It probably hurt Larry Bird to admit it in the early 90s, toward the tail end of his legendary NBA career.
And he definitely "hates" to admit it now — Michael Jordan is flat-out better than he is.
Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show on Monday, July 27, Bird tackled the hypothetical question of who would win one-on-one — he or MJ?
"Could I take Jordan? Where's this going? Can I wear my Hickory uniform? Boy, that'd be a good game," Bird told Patrick, before brining himself to concede to his Airness: "I hate to admit this, but he'd kill me."
Why does the three-time NBA champion and current Indiana Pacers president feel that way about his chances against his fellow Hall-of-Famer?
"I'm 40 pounds more than I was when I played, I'm broken-down, I really don't care like I used to, I have a fight in me but it's not the fight that I once had..." Bird offered. "But it'd be a pretty close game."
Even with Bird being 58 and Jordan 52, we bet basketball fans would still want to see the hoop icons go at it like they used to. Maybe the winner could face Magic Johnson.
Although Bird conceded his one-on-one chances to Jordan, Larry Legend scoffed at the six-time NBA champion and current Charlotte Hornets owner's declaration that he could probably defeat current Hornets players in a one-on-one game.
"Now?" Bird pondered Jordan defeating a current Hornets player. "Oh, gee. Come on. He can believe whatever he wants. He'd have to prove that to me. Man, [star athletes have] to let this stuff go. That's just ridiculous."
Yep, Bird's game might have diminished because of father time... but his trash-talking skills are still razor sharp.
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