Never be illusioned , and you'll never be disillusioned! Just love everybody, and hope for the best. Love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself.
This is why we should stop putting celebrities on a pedestal. Chances are that neighbor you don't like is a 100x better person. Go get their autograph instead.
If this is all true it really must be painful for his biological daughter. Not only is she out of his life through no fault of her own but also has to witness 2 adopted kids be loved by him. I'm sorry but that's just wrong.
I could see going to see his daughter while she lived with her mother as awkward. He was dysfunctional at a young age. Once she became independent, there was little excuse for him not to bring his daughter into his life.
@@RalphHund some mothers will sabotage the relationship at young age but it was clear she wanted to know her father. once that was out in the media, he should have moved. she made the first move. he should have jumped at it
@@RalphHund - BS! Even if a woman makes it difficult to see your child, you fight like hell to do so. No excuses. Bird was simply a no-good father. Period!
Oh Jesus everyone has a opinion. We’re you there ? Do know what was said what said and what promises and threats were made ? His ex was the one who walked away not him . He paid his child support . He did his duty . And his daughter yeah she has about 60 million reasons to play this heart broken child . Her mom made the decision to end that family not him . I hope Larry leaves nothing .
Careful; public personas can be VERY different from what the real person is like. Everyone absolutely loves my mother when they first know her; she's a very charming, but also very carefully deceptive person. Yet she was a horrible mother, and never was able to keep a friend for more than about a year, when they finally found out what she was like as they were with her and they got to know how she treated other people. As I grew up, my dad, it seemed was almost always at work. But as it became obvious how horrid my mother was, it also became clear that he realized too late that his wife was a toxic person, but he never abandoned his family, and would continue to live up to his obligations. He just couldn't stand to be around her much, either. Never assume what you see on TV or in the news, is what is really true. Learn more.
Thanks for creating this video. I'm a huge Larry Bird fan but have only seen bits and pieces of his family life/ history from various sources. It's great to see the bigger picture presented in this video. Still lots of gaps and unknowns, but this is the most holistic recap of Larry's life that I've seen to date. Larry could probably fill in a lot of these gaps himself, particularly with regard to Corrie, but, as we know, he's not a guy who loves interviews. In fact, he's gone completely radio silent in recent years. Dan Shaughnessy said that Larry would not even speak with him while he was researching and writing his newest book.
My Dad was Irish and my mother was Scot-Irish. It was a strange marriage, but the fought together until my mother died. My Dad was the depressive Irish type, and my mother was hyperactive. It was like a bipolar with one person being maniac and the other person being depressive. They were married in 1946. My Dad woke up in the middle of the night screaming. (My Dad did fight in some of the worst battles of WWII. ) My mother looked at my Dad, and said, don't ever do that again. I guess that was the Scot-Irish remedy for post traumatic shock. It worked sort of, you never woke my Dad up by shaking him, or he'd attack you. So my Mother would shock my Dad out of his depression, and my Dad would common my Mother down. My Mother would fall apart in an emergency, and my Dad would be calm and know just what to do. My Mother was more efficient in day to day life, while my Dad was never motivated, except when my Mother got on his back. It was a strange relationship.
Welcome to a Scotts-Irish family...Shy to the point of recusness. Loyal to the point of death. Tightfisted to the point of starvation. Work to the point of of exhaustion. Stubborn to the point of recklessness. Substance abuse to the point of an early grave. With the threat of some shocking violence sprinkled in.
I think Larry is honest. I think he really just did not know what to do with that awkward situation. I'm glad to see he says that if she ever needs him, he'll be there for her. Some people mature in some areas much slower than other areas. Bird apparently matured socially very slow. Makes sense when you realize how devoted he was to basketball and how dysfunctional the home probably was with his father drinking so much. I give him the benefit of the doubt because I learned long ago to be good to everybody 'cause everybody is having a tough time. Bird certainly had a VERY tough time! I wish him well, and I hope he knows or will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as His Saviour, because we all need saving. We're all sinners! And we all make messes in our lives of one sort or another.
This is a perfect lesson. This is exactly why the modern nba isn't something I can love as much as the older era. In Bird's era, we didn't know about their life that often off the court, even Jordan had a successfully private life. Today, guys do podcasts right after losing a finals game. Its hard to have a favorite player if you are privy to all of their skeletons. Not to mention its not really anyone else's concern.
