Larry Bird is an NBA all-star who’s received the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times consecutively. On top of that, he’s the only player in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year in a career.
That’s why many fans consider him one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
While the public was able to keep up with Larry on the field, his personal life was a mystery to most people. For instance, fans didn’t know the NBA legend had a biological daughter.
Well, I’m here to remedy that. In today’s article, I’ll dive into the life of Corrie Bird, Larry’s eldest daughter. From her childhood to her career, I’ll cover it all.
Larry Bird and Janet Condra met at a young age. The two attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick and were childhood sweethearts.
Then, Larry received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers under head coach Bob Knight in 1974. Although, he quit the school after about a month of classes.
It seemed that life around the large population of Bloomington was overwhelming for the basketball player. So, he quickly moved back to his hometown and enrolled at the Northwood Institute.
This allowed him to reconnect with Janet, and within less than a year, the couple tied the knot. However, around the same time, Larry’s career began to skyrocket.
While this was great for his professional status, his personal life took a hit. Bird didn’t have much time for his relationship with Janet, which led to a brief separation.
Yet, the couple reconciled in 1976 and soon later had a child, Corrie. Unfortunately, having a baby didn’t fix the issues that Larry and Janet faced in their marriage.
So, when Corrie was just a few months old, the couple split up for the final time and filed for divorce.
Despite her parents’ separation, Corrie endeavored to foster a positive bond with her biological dad, Larry.
She even took up high school basketball and kept her father updated on her achievements. Yet, she was met with silence in response.
Corrie’s attempts to connect were initially overlooked by Larry, who also declined her request to attend Bird Night, a retirement celebration hosted by the Celtics in honor of Larry Bird, known as “Larry Bird Night.”
This rejection led to significant media backlash, culminating in a February 8, 1993, headline: “Bird Ignored Daughter on His Special Night.”
Corrie Bird’s parents each found their own happiness in time. Larry then went on to marry Dinah Mattingly in 1989, while Janet found bliss with Mr. Hargrave.