Larry Bird tells it like it is [calls deflategate 'a bunch of lying']

AzorianPats said:

Kravitz going after both Brady and Bird. There's no way he's ever allowed in New England again..

Here's hoping Kravitz gets what Jaime Collins has x10 + explosive diarrhea!

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I got to spend a few minutes with with my daughter's school principal once because of her response to this question:

Teacher: "If you could have one superpower, what would it be, and why?"

Daughter: "I'd want to be able to make people poop in their pants, because I wouldn't ever get caught and there are a lot of people that really bother me."

While I was always the first to hold her accountable when she deserved it, in this case, my response to the principal was, "And the problem with this is exactly what?" When he begrudgingly acknowledged the creativity of it, I pointed out that of all people, right then, he should be glad she didn't have that power.

YOUGOTMOSSED said:

"it’s another thing to have your integrity questioned . . . I take that quite seriously.”

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So does Tom Brady, jackwagon.

Isn't it funny how scumbags get all defensive when their integrity is questioned?

To paraphrase Tyrion, we're not questioning your integrity, we're denying it's existence.

RE: Larry Bird, like many, I never fully appreciated what we had when he was here. But I watched every game. He was driven and clutch. He was "Brady" 20 years before Brady!

I can't help but think of the great relationship Auerbach and Belichick would very likely share if Red was still with us right now. And imagine the majority of the Boston Sports media suffering as a result.

bresna said:

While this is an excellent post, you make one of the same mistakes as everyone else - you forget to mention that all the analysis is based on an *assumption* that all 12 of the Patriots' footballs were exactly at 12.5 psi. Having watched the SI video of how the refs "check" the air pressure, I can assure you, it's FAR from a fair assumption.

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yes, there are many more sources of error, and some were just guessed at, like

-actual temperature in the ref's room before the game (we take a guess)
-actual temperature in the ref's room at halftime (we take a guess)
-actual starting pressure readings (we trust the ref)
-certainty as to what gauge was used pre-game (we can choose to trust the ref, or not!)
-actual temperature on the field (we take a guess)
-temperature effects that are due to bagging or not bagging the footballs (we assume it doesn't matter)
-differences in ball wetness, depending on when they were used & how they were stored (we assume it doesn't matter, but it probably does!)
-variability in gauge readings, if used more than once on the same ball by the same person (too many people assume that doesn't matter, but it definitely does!)

Taking all of these into account, the "error bar" associated with each piece of data is substantially larger than the amount of deviation that anyone claims to exist.

It's just hard to distill all such points into a short and sweet argument that morons like Kravitz can (hopefully) grasp!

the only thing Blob grasps are the hemorrhoidal handles inside Irsay's anus.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

yes, there are many more sources of error, and some were just guessed at, like

-actual temperature in the ref's room before the game (we take a guess)
(deleted numerous good examples)
-variability in gauge readings, if used more than once on the same ball by the same person (too many people assume that doesn't matter, but it definitely does!)

Taking all of these into account, the "error bar" associated with each piece of data is substantially larger than the amount of deviation that anyone claims to exist.

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I attempted to make that point repeatedly in the Deflategate forum.
Especially given the uncertainty (ref memory) in the starting pressures...
The error bars overwhelmed the data points.

But the issue was never about science.
It started as an attempt to finally throw BB out of the NFL club.
Morphed into a defenestration of the Patriots org (stripping away significant draft picks)
Then into a jihad against TFB
and when it got out of control (the legal system coming into play) it morphed into owners' power vs NFLPA

IcyPatriot said:

Here's a great article on Larry Bird ....
If he played in this era I wonder how the social media would work for or against him?

33 Incredible Larry Bird Trash Talk Stories That Prove Why He's The Best Trash Talker of All Time! - Viral Hoops

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The most amazing thing about Bird was that no matter what his shooting % was for the game, and no matter who was guarding him, when it came to a shot being a must make at the end, he always made it. I honestly can't think of a time that he didn't. I'm sure there must be one, but I don't recall it.

I love Larry Bird. He was the first sports icon I ever was really aware of. I only really remember watching the 86 title run but I have clear memories of many Bird moments. I think I wore out our VHS copy of Larry Bird: a Basketball Legend and I remember buying my dad a book about his life and then just reading it myself.

1960Pats said:

The most amazing thing about Bird was that no matter what his shooting % was for the game, and no matter who was guarding him, when it came to a shot being a must make at the end, he always made it. I honestly can't think of a time that he didn't. I'm sure there must be one, but I don't recall it.

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game 4 of the finals against the lakers in 87 with 0.2 left on the clock deep in the corner with james worthy in his shorts. bird back rimmed it falling away. magic hit a baby hook over McHale the play before.
go to the 7.50 mark of the video. he almost made the shot to. would have been one for the ages.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

yes, there are many more sources of error, and some were just guessed at, like

-actual temperature in the ref's room before the game (we take a guess)
-actual temperature in the ref's room at halftime (we take a guess)
-actual starting pressure readings (we trust the ref)
-certainty as to what gauge was used pre-game (we can choose to trust the ref, or not!)
-actual temperature on the field (we take a guess)
-temperature effects that are due to bagging or not bagging the footballs (we assume it doesn't matter)
-differences in ball wetness, depending on when they were used & how they were stored (we assume it doesn't matter, but it probably does!)
-variability in gauge readings, if used more than once on the same ball by the same person (too many people assume that doesn't matter, but it definitely does!)

