Larry Bird has a bigger statue than Magic Johnson

Indiana State University presented Larry Legend with a sweet statue this weekend.

The 17 foot, 1,900 lb bronze statue captures Bird’s flawless jump shot form, doesn’t it?

Bird’s buddy, Bill Walton, summarized the moment in perfect Walton-speak:

“The timeless contribution of a person who has changed the world for the better,” Walton said. “A living tribute … for families to show their children that I was there; look what is possible.”

Walton went on to call the statue “the enduring (representation) of a kind, generous, principled and wonderful human being.”

I was always told I wasn’t big enough or good enough,” Bird said. “I heard it in high school, I heard it in college, and I heard it in the pros.

“Today shows it worked out pretty well.”

A student group started the campaign for the statue years ago upon learning Magic Johnson was given a statue by Michigan State.

Since Bird was a much better basketball player than Earvin, it’s fitting that Larry’s statue reflect the supremacy:

From the top of the basketball to the sidewalk is 17 feet, one and one-eighth inch,” ISU president Daniel Bradley said. “That is enough to dwarf the 12-foot statue at Michigan State.”

But… Magic has a statue outside the Staples Center.

At the rate we give out statues around here, Bird should have one outside the Garden by 2030.