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Bird is watching

Print | Comments () Posted by Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff November 15, 2009 11:23 AM

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There are few, if any, better authorities on classic sports rivalries than Larry Bird. His games against Magic Johnson and the Lakers defined an NBA generation, much like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, the Patriots, and the Cotls have helped frame the NFL.

So when Patriots and Colts dismiss tonight's showdown as a typical regular season game, what does he think?

"Yeah, right," Bird said. "I don't buy any of it."

In a column by Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star, Bird shared some of his thoughts on the game tonight. Being a sports legend in Boston and in Indiana, he has a unique perspective.

While Manning and Brady insist their rivalry is overheated -- they never play against each other, after all -- Bird believes they fuel one another even on weeks their teams don't square off.

"When I was playing, the first thing I did the next morning was find out what Magic did," Bird said. "I didn't talk much about it. I'm sure it's that way with Manning and Brady. There's a ton of mutual respect, but that's the guy you measure up with. Like with me and Magic, those two push each other to get better."