Last week while in Terre Haute, Indiana, I figured no visit – no matter how short – was complete without checking out the statue of Hall of Famer Larry Bird.
In a small town with everything so close together, the stop was just two blocks out of my way.
Indiana State University, where Bird starred on the basketball team from 1976-79, erected a statue of him outside the south end of its basketball arena, the Hulman Center, on Nov. 7, 2013. Bird was on hand for the dedication.
This was my first time seeing the statue and first time back in Terre Haute in probably a decade, since swinging through for Colts training camp.
Bird, who could’ve played ball anywhere (he started at Indiana University and then transferred), is beloved in town — as I expected. After all, he single-handedly led them to the 1979 NCAA Title game against Magic Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans. In one of the most memorable and most watched college basketball games in history, the Spartans captured the championship, 75–64.
The year prior to that showdown, Bird was drafted No. 1 in the 1978 draft by the Boston Celtics. (Ever heard of the NBA’s Bird Rights?)
Anyways, back to the statue, which was completed by local artist Bill Wolfe. It stands 17 feet 1 and 1/8 inches tall; that’s more than five feet taller than Johnson’s statue. Expect anything different?
Below is a photo gallery of the statue:
