Amazon.com Review Even without his masterful debut as coach of the 1997-1998 Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird's brilliant, gutsy career with the Boston Celtics--three NBA championship rings and a trio of Most Valuable Player trophies--cries out for celebration and reassessment. He was a dominant player, a thinking player who controlled the game as much with his leadership as his keen passing, tough "D," and the soft touch of his jumper. In Larry Legend, Shaw interweaves chapters of Bird's biography with chapters chronicling his Coach of the Year season to create a hybrid volume; rather than do both well, he does both adequately. Everything is here--Bird's French Lick, Indiana, childhood; why he left Bobby Knight and the Indiana University pressure cooker for lower profile Indiana State; the glory years with the Celtics; the rivalry with Magic Johnson; the back problems; and the ways he re-created the Pacers in his own court-burned image. The problem is presentation. As he jumps back and forth in time, Shaw impedes his own flow, a foul that Bird never committed. That's too bad, because Shaw is a capable reporter who loves his subject and does an otherwise admirable job of fleshing out the life of a man beneath the "Legend" of the title. --Jeff Silverman
Product Description When NBA superstar Lary Bird, one of the greatest players to ever perform in the NBA, decided to coach the Indiana Pacers, many wondered whether he could be successful. After all, Bird always gave 110% while many players simply went through the motions more interested in cashing a big paycheck. But Bird proved the naysayers wrong by leading the Pacers to the playoffs and a near upset of Michael Jordon's Chicago Bulls. Along the way, he showed that his work ethic could rub off on the players, and provide inspiration for them
Larry Legend is Larry Bird at his best both on the court and off. It also details his fabulous career from the streets of tiny French Lick, Indiana through Indiana State and on to fame with the Boston Celtics. Providing an inside look at Bird never presented before, this book is a collector's must.
Larry Legend is a prizewinner, a great sports book.October 18, 1999 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
What I like about Mark Shaw books is that he tells it like it is. Larry Legend not only portrays Larry Bird as a great basketball player but the author criticizes him re his coaching ability and also says he is a failure as a father to his only daughter. That gives a balanced look at Bird, one that I feel is important.
Shaw brilliantly captures why Bird is one of the greatest.January 8, 1999 Rachel M. Stenberg(New Jersey, USA) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Of all the books I read about Bird, Mark Shaw truly captures why he is one of the greatest minds in the game of basketball. The insights and interviews of the players who played against him and for him showed why he is revered not just by Celtic fans, but by basketball fans worldwide. If you are a basketball fan, this is a must have for your collection.
an inspiring bookFebruary 7, 1999 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
it was a great book. it shoiwed anyone can make it big. inspiring
By Mark ShawSeptember 13, 2000 as if it weren't popular enough, the author of this book is the step-father of Kent Harvey. The boy Knight (Coach Knight) grabbed and was the spark that lit the flame of his being fired as IU Coach.
I learned a lot more about Larry Bird than I realized.January 12, 2001 PaulB(Saskatoon, SK Canada) It was pretty indepth, and is a nice overview of his life from the time he was a legend in Indiana to coming full circle by coaching there. It also mentions his daughter, who has a distant relationship with his father. If you're a Bird fan, even if you're not, but you enjoy reading about basketball, this is worth the price. It paints a very balanced portrait of Bird. I like the fact that it isn't slanted one way or the other. It portrays the good and the bad. I'm a Bird fan, but I like objective journalism, which this seems to be. No schlock hero worship journalism here, nor is there any railing against him. Even though I like Bird, I will not condone his actions if they are perceived as wrong or controversial.
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