@@otisjenkinsjr.3556 what need does a sports fan have to know about the personal lives of the players? It's only modern times where people are deluded and arrogant enough to assume they are better than someone else based on a single detail of someone's life. Pretending Larry Bird is a bad person suddenly because of this video doesn't make you better than him, just another person with an irrational need to label everyone either a hero or piece of shit as though there is nothing between. It's childish and seriously unwise.
@@IDontBuyIt50 You have it exactly backwards. The most important thing, always, is the values and qualities of people first, that is how we properly evaluate them. Then, what do they do for a living would be somewhere further down the line. Your silly cult of celebrity is somewhat shocking coming from an apparent adult. Your welcome! Now go ask your parents why they never taught you this lesson, it is very simple
@@mollkatless it's not a job and they don't work. They play a sport. They have fans. Do you often find yourself wandering down to the local grocery to cheer on the cashiers? Do u stop rooting for the store when u find out one of the stockers beats his wife? This point just means nothing.
@@IDontBuyIt50 How is it you manage to get everything exactly backwards, and precisely wrong? Larry Bird's job was to play the sport of basketball, he paid his bills with payroll checks from the Boston Celtics, does that make sense so far? This part will blow your mind, even though he has/had fans, he is person before he a basketball player, so yes, we judge him as a person first and foremost - your grocery store distraction makes zero sense, so I won't be risking a migraine trying to work it out
I know he does not care what other people thinks about him, that is o.k., but his BLOOD daughter has a void i n her life that only he can fill! He needs to put all past feelings and be a daddy? He said he could not replace all the lost years, that is not what his daughter wants,she just wants a father?
Seems like Larry Bird took out all of his resentment of his ex-wife on his daughter. Obviously the daughter has a heart of gold and deeply wants to bridge a relationship with a father who acts more like a mere DNA donor.
Divorces are hard, and the kid always suffers the most…Often times, it’s one or both of the parents that make it hard for the kid to see both parents. I think Larry missed out on an amazing, and talented young lady for whatever reason(s). Imagine how great of a student and player she could’ve been with his tutelage, yet he spent his energy on adopted kids, one that turned out to be “disturbed in the head”…..I hope they can make up for lost time, if they haven’t already. Never too late.
This is kind of dated. Harsh on his father and himself. His father committed suicide because the family would receive money from benefits after his death. The house Larry built for his mother was huge according to Magic who filmed the Converse commercial there. Bird supported his mom and a couple of his brothers. His first marriage had ended but they had tried to get back together and that is when Janet got pregnant. Bird doubted his paternity but years later it was proved by a paternity test. He paid support and his second wife always sent gifts for her birthday and Christmas. He paid support but had very little to do with her until she got older but she worked for the Indiana Pacers, the team he coached as an adult. Back in the late 70's and early 80's if your name wasn't on the birth certificate you had no visitation rights. Different states have their own laws but today you can't block someone from seeing their child like you could back then.
I think we need to be compassionate towards veterans. Obviously Larry Bird's father had some terrible experiences in Korea that affected him. I am a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. I have been watching Rambo and it is all the same. The veterans come home and try to fit in with society and it affects their families. Fortunately I don't drink any liquor. I respect Larry and I have been a huge fan for years.
I have been a huge Celtic/ Larry fan for 35 years. Heard about all this a few years ago and have now very little respect for Larry. Being a Father is light years more important than a basketballer.
I wrote a comment in this thread basically saying his energy was spent on adopted kids vs his biological….Even if that’s the case, it may not have been entirely his fault, as we weren’t in his household when his marriage fell apart. Sometimes even when we try to see our kids, it’s hard due to interferences from the other parent. I jus hope they can catch up successfully before one of them passes away, and regret/guilt sets in.
God bless Larry and his family. These poor people had extreme poverty and not just survive but thrive and a son becomes a Legend. What a story. I wouldn't judge Larry and I respect his decision to keep it private.
Seems someone always tries to tear down greatness. No one is a perfect example cause as humans we are imperfect. Matthew 7:5 First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
@@beachbunny7256 History has been the teacher of these things as far back as Aristotle. Average minds are always persecuting greatness in ruinous ways. But Time is the teacher of all these things. Aristotle WAS correct that the earth evolved around the sun, not vice versa and he also proclaimed the world was round.
