Boston Celtics fans were scratching their collective heads today as they tried to grapple with Larry Bird’s sudden and highly-unusual foray into politics in the NBA when they encountered a quote from the Celtic great criticizing NBA players for their pro-racial justice protests Sunday.
Only, Bird never said the words in the quote in the first place.
The words in question probably should have tipped fans off they weren’t the Hick from French Lick’s simply due to the critique of flashy players therein — as if Bird wasn’t one of the game’s flashiest in his prime.
“Back in my day, the game had fundamentals and honored the commander in chief,” began the bogus quote.
For all the @GOP @POTUS @realDonaldTrump trolls — THIS. IS. A. FAKE. LARRY BIRD. QUOTE!#larrybird NEVER. SAID. THIS!
As @GlobeChadFinn said, "Bigots don’t get to co-opt Larry by wish-casting what they’d hope he’d say.” pic.twitter.com/wk9RDlshye
— Michelle Bonner (@MichBonner) August 30, 2020
“Now it’s a bunch of radical fundamentalists who dishonor the flag and cross,” if continued. “They only care about looking flashy! Shut up and play the damn game.”
The quote, despite its false origin, was circulated widely before it was caught out as fake, with Carlos Diaz of Indiana television station WTHR confirming the quote as a total fabrication.
