re: ‘Winning Time: The Rise Of The Lakers Dynasty’ Now Playing on HBO

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don't think that's an assertion that you can make.

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I feel extremely comfortable saying that a comment made by an unnamed fictional person in the presence of a semi fictionalized version of Larry Bird in a TV show set 42 years ago will have zero impact on Larry Bird’s future endeavors.

Today is Wednesday the show aired Sunday. I have yet to see anyone outside of this thread talk about a “bombshell revelation” that Larry Bird is a racist. If it was so damaging that it would hurt him, that would have been out there by now.

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Some people will come away with the impression that Larry and his people are racists.

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Some people think the earth is ruled by lizard people. Some think all white people are racist anyway. You can’t fix stupid. No one with a brain will have their views of Bird changed. My guess the people that noticed it the most are like you guys in this thread that are always looking for the “woke” angle in everything anyway.

Please note I agree it was stupid unnecessary and the people behind the show have been playing up the race angle because that’s what 2020s Hollywood does, but it will not have an material impact on Bird, his legacy or his future endeavors.

ETA: the series finale had 1.6M viewers btwn HBO and streaming on HBO Max. So 99+% of the country didn’t see it and has no idea

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Now consider this, the scene had 3-4 people in it. All family.

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This is 100% assumption on your part. While it’s true the show is playing the race angle, especially with Magic/Bird to the hilt. no one in that scene except for Bird is identified. It’s all youngish dudes I think (only saw episode once) in IMDB they list 2 guys as French Lick Local #1 and #2. Not as Bird family members. It is almost certainly 100% fictional. I agree it’s stupid and gratuitous but it’s a minor throw away like that some of you are making way to much out of

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Bird look pretty bad even down to his physical appearance

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Have you ever seen Larry?

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The NBA announced this week the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award will be named for Larry Bird and the WC MVP award for Magic.

Strange move to name an award after Bird the same week he was outed as a racist due to a comment made by “French Lick Local #1” in his presence on S1.10 of “Winning Time” really damaging his future endeavors

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Now consider this, the scene had 3-4 people in it. All family. Which one of them stated that comment was made while watching the Finals?

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his dad was dead in real life at that point
and Bird hung out with the area blacks IRL.
so its fiction

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Oh that's better then. Instead of Bird's family being racist, he just hangs out with racists.

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Ya think living in rural Indiana in the 60s and 70s you would never hear a comment like that?

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Unlike you, it's highly unlikely most people looked into the credits to see who those people portrayed. Most viewers assumed they were family, sitting in his parent living room.

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I think most people did neither. You assumed it was family because it fits your narrative. Most people won’t think much about it. I noticed the remark and thought it was stupid but didn’t automatically think OMG Bird is a racist because someone in the same room said something that we now consider racist but was more common place in 1980. It actually shows how much progress has been made though clearly that is not the intent.

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What do you think the writers, director and producer had in mind when they put that fiction scene in?

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They’ve been playing the race angle especially with the Magic-Bird story line the whole series. But because the demand for racism by the woke far exceeds the supply in 2022 they make shite up.

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Downplay this all you want, but the insinuation is clearly there.

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The only thing I’m downplaying is the impact it will have on Bird in the future which is zero. other wise I agree with you it was stupid and completely unfair

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There's no need to look for anything woke because it's right there in your face, every time. Larry isn't now and never was a racist, implying that him and his family are is a shite thing to do.

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In the famous doc Courtship of Rivals they gloss over the race thing with Bird because it's manufactured...and was obviously pushed by the media and NBA to sell tickets...They called it East vs. West...but Magic vs. Bird was really sold as Black vs. White and everyone knew it...ESPECIALLY the black players and fans. They saw the Celtics as all white because Bird was the leader even though the Celtics had 3 black starters in Maxwell, Chief and DJ.

Bird got taunted with "the white savior" moniker by black NBA players coming up and Bird was so thick-skinned and driven that he said he enjoyed it. Because he knew they were using it as an insult and he used that as fuel for the fire.
Bird in the late 70's and early 80s when 95% of the NBA was black...he was burdened with the league putting the future on his shoulders and get them out of tape-delay Finals.

And well NBA TV exploded with Bird...but he shied away from that.

1. One that he ran away from being labeled "the great white savior" moniker.
2. That he grew up in the epicenter and home of the Klu Klux Klan.
3. Bird always gave deference to black players when he was coming up...saying "they're the best and I just hope to compete."
4. Said black basketball always treated him well and as a kid would let him play with the black adults on the playgrounds.

And they make a point of saying that Bird doesn't see race and doesn't care and doesn't give a rats arse what people think about him.

The only time I ever see Bird get in hot water was when he said the NBA needed more white superstars...and that brewhaha lasted about 2 days with David Stern condemning him...well, the NBA got more white superstars and the ratings went up.

Bird's a bottom-line guy...not a racist...as Magic called him a straight-shooter, he'll tell you if he doesn't like you.

Bird must have Teflon skin because he dealt with being labeled racist by black players simply because he was white...that's it.

He was white and black players resented the media attention...as Magic said, "you be jealous...because he was that good."

"You could say that most black players were RACIST...because we didn't believe a white player could play as well as us."

Even up to the late 80s (after Bird destroyed the Pistons again!) Rodman and Isiah called him overrated, "if he was black, he'd just be another good guy...he-he.") the losers that they were (also remember them not shaking Jordan's hand after they lost in the playoffs too.)

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Even up to the late 80s (after Bird destroyed the Pistons again!) Rodman and Isiah called him overrated, "if he was black, he'd just be another good guy...he-he.") the losers that they were (also remember them not shaking Jordan's hand after they lost in the playoffs too.)

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If you remember correctly, Isiah went to apologize to Bird and he said to call his mom because Isiah was her favorite player. Man was a legend

Just finished it. I still can’t believe how great season one was


The whole monkey comment with birds family for the finals was so random and so out of place. They just couldn’t help themselves

Sucks it’s just 7 episodes compared to 10 from season one. Looks like they are going from 1980-1984