******* championship game."

[Hardwood83 4,773]

1 hour ago, Honkyman said:

I attended an All Star game in the summer of 1974 at Butler between the Indiana All Stars and a Russian team. I couldn't believe how good Bird was--hitting shots from all over and making great passes.  He was the best player on the floor. I left believing he was good enough to start at IU as a freshman. Obviously, no one knows exactly what would have happened to him if he had stayed at IU. 

In my alternate time-line IU wins the '75 championship for sure. Maybe gets another sniff in '77 or '78? That is all before my time, but figuing if LB could drag ISU to the Finals he coulda done something similar with IU.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,672]

1 hour ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Yeah respectfully disagree. Rec ball didn't make him Larry Legend, he did. May have been good for Knight? Lol.

Well it did. Plenty of stories here about it. And considering I love 15 minutes from his hometown, I hear plenty. Though he couldn't care if his hometown existed anymore.

[Schreckbagger 620]

I attended an All Star game in the summer of 1974 at Butler between the Indiana All Stars and a Russian team. I couldn't believe how good Bird was--hitting shots from all over and making great passes.  He was the best player on the floor. I left believing he was good enough to start at IU as a freshman. Obviously, no one knows exactly what would have happened to him if he had stayed at IU. 

A friend of mine on that All Star team was Birds roommate during that entire time.

 

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[hoosierbgh 1,264]

19 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Well it did. Plenty of stories here about it. And considering I love 15 minutes from his hometown, I hear plenty. Though he couldn't care if his hometown existed anymore.

I grew up in the area so I don't doubt that you can find people that will espouse that but they are wrong. I don't doubt that it added elements to his game but to say playing pick up ball was what made him into the legend he became is patently absurd. A better argument could be made that going to ISU and carrying a whole team did more for him than playing with other talented players would have but that is still a big stretch. 

[Stuhoo 80,774]

Nothing other than a debilitating injury was going to stop Larry Bird from being a historically great player.

If him and RMK had stuck it out together, Larry would have never come off the court for IU.

[str8baller 5,253]

3 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Nothing other than a debilitating injury was going to stop Larry Bird from being a historically great player.

If him and RMK had stuck it out together, Larry would have never come off the court for IU.

A more interesting counterfactual is what it would have done to RMK. Possibly one more title. But also possibly following up NBA great Bird with NBA great Isiah may have been a turning point recruiting-wise for Knight.   
 

Maybe he decides that having all-world talent and a little less control over the Xs and Os and settle on the floor was the way to go??? Probably unlikely, but it is the only two times in his career he flirted with that level of individual talent. They stayed two whole years combined. 

[cthomas 6,433]

10 minutes ago, str8baller said:

A more interesting counterfactual is what it would have done to RMK. Possibly one more title. But also possibly following up NBA great Bird with NBA great Isiah may have been a turning point recruiting-wise for Knight.   
 

Maybe he decides that having all-world talent and a little less control over the Xs and Os and settle on the floor was the way to go??? Probably unlikely, but it is the only two times in his career he flirted with that level of individual talent. They stayed two whole years combined. 

Fascinating to consider. But it would take an alternate universe for that CBK and that Larry Bird to mesh. Coach Knight's personality eventually became his undoing as kids quit responding to his methods. That, and him being unable to adapt.

[Honkyman 1,670]

32 minutes ago, Schreckbagger said:

A friend of mine on that All Star team was Birds roommate during that entire time.

What did he say Bird was like? 

[Schreckbagger 620]

What did he say Bird was like? 

The Hick from French Lick was an appropriate nickname. Didn't interact much with teammates.


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[HoosierHoopster 6,973]

23 minutes ago, cthomas said:

Fascinating to consider. But it would take an alternate universe for that CBK and that Larry Bird to mesh. Coach Knight's personality eventually became his undoing as kids quit responding to his methods. That, and him being unable to adapt.

Which is the real reason Bird left. To his credit, IT, after much effort, later prevailed on RMK to let him run the floor, and then came the NC.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,672]

19 hours ago, Dave from Dayton said:

Years ago, was in French Lick at a sports bar which had Larry Bird memorabilia. Fantastic!

The owner, I understand, was a friend and neighbor of Larry Bird.  Bird stored tons of trophies etc. in his garage.  Owner allegedly asked if he could display them and did in his bar.  Might just ask the owner if you know him.  Has some old photo albums...apparently.  33 Brick Street Larry Bird Memorabilia | French Lick, IN

Haven't been there for a long time but it's just kinda meh as a restaurant.

[Dave from Dayton 3,225]

On 4/11/2023 at 5:53 AM, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Haven't been there for a long time but it's just kinda meh as a restaurant.

We were staying in Spring Mill State Park at the time. The recession had taken down a bunch of restaurants and eating out was slim pickings. Toured the casino and resort. Checked out antiques/flea markets and caves. I really enjoyed a good sandwich and beer at 33 Brick Street. 

However, the pertinent issue was about the wonderful Bird memorabilia.  Multiple NBA POY and team awards and trophies, and college awards just too numerous to list.  Phenomenal! 

I am curious if the owner responded to the photo search inquiry.

[Honkyman 1,670]

On 4/10/2023 at 4:42 PM, HoosierHoopster said:

Which is the real reason Bird left

There were several reasons that came together resulting in Bird dropping out of IU--including that things were not right at home. His father, whom Bird was close with, would commit suicide not long after.

[Stuhoo 80,774]

26 minutes ago, Dave from Dayton said:

We were staying in Spring Mill State Park at the time. The recession had taken down a bunch of restaurants and eating out was slim pickings. Toured the casino and resort. Checked out antiques/flea markets and caves. I really enjoyed a good sandwich and beer at 33 Brick Street. 

I am curious if the owner responded to the photo search inquiry.

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