Taking all of these into account, the "error bar" associated with each piece of data is substantially larger than the amount of deviation that anyone claims to exist.

It's just hard to distill all such points into a short and sweet argument that morons like Kravitz can (hopefully) grasp!

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Outstanding summary list of error-sources, but you forgot one:

-differences in balls that were actually played with (more squishing by 300lb men) versus those stayed in bag and associated differential: the pats time of possession versus dolts balls time of possession.

Anybody who still SAYS they think something shady happened after reading above is either knowingly lying to promote an agenda (bring down pats, get klicks, protection self from having to admit being wrong/fooled) or simply a dumb-azz illiterate. Kravitz seems the liar type in this case, but i wouldnt exclude the 2d in a general explanation for most of his written drivel.

Reckedtrek said:

RE: Larry Bird, like many, I never fully appreciated what we had when he was here. But I watched every game. He was driven and clutch. He was "Brady" 20 years before Brady!

I can't help but think of the great relationship Auerbach and Belichick would very likely share if Red was still with us right now. And imagine the majority of the Boston Sports media suffering as a result.

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I remember a quote from a Shaughnessy column about Belichick a couple of years ago re: BB:"Red would have loved this guy." Actually, it may have been CHB's only cogent observation in the last 30 years...

Bella*chick said:

I love Larry Bird. He was the first sports icon I ever was really aware of. I only really remember watching the 86 title run but I have clear memories of many Bird moments. I think I wore out our VHS copy of Larry Bird: a Basketball Legend and I remember buying my dad a book about his life and then just reading it myself.

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My basketball playing son (thank goodness he didn't pick up hockey skates) was a little late for the Bird era and was brainwashed by the media into being a Jordan fan. Then I told him about Bird and showed him that same video. He came to his senses after that.

patfanken said:

Kravitz really must be insane. HE's calling out Bird for not knowing anything about "deflategate". yet I just read that HE is still standing by the Mort Report.

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Kravitz can only abide by his opinion. Last week, when writing about the Colts lying about Andrew Luck's rib injury, he announced that it wasn't a scandal, a "-gate" can't be attached to it. It's okay for him to start a baseless scandal about another team, but no one can do that to the team in his town.

Also, consider what he wrote very early about the fake deflation story:

Honestly, when I spoke to my source for the story, I originally thought it sounded outlandish, far-fetched. And then, like a thunderbolt of enlightenment, it occurred to me:

Bill Belichick. Of course. The brilliant, Machiavellian mastermind of the Patriot Empire....So the Patriots don't get the benefit of the doubt.

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Compare that to what Larry Bird had to say:

I thought it was a bunch of lying, if you want to know the truth. That’s something [Bob] Kravitz came up with, and I never believed any of it.”

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They're both using the same reasoning. Kravitz believes in deflategate because he is suspicious of Belichick. Bird believes the story is fake because he thinks Kravitz is generally full of crap. It's not surprising that Kravitz has a problem with Bird's assessment, but he can't see that he did the same thing, with a lot less basis for his beliefs (Compare how many years Bird worked for the Pacers as a coach or in the front office vs. the number if interactions Kravitz and Belichick have had.)

PatsWickedPissah said:

I attempted to make that point repeatedly in the Deflategate forum.
Especially given the uncertainty (ref memory) in the starting pressures...
The error bars overwhelmed the data points.

But the issue was never about science.
It started as an attempt to finally throw BB out of the NFL club.
Morphed into a defenestration of the Patriots org (stripping away significant draft picks)
Then into a jihad against TFB
and when it got out of control (the legal system coming into play) it morphed into owners' power vs NFLPA

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That's the best synopses of FRAMEGATE that I have seen.

Consider that Larry was considered one of the best trash talkers of all time (who backed it up), it doesn't surprise that he's not politically correct. Personally, I'd be very disappointed if he was.

BradyFTW! said:

Not to mention that Bird is from Indiana and is currently the GM of the Pacers. However much we think of him as 'our' guy, he's at least as much 'their' guy. He's got no inherent bias here. He's also someone who deals with the local sports scene on pretty much a daily basis, so he has an informed perspective on the cast of characters involved in this ****show. When he says he instantly assumed Kravitz was lying, that's an assumption that's informed by actual, relevant experience with the guy.

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Beautifully said.

Like Brother Wrecked, I've always described Brady in terms of Bird. They share both a relentless, fanatical Dedication To Craft and preposterous Processing Speed...and unimpeachable Integrity.

They will both be remembered, admired, and emulated, thousands of Years from now.

Scum like Kravitz will be forgotten long before they're even dead.