Larry Bird

Before the question could be finished, Jordan quickly responded, "Larry Bird."[Sports Illustrated, June 21, 2005]. In New York City, for example, there is the theatre district, the garment district, and districts with names like SoHo and TriBeCa. Michael Jordan, who may have supplanted Bird as the league's most feared clutch player through his heroics with the Chicago Bulls, once was asked who he would want to take a shot with the game on the line, other than himself. Many cities in the late 20th century adopted names for non-governmental districts as a way of increasing recognition and identity of these distinct areas. An Indiana farm boy who made it to the pros - he never flinched, and he was always clutch. School districts are the most common, but other types of districts include college districts, hospital districts, utility districts, irrigation districts, port districts, and public transit districts. Larry Bird embodied discipline in the NBA. The United States also has many types of special-purpose districts with limited powers of local government.

The following is merely a sample of the notable clutch efforts of Bird's career:. Districts in Alaska are the equivalent of a county or parish in the Lower 48 states. Few players before or since Bird have performed as brilliantly in critical moments of games. The District of Columbia is the only part of the United States, excluding territories, that is not a located within any of the fifty states. Above all, Bird is remembered as one of the foremost clutch performers in the history of the NBA. A constituency with a representative in a state legislature is a legislative district; the territory over which a federal court has jurisdiction is a federal judicial district. Unspectactular but effective defensive moves, such as jumping into a passing lane to make a steal or allowing his man to step past and drive to the hoop, then blocking the opponent's shot from behind, were staples of Bird's defensive game. Overall, there are 435 congressional districts in the United States; each has roughly 630,000 people, with some variance.

He was not fast or quick-footed, and rarely could shut down an individual player one-on-one, but Bird consistently displayed a knack for anticipating the moves of his opponent, thereby reacting to passes and creating turnovers. Only voters within each district are allowed to vote in the election for the member of the House from that district. Bird is also remembered as an excellent defender, as evidenced by his career 1,556 steals. Each state is organized into one or more such districts; the exact number within each state is based on the most recent census. Of the players of his era, only Johnson, and perhaps John Stockton, could execute the no-look or touch pass to a teammate as craftily and creatively as Bird. A constituency with a representative in Congress is a congressional district. In addition to his offensive proficiency, Bird made the simple task of passing the ball an artistic feat. There are several types of districts in the United States.

Former teammates of Bird frequently said that through his selfless play and leadership, Bird elevated their level of play. Districts are a form of local government in several countries. Throughout his career, Bird was a fierce competitor and outstanding team leader. Some provinces also contain sub-districts ("king amphoe"), which are smaller than the average district. His talent for recognizing the moves of opponents and teammates prompted his first coach with the Celtics, Bill Fitch, to nickname him "Kodak," because he seemed to formulate mental pictures of every play that took place on the court. A district ("amphoe") is a subdivision of a Province ("changwat") in Thailand. Despite having relatively few athletic advantages (other than his height, at 6'9"), Bird possessed an uncanny and unparalleled ability to anticipate and react to the strategies of his opponents. See Districts of Switzerland.

Bird's humble roots led to his most frequently used moniker, "The Hick From French Lick." More cynical or facetious observers called him "The Great White Hope." As a Caucasian superstar in a league dominated by African-American athletes, Bird undoubtedly stood out because of his race, but his skin color has little to do with his place in NBA history. In Switzerland some cantons organise themselves into districts, while others dispense with districts and govern themselves at the Wahlkreise (Constituency or electoral district) level. In 2003, he returned as the Pacers' President of Basketball Operations, where he oversees team personnel and coaching moves, as well as the team's draft selections. [3]. Bird resigned as Pacers coach shortly after the end of the 2000 season. and Kilinochchi 1,171 sq.km in the Northern Province, Batticaloa 2,463 sq.km, Trincomalee 2,616 sq.km and Ampara 2,984 sq.km in the Eastern Province, Kurunegala 4,771 sq.km and Puttalam 2,976 sq.km in the North Western Province, Anuradhapura 7,128 sq.km and Polonnaruwa 3,403 sq.km in the North Central Province, Badulla 2,818 sq.km and Moneragala 7,133 sq.km in the Uva Province, and Ratnapura 3,237 sq.km and Kegalle 1,663 sq.km in the Sabaragamuwa Province. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997-1998 season. The 25 Administrative Districts are Colombo 642 sq.km, Gampaha 1,393 sq.km and Kalutara 1,606 sq.km in the Western Province, Kandy 2,365 sq.km, Matale 1,987 sq.km and Nuwara Eliya 1,228 sq.km in the Central Province, Galle 1,673 sq.km, Matara 1,246 sq.km, and Hambantota 2,593 sq.km in the Southern Province, Jaffna 1,114 sq.km, Mannar 1,963 sq.km, Mullaitivu 1,580 sq.km, Vavuniya 2,642 sq.km.

