Just 14,890 fans were lucky enough to get seats for the historic Larry Bird Night at the Boston Garden. Not only was the night important for the Celtics players and their supporters, but it also drew a star-studded crowd that included Magic Johnson. In the midst of his former opponents, the Indiana native was asked about Bill Laimbeer’s absence, to which he responded in typical hilarious fashion.
Then-Celtics Vice President of Sales Steven Riley disclosed that scalpers were asking as much as $500 for Larry Bird Night tickets. In addition, he claimed that these were the hardest tickets to get since Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
The celebration, which was full of applause, standing ovations, sincere compliments, and lighthearted jokes, was intended to honor the player who, after Bill Russell, gave the Boston team its winning culture.
Bob Costas tried to outsmart the three-time MVP as the event got underway by asking what message Bird would have wanted to deliver to his opponent, Laimbeer, had he shown up that evening.
Bird shrewdly replied, “That we would probably hang him up (with the banners),”
The celebration, which was full of applause, standing ovations, sincere compliments, and lighthearted jokes, was intended to honor the player who, after Bill Russell, gave the Boston team its winning culture.
