Mark Raftus

10 Things You Probably Never Knew About Larry Bird, Even If You Watched Him Play in the 1980s! Larry Bird once drove a garbage truck. He came one steal short of a quadruple-double and refused to chase it. And he once scored 47 points while playing mostly with his LEFT HAND. We all remember the three NBA championships, the legendary rivalry with Magic Johnson, and those unforgettable moments at Boston Garden. But behind Larry Legend's greatness are stories that reveal just how unique he really was. Here are 10 incredible facts every old-school NBA fan should know. 1. He left Indiana University after just 24 days. Bird struggled to adjust to college life in Bloomington and returned home to French Lick. Before eventually finding his way to Indiana State, he worked several jobs, including driving a garbage truck. 2. The Celtics drafted him a year before he entered the NBA. Boston selected Bird sixth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. But he stayed at Indiana State for his senior season, leaving the Celtics to wait until 1979 for their future superstar. 3. His rookie season transformed Boston almost overnight. The Celtics finished 29-53 before Bird arrived. In his rookie season, they went 61-21, improving by an incredible 32 wins. 4. He came one steal short of a quadruple-double and refused to chase it. On February 18, 1985, Bird recorded 30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 9 steals against Utah. With the game under control, he chose to stay on the bench rather than return to chase that final steal. 5. He scored 60 points, and even the opposing bench couldn't help reacting. Against the Atlanta Hawks in March 1985, Bird exploded for 60 points. His performance was so spectacular that even members of the opposing bench were caught celebrating some of his shots. 6. He scored 47 points while playing mostly with his LEFT HAND. On February 14, 1986, Bird decided to use his weaker left hand for much of the game against Portland. He finished with 47 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a 120-119 overtime victory. His explanation? He was saving his right hand for the Lakers. 7. He won three consecutive Three-Point Contests. Bird won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 1986, 1987 and 1988. In the 1988 final, he was still wearing his warm-up jacket when he took his final shot. He raised his finger before the ball even went through the net. 8. He scored 20 fourth-quarter points in an unforgettable Game 7 against Atlanta. Battling Dominique Wilkins in one of the greatest playoff duels ever, Bird took over the final quarter in 1988. Boston survived with a dramatic 118-116 victory. 9. He won Olympic gold despite a back injury that was ending his career. Bird joined the legendary 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona despite chronic back problems. The United States won gold, and Bird announced his retirement shortly afterward. 10. He achieved something no other NBA figure has matched. Larry Bird won NBA MVP as a player, Coach of the Year with the Indiana Pacers in 1998, and Executive of the Year in 2012. Three different roles. Three of basketball's highest individual honors. One Larry Bird. The championships, awards and statistics tell us how great he was. But these stories explain why Larry Legend remains one of the most unique figures in basketball history. There will never be another Larry Bird. 💚

It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically. Congresswoman Omar went on to graduate from college, work as a community organizer, become the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S., and win a seat in Congress. There, she has been one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics, which has led the president to repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country. Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen. Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case. Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve. In those cases, the prosecutions either stalled or were dismissed for having no basis in law, and the same is likely to happen in this case. But not before Congresswoman Omar’s life has been turned upside down, her legal bills have piled up, and she’s been forced to spend time fighting unsubstantiated charges instead of serving the people of Minnesota. The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.