Sad part is, had his biological daughter had him to help her. She probably could have become a very good basketball player herself. She was tall and athletic and had a love for the game. She still followed her dad even tho he gave her the cold shoulder. Its sad that two kids who have no biological significance to him. Got to experience something his own flesh and blood couldnt. Even tho she had tried! This is sad, and i regret looking into Larry Bird beyond the court...
Jackie McMullen, Bird's biographer, said she asked Bird why he wouldn't respond to people criticizing him for not talking to his daughter, calling him a deadbeat dad, etc. He said he doesn't care what others say about him because, "I know the truth." Speaking for myself, I refuse to pass judgement, because we really don't know (even if we did, it's still their business, despite the fact that his ex and daughter chose to make their side public). Nonetheless, I've seen a lot of others rush to judgement (which, again, Bird doesn't care about).
This seemed to be a story with really not much real information. So, this person really didn't know anything except the superficial stuff that we could all find out if we really wanted to, by reading. He constantly said things like, "not much is known ..." I like what Larry said himself. He doesn't care what anybody thinks because he knows the truth and he said that he will always be there for his daughter. I do wish they could form a closer relationship. They can build on the now because Larry is right, he can't relive the years already gone. But, basically, it is between them and not really anybody else's business.
@@jamesvee3736 Unfortunately, based on the comments that I've seen, a lot of people have been rushing to judgement. People need to worry about their own problems.
Larry was one of the NBA's greatest. It doesn't change the fact that he turned his back on his daughter. I have divorced friends that they despise their ex-wives but they were there for their kids.
Exactly. This is like Pele and boxers Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali and Jake LaMotta. I am a huge fan of them all, but let's think about it: Pele was 41 when he dated a 17-year-old girl (the now iconic singer Xuxa). Ali, LaMotta and Robinson were documented wife abusers. Larry bird was not a good father to his first daughter. Moreover, Carlos Monzon, another boxer, killed his common law wife and is still revered in Argentina. If these were regular men, Pele would be called a pedophile, Ali, Robinson and LaMotta would be called wife abusers, Bird would be called a bad father and Monzon a murderer. Why do they get free passes while others don't? I don't know but it's a double standard.
@@beachbunny7256 People make mistakes that is true. So have I. You still don't walk away from your children. Hopefully Larry is patching things up with his daughter.
Sad I'm a Larry fan because of sports but I don't think it is right for treating her that way.i wasn't a good father but good worker so I'm not the one to judge.
Doing some research, Corrie Bird is a wonderful person in spite of her father. What sort of man denies a child is his-even after a paternity test says otherwise-and snubs her, not even taking the time to write back to her even though she continued to attempt contact?! Steve Jobs, is that you?! What sort of woman doesn’t mind marrying and either giving birth to or adopting MORE children with such a speciman?! I’m leaving this thread now to go do something more useful, like 🤮
there is always a possibility there are things you dont know about , this type of reaction is not normal with out cause , I suspect its to do with the ex......but who knows
In other words, Larry Bird 🐦 raised other men’s children. Yet, he failed to raise his own child because he is angry with his daughter’s mother for leaving him. He views his daughter’s presence as a sign of failure (divorce) and not as a precious gift 💝 from God. How sad!
No you can't make up for the past, BUT, as a Dad you sure can give your daughter some new and sweet memories to make and look forward to. Don't waste any more precious time!!!
I love Bird the player and the man. But he really should embrace his daughter, no matter how uncomfortable it is. I have 2 daughters. Ones 20 and the others 15. I can't imagine life without them
Its difficult to truly know the details. But it does appear that Bird has committed an abortion of sorts. Possibly he has blamed the innocent and wanted nothing to do with the mother? It certainly would be a far greater story if he was for available and compassionate towards his biological daughter.
I can understand not wanting to have any type of relationship with your ex but Larry has failed miserably by neglecting his own daughter. That is not what a man does. A man takes care of his own. Very dissapointed in Larry.
So everyone should shut the hell up about the Great Legendary Mailman Karl Malone....Unless the standards are different for a black athlete compared to a white one.
Why on earth would his first wife go on Oprah and talk about their private business? To me that is hurting her own daughter right then and there. Just keep it private. Either talk to your former spouse in person or via a lawyer(s). But to go on TV. Why? What was the purpose? Am I missing something? Oh, Bird is still my all time favorite NBA player!