Despite having no previous coaching experience, Bird led the Pacers to three straight Eastern Conference finals appearances and one trip to the NBA Finals in 2000. [2]. In 1997, Bird accepted the position of coach of the Indiana Pacers. (The Northern and Eastern Provinces, however, have been technically jointly administered since 1988.) The Provinces are subdivided into a total of 25 administrative Districts. The Celtics employed Bird as a special assistant in the team's front office from 1992 until 1997. For purposes of local government, the country of Sri Lanka is divided into 9 Provinces: Western, Central, Southern, Northern, Eastern, North Western, North Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa. Following Bird's departure, the Celtics promptly retired his number, '33'. See Districts of Serbia.

For his career, Bird shot 49.6 percent from the field, 88.6 percent from the free throw line and 37.6 percent from three-point range. In Serbia-Montenegro, Serbia is divided into 29 districts (okrug) and the city of Belgrade, each of which is further divided into municipalities (opština) while Montenegro is directly divided into 21 municipalities. He finished his career with averages of more than 24 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists per game. In Scotland local government districts were use from 1975 to 1996. Following his Olympic experience, on August 18, 1992, Bird announced his retirement as an NBA player. Main article: Regions and districts of Scotland. The "Dream Team" easily won the men's basketball gold medal. See Districts of Portugal.

It was the first time in America's Olympic history that the country sent professional basketball players to compete. They do not have an elected government; they are governed by a "civil governor" appointed by the central government. In the summer of 1992, Bird joined Johnson, Michael Jordan and other NBA stars to play for the United States basketball team in that year's Olympics. Districts (Portuguese: distritos) are administrative divisions of Portugal. Bird led the Celtics to playoff appearances in each of those three seasons. See: Districts of Peru. He averaged over 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists a game in his last three seasons with the Celtics, and shot better than 45 percent from the field in each. Third level subdivisions of Peru.

Nonetheless, through the final years of his career, Bird maintained his status as one of the premier players in the game. A district is not always a simple division of a region, some districts straddle regional boundaries. He returned to the Celtics in 1989, but debilitating back problems and an aging Celtic roster prevented him from regaining his mid-1980's form. The Chatham Islands Territory is neither a district nor a city. Bird started the 1988-89 season with Boston, but ended his season after six games to have bone spurs surgically removed from both of his heels. While cities and districts are generally considered to be two different types of territorial authority, the area covered by a city is often known as its district—for example the term district plan is used equally in districts and cities. In 1988, the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in four years, losing to the Pistons in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals. Districts tend to be less urbanised, tend to cover more than one population centre and a larger amount of rural area, and tend to have a smaller population than cities.

Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony in 1992 and emotionally described Bird as a "friend forever.". In New Zealand a district is a territorial authority (second-tier local government unit) that has not gained the distinction of being proclaimed a city. Somewhat ironically, their relationship blossomed when the two players worked together to film the 1984 Converse commercial, which depicted them as archenemies. Main article: Territorial Authorities of New Zealand. Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Bird and Johnson became friends off the court. The districts of Nauru are the only subdivisions of the whole state. In fact, their playing styles were not that dissimilar; both relied on knowledge of the game more than pure athletic ability. In Malaysia, a district is a division of a state.

In the commercial, Bird is practicing alone on a rural basketball court when Johnson pulls up in a sleek limousine and challenges him to a one-on-one match. In Kenya, a district (Wilaya) is a subdivision of a Province and is headed by a District Officer (DO). A 1984 Converse commercial for its "Weapon" line of basketball shoes (endorsed by both Bird and Johnson) reflected the perceived dichotomy between the two players. District is also a translation for chiku defined by Japan's planning law. The apparent contrast between the two players and their respective teams seemed scripted for television: Bird, the introverted small-town hero with the blue-collar work ethic, fit perfectly with the throwback, hard-nosed style of the Celtics, while the stylish, gregarious Johnson ran the Lakers' fast-paced "Showtime" offense amidst the bright lights and celebrities of Los Angeles. In 1923, its administrative role was abolished although it is still in use for addressing purposes. Not since Boston's Bill Russell squared off against the Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain had professional basketball enjoyed such a marquee matchup. See districts of Japan for more complete discription.

