Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Justin Quinn

Robert Parish on why he did not intervene in famous Larry Bird – Dr. J fight

In the infamous fight between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984, an ubiquitous lack of backup of Celtics legend Larry Bird when he got into it a fight with Sixers star Julius “Dr. J” Irving by Boston teammate Robert Parish may have puzzled some fans.

Speaking in an interview with famed Celtics reporter Jackie MacMullan via Basketball Network’s Yakshpat Bhargava, Chief said that Larry legend deserved what came to him. “Larry earned that,” said Parish. “He earned it from his words. No question about it. And that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t do anything about it, even though Moses (Malone) was holding Larry back.”

“Because some things Jackie you just don’t say to the other person in the heat of the moment and I felt like Larry crossed the line,” he added. “And then when Moses did not throw a punch, that’s why I did not intervene.”

“We all know Larry is legendary at trash-talking,” recounted Parish. “Oh, man, the trash-talking. Oh my goodness. I would’ve threw a punch if it was me.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.