“Yeah, at the end of the bulls bench,” was Larry Bird’s scathing response when asked where 3-PT Contest winner Craig Hodges could be found.
Although Larry Bird is renowned for his skill on the floor, the Boston Celtics legend also possessed a side to his game that infuriated every opponent. It is still recognized today that he was one of the best trash talkers in the NBA.
When Bird had to compete, especially in 3-point competitions, he had that game. He said something in 1988 that will stick in your memory. When Bird arrived at Chicago Stadium in 1988 to defend his back-to-back three-point titles, he immediately turned to face his rivals and questioned, “So, who’s coming in second?” He did, in the end, emerge victorious, with Dale Ellis placing second.
When Craig Hodges won the competition by taking advantage of Bird’s absence, he offered another memorable statement two years later. Naturally, he was boasting, and a reporter questioned him about if his win would be disregarded because he had avoided facing Bird, the previous three contestants’ champion.
Two years later, when Craig Hodges took advantage of Bird’s absence to win the competition, he made another unforgettable statement. He was bragging, of course, and was asked by a reporter if his victory would stand because he had avoided competing against Bird, the winner of the previous three contestants.