The historical rift between the teams, who faced each other several times in championship series of the 1960s, fueled fan interest in the rivalry. A district (gun in Japanese) is a local administrative unit comprising towns and villages but not cities. Throughout the 1980s, contests between the Celtics and the Lakers--both during the regular season and in the Finals--attracted enormous television audiences. As of October 2005, a total of 602 Districts are defined in India. During the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals. An intermediate level (the Sub-Division) between District and tehsil/taluka may be formed by grouping these units under the oversight of Assistant Commissioners. Between themselves, Bird and Johnson captured eight NBA championships during the 1980s, with Magic getting five and Bird three. These units have specific local responsibilities, including in particular coordinating revenue collection.

Johnson's Lakers would ultimately win the Finals again in 1988. Districts are most frequently further sub-divided into smaller administrative units, called either tehsils or talukas, depending on the region. In 1987, the Celtics made their last Finals appearance of Bird's career, fighting through difficult series against the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons before losing to the Lakers in six games. The roles of Deputy Commissioner and District Collector may be combined. He also won his third consecutive league MVP award. Other key responsibilities include the collection of revenue, and for the Judiciary of the district and sessional courts. Bird again was named the Finals' MVP for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game for the series. The district collector is a person who belongs to IAS (Indian Administrative Services).

The 1986 Celtic team, which finished the regular season 67-15 and defeated the Rockets in six games, is generally considered to be the best of Bird's career. The office of District Collector is also defined, who is the local controller of the district-level administrative staff officers (i.e., the "Public Service") of all the local departments under state government. Boston would return to the Finals in 1986, albeit not against Johnson and the Lakers, who lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Houston Rockets. A District is headed by a Deputy Commissioner in most cases, responsible for the overall administration and the maintenance of law and order. That year, the NBA again named Bird the league MVP. Where warranted, Districts may further be grouped into administrative Divisions, which form an intermediate level between the District and the subnational State (or union territory). In 1985, however, the Lakers avenged the loss, defeating the Celtics in game 6 of the Finals in Boston Garden. They generally form the tier of local government immediately below that of India's subnational States and Territories.

Bird was also named the league regular season MVP for that year. India's districts are local administrative units inherited from the British Raj. Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the award of Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). The councils have a constitutional requirement to be comprised of a minimum of 33% women, there is no upper limit to that; so women can comprise 100% of these councils but men cannot. In 1984, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game Finals, winning game seven 111-102. The District Nazim heads an elected District Council which is comprised to councilors, who represent various district level constituencies. Magic, quickly became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional sports. A District is headed by a District Nazim (Mayor), who is an elected official and the local controller of the district level officers of all the departments under provincial government.

Celtics, and specifically Bird vs. They comprise of villages, towns and cities. Lakers vs. Pakistan has 130 districts (including 7 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir). Bird and Johnson first dueled in the 1979 NCAA title game; as professional basketball players, they would face off numerous times during the 1980's, including the NBA Finals of 1984, 1985 and 1987. Districts were generally grouped into administrative Divisions, which in turn formed Provinces. Immediately upon their entry into the league, the two players became virtually annual presences in the NBA Finals; Bird's Celtics won the NBA title in 1981, while Johnson's Lakers captured the championship in 1980 and 1982. Pakistan's districts are local administrative units inherited from the British Raj.

The additions of Bird and Johnson rejuvenated the NBA, which had suffered from low attendance and minimal television interest through much of the 1970s. See also Districts of Hong Kong. It would be the first of three championships for Bird's career, as well as the first of his five Finals appearances. Hong Kong is divided into 18 districts, each with a district council. In the 1980-81 season, Bird led the Celtics past the 76ers to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Houston Rockets in six games. It also raises income from business through the Non-Domestic Rates system, which is co-ordinated nationally. In Bird's first few seasons with the Celtics, his and their immediate rivals were Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom they would battle each year in the Eastern Conference finals. Each district raises taxes from residents on behalf of itself, and the upper tier authority through the Council Tax.

The three would anchor the Celtics throughout Bird's career. Districts tend to have responsibility for a number of areas including:. With Bird at small forward, the additions of Parish and McHale gave Boston one of the more formidable frontcourts in the game. For those areas which retain two-tier local government, districts usually form the lower tier of that arrangement, with counties forming the upper tier. Following the 1979-80 season, the Celtics acquired center Robert Parish and the draft rights to power forward Kevin McHale via a trade with the Golden State Warriors. Districts are the most recognisable form of local government in large parts of England. For the 1979 season, Bird led the Celtics in scoring (21.3 points/game), rebounding (10.4 rebounds/game), steals (143), and minutes played (2,955) and was second in assists (4.5 assists/game) and three-pointers (58). Main article: Districts of England.

