Laimbeer Still Hates Bird

by Jeff Clark on Sep 18, 2008 10:29 PM EDT in Humor

I'll let Indy Cornrows set this up:

Nice to know there are some things we can still count on. In this NBA era where hugs and friendly banter among stars precede every big game, a couple of '80s rivals maintain a heavy disdain for one another to this day.
Bill Laimbeer, in Indy to coach the WNBA Detroit Shock, was on the air with 1070 The Fan's Eddie White and Bob Kravitz for an extended interview this afternoon.
In the middle of the interview, Larry Bird's name was brought into the conversation and it was obvious the two haven't mended any fences since fighting for the ultimate NBA prize throughout the late '80s.

Here's the part that sticks out the most:

Laimbeer: For a competitor like him and myself or Isiah or Magic Johnson - having a job, you can get a job anywhere. So why are you in the business? You're in the business to compete for the championship and if you're not able to compete for the championship, you can't get the job done, what are you doing there?
Kravitz: Sometimes guys who are rivals on the court, like Larry and Magic, they're pretty good friends they stay in touch. You don't have that relationship, you don't have A relationship with Larry is what I'm picking up on. Do you just not like him?
Laimbeer: I just don't care to.
Eddie: Why?
Kravitz: Does this go back to '87 or is this even pre-fight?
Laimbeer: Oh, we've never...we didn't grow up together. We've never hung out together and never been friend, so why would I want to go hang out with Larry Bird.

Yup, that sounds like Laimbeer. See the rest here.

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Where does Lambeer say he hates Bird. I just read that he did not grow up with him, never hung out with him and really does not care about him. Not caring isnt the same as hating; to me it means a lack of love; but why do you have to make more of it than what it is? Most players dont really care about most other players, specially when they grew up and never played together nor had their path crossing except as competitors. Why is the word “hate” so loosely used to creat controversy where there is none? I dislike Lambeer cause I watched him play against Bird. I know most people didnt like Lambeer and Im sure he loved to play the villain. But hate him? No, even when didnt grow up with him nor hung around with him. lolololololol

by Reyquila on Sep 18, 2008 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

Hey, even IF Laimbeer hates Bird, why should we care? I know Larry Legend’s a deity in Celtics lore, but come on. Laimbeer and Bird were at each other’s throats for much of the 1980s. I’ve got to respect a guy who gets so into the game that even a decade or two later he STILL hates the Celtics and Bird. If we had had more players like that on our team in the 90s, perhaps we would have won a few more.

It’s not like Laimbeer’s out sabotaging Bird. He just dislikes the guy. I think Bird’s a big enough man to handle that.

by BUTerrier on Sep 18, 2008 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

Funny how Laimbeer is from MA, but hated here. Isiah was from Chicago and is also hated there. Lebron will be hated in Ohio in less than 2 years.

by johnnyrondo on Sep 19, 2008 1:59 AM EDT reply actions

Boy, that video got me fired up this morning.
You need to work up a good hate, and a will to destroy your opponent.
Most of the time you leave that hate on the court, Lamebeer not so much.
Other exeptions; Isaiah, Rodman, Michael Cooper, Kobe.

by PistolPete on Sep 19, 2008 7:36 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder how Larry feels about Laimbeer. The good thing about those days is that the rules and refs let players get even when it needed to be done. Neither Larry nor Robert were thrown out of the games where they destroyed Laimbeer. I don’t like fighting in basketball for fear of injury to my guys, but there are times when someone needs a good punch in the face.

by TrueGreen on Sep 19, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions