We Reminisce: Larry Bird and Dr. J Fight In Boston
Every day The700Level.com runs a feature called “Today in Philly Sports History.” Today’s feature looks back at this date in 1984 when Dr. J and Larry Bird basically tried to kill each other at the Boston Garden.
The700Level sets the stage:
Boston was well on their way to winning the game when the bad blood started. Bird had put up a tremendous 42 points and seven rebounds by the fourth quarter, and supposedly took every opportunity to remind the Doctor of his running tally. The bad vibes–heightened, no doubt, by a near half-decade-long playoff rivalry that had blossomed between the two teams–grew until the two stars eventually came to blows, inciting a bench-clearing brawl in the process. Avowed Celtics fan Bill Simmons, who was at the game as a young’n, described the experience as being like watching a fight between Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
Both players were ejected for the reaminder of the fourth quarter. The Celtics won the game, 130-119, and they went on to be the dominant team in the rivalry for the rest of the decade, making three further finals appearances to the Sixers’ zero.
The height of the confrontation was captured in one of the most memorable sports photos ever taken.
Source: The700Level
November 9th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Kermit The Washington says:
Dr. J FTW
I’ve been losing respect for Larry Bird recently. I know he wasn’t the only jerk out there as far as the superstars of the time, but he always looked 20 years older than everybody else, and therefore should’ve known better.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Kermit The Washington says:
And these “Above The Rim” ads you guys have posted here have some of the sickest dunks ever done in the history of the world. TFB is NAAAAAASTY
November 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Dagomar says:
Kermit, so not only do you hate on Bird, but you like the ads that are absolutely saturating our screens now when we visit the site. I assume you’re a Wizards fan too. If so three strikes; you’re out.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
sh!tfaced says:
“…like watching a fight between Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.”
Hah! Almost sounds like borderline gay.
What happened after that pic then was when Barkley came over and pinned Bird’s arms behind his back so Dr J could a free shot.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Claw says:
Bird was telling the 76ers to get somebody else to guard because the old man couldn’t stop him. Bird was an All Time Trash Talker, but if you can back it up its all good.
Its not like DeShawn talking smack for the Wiz and he could be in the NBDL next week along with dude from Miami/Cleveland that was the self promoted best three point shooter. Was it Damon Jones?
November 9th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Ian says:
well an in his prime dr j would drop the same 42 back and dunk on the whole celts team
November 9th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Captain Jean Luc-Picard says:
Dr. J is black; Larry Bird is white: coincidence?
November 9th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
dagwaller says:
I like both of these players - it would’ve been an ugly fight.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Promoman says:
Dr. J & the 76ers were bitch-made in this instance. They had to jump Larry because Larry shut Dr. J’s ass down and dropped his own number on his ass too. It’s that much more of a bitch move by Dr. J & 76ers when you take into account that Larry was never a great 1 on 1 defender, unless the game was on the line.
November 10th, 2009 at 11:35 am
KnicksFan84 says:
Good ole days of the NBA. NBA is in sissy mode now.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
jditty says:
Anybody know of a good way to watch some of these games now? I hear so much about the Sixers squad from the 80’s but I haven’t actually seen them play a whole game. Youtube maybe?
November 11th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Chicagorilla says:
Isn’t this the one where one Philly dude grabs Bird, then Doc comes over and starts throwing Jabs while the other guy is holding Bird? That shit was funny as hell. The only time I seen a player get “jumped” in the NBA.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Kaya Mann says:
Bird wasn’t a great defender, but played with Hall of Fame Defensive players… Doc shoulda reminded Bird that he woulda put his “Nutz” in Birds mouth dunking on him 5 years prior!!!! Outta respect Bird shoulda shut his trap and just play - Karmas a Bit@h though - didn’t MJ put 63 on his Mighty Celtics 2 years later?????!!!
November 12th, 2009 at 2:23 am
EXPO336 says:
I LIKE DR.J….BUT TRUTH BE TOLD DON’T NOBODY ON THIS PAGE WANT NO PATRS OF A YOUNG LARRY LEGEND AT THE GYM…LOL