Despite a strong rookie season from Johnson, Bird was named the league's 1979 Rookie of the Year and was voted onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team (an honor he would receive for each of his 12 full seasons in the NBA). The xian is translated as "county" in the context of modern China. Bird's collegiate rival, Magic Johnson, also had entered the NBA in 1979, joining the Los Angeles Lakers. In the context of pre-modern China, the English translation "district" is typically associated with xian, another Chinese administrative division. The Celtics were 32-50 during the 1978-79 season, but with Bird the team improved to 61-21 in 1979-80, winning the league's Atlantic Division. Modern districts are a recent innovation. Bird's impact on the Celtics was immediate. Districts have county level status.

Shortly before that deadline, Bird agreed to sign with Boston for a USD$650,000 a year contract, making him the highest-paid rookie in the history of the NBA. In China, the district or qū (市辖区, pinyin: shì xiá qū) is a subdivision of any of various city administrative units, including municipalities, sub-provincial cities and prefecture-level cities. Bird ultimately decided to stay another year at Indiana State, but the Celtics retained their exclusive right to sign him until the 1979 NBA Draft. Gradually, these districts became separate territories (such as Yukon Territory, separate provinces (such as Alberta and Saskatchewan) or were absorbed into other provinces. The Boston Celtics selected Bird as their first-round draft pick in 1978, even though they were uncertain whether he would play his senior season at Indiana State or enter the NBA. The first district created was the District of Keewatin in 1876 followed by four more districts in 1882. After playing only three years at Indiana State, he left as the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history. In western and northern Canada, the federal government created districts as subdivisions of the Northwest Territories 1870-1905, partly on the model of the districts created in the Province of Canada.

That year, Bird won the Naismith and Wooden Awards, given to the year's top male college basketball player. The boundaries of a federal census division may correspond to those of a district. He carried the ISU Sycamores to the NCAA championship game in 1979, his senior season, only to lose to the Michigan State University Spartans, who were led by his future NBA rival, Magic Johnson. Some districts may have District Social Service Administration Boards, which are designed to provide certain social services. After briefly attending a local community college and working numerous odd jobs around the town (including a stint as a garbage man), Bird enrolled at Indiana State University, where he was coached by Bob King. Marie). However, Bird--homesick, short on money and overwhelmed by the size and population of the university--left the school after one month and returned to French Lick. Sault Ste.

At the time, Indiana was one of the premier college basketball programs in the country, coached by esteemed head coach Bobby Knight. The current Ontario districts such as Algoma and Nipissing were first created by the Province of Canada in 1858 prior to Confederation for the delivery of judicial and provincial government services to sparsely populated areas from the district seat (e.g. Bird received a basketball scholarship with Indiana University in 1975. Districts continued to operation until 1849 when they were replaced by counties by the Province of Canada. He starred for the area high school team, Springs Valley High School, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. Orginally present-day Southern Ontario (then part of the Province of Quebec and after 1791, Upper Canada) was divided into districts in 1788[1]. In spite of his domestic woes, by the time he was a high-school sophomore, Bird had become one of the better basketball players in French Lick. Most districts are comprised of unincorporated lands, mostly Crown land.

In 1975, after Bird's parents divorced, his father committed suicide. In Ontario, a district is a statutory subdivision of the province, but, unlike a county, a district is not incorporated. The Bird family's struggle with poverty was compounded by the alcoholism and personal difficulties of Joe Bird. The Belgian city of Antwerp is sub-divided into 9 districts (Dutch: districten). Being poor as a child, Bird told Sports Illustrated, "motivates me to this day."[2]. concerning matters of traffic. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first."[1] Bird sometimes was sent to live with his grandmother due to the family's struggles. In practice, they have some power, e.g.

In a 1988 interview with Sports Illustrated, Bird recalled how his mother would make do on the family's meager earnings: "If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. Those representative bodies are supposed to serve as immediate contacts for the locals on the political and administrative level. Financial troubles would plague the Bird family for most of Larry's childhood. However, representatives (Bezirksräte) on the district level are elected, and they in turn elect the head of the district, the Bezirksvorsteher. He grew up in both West Baden and the adjacent town French Lick. Legally, the Magistratisches Bezirksamt (district office) is a local offices of the municipality's administration. Bird was born in West Baden Springs, Indiana, the son of Georgia and Joe Bird. The State of Vienna, which is at the same time a municipality, is also subdivided in 23 districts, which, however, have a somewhat different function than in the rest of the country.

. Main article: Districts of Vienna. In 2003, he assumed the role of president of basketball operations for the Pacers, a position he still holds. These urban districts do have the same tasks as a normal district. After working as an assistant in the Celtics front office from 1992 to 1997, Bird was the head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. They are called Statutarstadt in Austrian administrative law. He retired as a player from the NBA in 1992. There are also independent cities in Austria.

Drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird played small forward for the team for his entire 13-year career. Officials on the district level are not elected, but appointed by the state government. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. While there are matters of administrative law of which the municipalities themselves are in charge or where there are special bodies, the district is the basic unit of general administration in Austria. Bird is generally considered to be one of the best players in NBA history. It is in charge of the administration of all matters of federal and state administrative law and subject to orders from the higher instances, usually the Landeshauptmann (governor) in matters of federal law and the Landesregierung (state government) in state law. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is a former NBA basketball player. The administrative office of a district, the Bezirkshauptmannschaft is headed by the Bezirkshauptmann.

The shot went in, winning the competition 17-15 and capturing Bird's third-straight shootout title. Bird raises his arm in anticipation after firing the winning shot of the 1988 Three Point Contest . In Austria, a district is an administrative subdivision normally encompassing several municipalities, roughly equivalent to the Landkreis in Germany. After Bird shot the last ball in the rack, he raised his arm and index finger as the ball was halfway to the rim, and walked away. Main article: Districts of Austria. He did so. . Bird started slowly, then ran off a series of makes, needing to hit his final three shots to beat Ellis. Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries.

Ellis went first and scored 15 points. See Subdivisions of East Germany. In the 1988 All-Star Game Three Point Contest, Bird--the winner of the event in both years since its creation in 1986--faced Seattle Supersonics guard Dale Ellis in the final round of the competition. District was also the name of administrative subdivisions of the German Democratic Republic since 1952. Despite a concussion and a resultant severe headache, Bird scored 32 points on 12 for 19 shooting, leading Boston to victory for the game and the series. In some states, there is additional level of administration between the Länder and the Landkreise called Regierungsbezirk ('government district'). A hushed Garden crowd watched as Bird was escorted to the locker room, then erupted in the third quarter as Bird dramatically came up the ramp to the court and rejoined his teammates. See also: Districts of Germany.

In the second quarter of game 5 of the Celtics' 1991 first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Bird slipped and fell, crashing face-first onto the Boston Garden floor. 116 larger cities (usually with more than 100,000 inhabitants) do not belong to a district are considered as urban districts ("Kreisfreie Städte" or "Stadtkreise") themselves. Bird had previously guaranteed to reporters that Boston would not lose the game; his fourth-quarter performance delivered his promise. Most of the 439 German districts are "Landkreise", rural districts. Bird outdueled the Hawks' Dominique Wilkins, who scored 47 points in that game. In Germany, a district ("Kreis") is an administrative unit between the "Länder" (German federal states) and the local / municipal levels (Gemeinden). In game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Bird shot 9 of 10 in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in that quarter alone and lifting the Celtics to a narrow series-clinching victory over Atlanta. Environmental Health.

The shot was on line, but glanced off the rim and missed as time expired. Arts & Entertainment. With only a few seconds remaining, he recieved the ball behind the three-point line and fired again. Planning. Magic Johnson would regain the lead for the Lakers with a clutch shot of his own, but Bird had one final chance to win the game. Housing. In game 4 of the 1987 Finals against the Lakers, Bird fought off defender James Worthy, got the ball, turned and hit a three-point shot with less than a minute remaining to give the Celtics the lead. Refuse collection.

Instead, after losing in Detroit, Boston won game 7 and advanced to the Finals. Leisure Services. The dramatic play--known simply to Boston fans as "The Steal"--saved the series for the Celtics, who, had they lost game 5, would have had to win game 6 in Detroit (where they were winless in the series) to force a decisive seventh game. tax collection (Council Tax & Non-Domestic Rates). With the clock ticking down and with his momentum carrying him out of bounds, Bird turned and fired the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a layup with 2 seconds left to win the game for Boston. In game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107-106, Bird stole an inbound pass from Isiah Thomas intended for Bill Laimbeer.

In the clinching game 6 of the 1986 Finals, Bird recorded a triple-double (the basketball term for double-digit numbers in three categories) of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. In the late stages of this game 7 Bird also had two key steals, two free throws made, a rebound, and blocked a shot. That basket won Boston the game and the series and they would go on to win the NBA championship in the Finals. In game 7 of the 1981 Eastern Conference finals against the rival Philadelphia 76ers, Boston was behind by one in the last minute when Bird sank a fast-break mid-range pull-up bank shot, a very difficult shot to execute under intense pressure.