In 2000, I was at The Larry Bird Inn in Terre Haurte, Indiana and while eating in a lounge, this picture of Bird and his long nose was just staring me in the face. Scary 😣
There need to be laws put in place that allow 50-50 custody at all divorces unless there is a serious reason not to. We know that when people break up the kids usually go with the mom and they’re told the father doesn’t care. The father pays child support, has hundreds of calls that go unanswered and unreturned and children grow up, believing their fathers did not care about them when it’s simply not true
Larry said he knows the truth, sounds like mother put Larry down after he became famous. Like she shouldn't have left him. Larry is not that kind of man. My opinion, I like him.
Larry was a great player. But he should have talk to his daughter, he shouldn't have shut her out of his life. Especially when she was trying to reach out to him. Shame on you larry.
Larry was Indiana's best produced basketball talent skill wise.. .. George McGinnis , John Wooden, Damon Bailey , Sean Kemp, Oscar Robertson , Mike Conley, Greg Oden and all others were special in their eras but never better in all areas of the game than Larry Bird ! Only South Bend ,Indiana product and IU National Champion 6'10" Don Sclhundt could rival LARRY'S game as all around performer. .. Don could of been an NBA great with Wilt Chamberlain at the time but Don chose to make more money at the time for his family in the insurance business!!
Most of you don’t understand abject poverty in childhood and the lifelong scars it leaves. And that’s a great thing. But if you’ve ever made fun of a kid because they didn’t have nice things, I hope you feel shame, and are teaching your children better. There’s no excuse for Larry excluding his daughter for so long. But. I wasn’t there. Good luck to them on mending things.
Larry is the GOAT and there is no doubt about that. His moves were well ahead of the players of that time and are starting to be used now, although many, many years later. I watched a lot of Larry Bird, having been a student/athlete at Indiana State at the same time. Terre Haute was a special place back them, as there were many great athletes and it was a great atmosphere for sports. But , PLEASE learn to pronounce Terre Haute correctly before using it again in a video...
I'm just here to see how many people give Bird a pass because of who he is, when I guarantee none of them give Karl Malone a pass, or anyone else who has done the exact same thing.
You don't know the whole story any more than I do. Maybe his ex asked him to stay clear. Only they know. What's the point of airing anyone's private business, including Malone's? Bird and his biological daughter have seen each other in recent years, and he told her he would be there for her. I don't see you going after Nick Cannon for his irresponsible behavior or even Magic for the promiscuous lifestyle that caused him to contract HIV. Thank God he learned from his mistakes and is still with us.
My uncle went to indiana state with his daughter, her actually and I remember my uncle told me a story when he was in class and his professor was a huge Larry bird fan with Larry posters all over the classroom and all of a sudden a girl starts crying and says Larry bird is my dad and he was a terrible dad because he never talked to me and my mom had to work three jobs to send me here. Apparently allegedly Larry birds woman he had that daughter with didn’t want Larry soon after so Larry basically said if you leave me i won’t take care of you or our daughter.
I saw Birds' daughter and mother on Maury Pavich TV show. They talked vary badly about him. If you read his book "DRIVE", he described his girlfriend as not a nice person that tricked him into pregnancy. Her daughter seemed to have been influenced by her mother .....in a bad way.
You can be a poor husband but there is no excuse for not being a good Dad….Bird had access to the best attorneys, agents and financial advisors. The Celtics organization would have given him any support he needed. There is no excuse.
Absolutely sad, disappointing, and disrespectful to dishonor, and disown your flesh and blood!! These bone heads have unprotected sex, and think that they don’t have to take ownership!!
In my 60's what I have learned with families & all relationships is: Dysfunctional is the normal. I used to be dirt poor like Larry Bird was & when you are poor you often have to make hard choices. Example: When I was a kid our old dog got real sick & dad had to take it out back & shoot it because we could not afford a vet to put it down.
I have always been an LA Lakers fan and so the Boston Celtics and Larry Bird I never liked. Bird was very talented, but I never liked how he initiated fights with certain players (never the stars on the opposing team). In 1983 in an exhibition game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he needlessly started a fight with Marc Ivaroni. I am sorry his father committed suicide. He was given blessings in life - few people play in the NBA and even fewer at an All-Star level.
