“I couldn’t even get a shot off… started checking me really hard” - When Larry Bird torched a member of the Grateful Dead

Larry Bird ’s competitive spirit knew no boundaries, whether he was playing against the reigning MVP in the Finals, a depleted team in the pre-season, or an amateur player in practice. Legendary drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead experienced this firsthand when the three-time MVP refused to let him take a single shot in a 1-on-1 matchup just before his concert.

Bird didn't want to show mercy

The day after their performance in Worcester, the band joined the Boston Celtics at their facility. Despite having another show scheduled the next night, drummer Mickey Hart was eager to test his basketball skills. Sensing a challenge at his disposal, Bird stepped up.

And while one would anticipate the two-time Finals MVP to take things lightly, he upped the ante and showcased Hart why he should stay away from the court.

"It was humiliating to say the least. Larry comes straight toward me and he says to me, 'Walton tells me that you want to see how good I really am.' Larry passes the ball right at me like a rocket. I was 15 feet away. I grabbed it and thought at the very moment, 'This is not a good thing,'" Hart said . "He pulls me onto the court and says, 'Me and you.' I couldn’t even get a shot off."

Larry Legend’s refusal to back down forced Hart to caution the Celtics forward against playing too aggressively and that he had a show to perform in, the next day.

Larry was a fan of Grateful Dead because of Bill Walton

Bill Walton’s greatest passions were basketball and music, particularly his love for the Grateful Dead. Being obsessed with the band since witnessing them perform for the first time in 1967, at the age of 15, Walton became one of the most famous ‘Deadheads’ in the world.

Moreover, upon joining the Celtics, Big Red made it his mission to introduce his teammates to the world of the Dead. The 1978 MVP adorned the locker room at the practice facility in Hellenic College with stickers promoting the band.

On November 4th, the Celtics players gathered at Bird’s residence, from where they went to attend the Grateful Dead’s concert in Worcester. While the players met the band before the show, the Hick From The French Lick was hooked by the band from that point on to the extent that he even labeled Jerry Garcia as the ‘Michael Jordan of musicians.’

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