Bird Returns, His Pacers Reign On Parish’s Big Day

It was almost like the good old days in Boston Garden, when Larry Bird sat on a training table in the middle of the Celtics dressing room and, surrounded by at least a dozen camera crews and a swarm of reporters, held court after yet another big-game triumph.

Except on Sunday, the media horde cornered Bird in a visitors’ dressing room at the FleetCenter. For Larry Legend, No. 33, had returned as coach of the Indiana Pacers.

Unknotted from the necktie he had worn during the Pacers’ 103-96 triumph on Robert Parish Day, Bird still looked uncomfortable.

“It’s harder to concentrate in here,” he said beneath the glare of television lights as radio guys nudged their microphones closer to his face and newspaper guys leaned forward over shoulders. “I’m glad we’re leaving. Winning this game today was tough for me. It was very emotional. Getting this win was unbelievable. I’m glad it’s over.”

Parish, 44, played more seasons (21) and more games (1,611) than any man in NBA history. He won three championships in Boston and one in Chicago. “This is a very proud moment for me. Having my number retired is flattering. I think it’s a big thing. With Larry coming in and it being a nationally televised game only heightens the experience,” Parish said.

He will always remember his first season in Boston, 1980-81.

“You can never duplicate the feeling of winning the first one, no matter how many championships you win. So I would have to say my first year here was the most rewarding. Also, no one knew much about me as a player, so there were a lot of questions about me. I think I answered at least most of those questions. That was a very satisfying year … the one that stood out,” he said.

Bird said Parish “was the most unselfish player I’ve ever played with. I’ve hardly ever seen him miss a practice. He came to work every day. He was always good to run the pick and roll with.”

In the opposite corner, Kevin McHale, still laughing after all these years, waved off the stray reporter.

“It’s Larry and Robert’s day. I’m just sitting over here in a corner,” the Minnesota Timberwolves director of basketball operations said with a huge grin.

In fact, it was more Larry’s day than Robert’s. Yes, Parish’s No. 00 joined Bird’s No. 33 and McHale’s No. 32 in the FleetCenter rafters, and yes, The Big Three stood together at midcourt, quite possibly for the last time, absorbing the adulation of 18,624 cheering fans who remembered when.

But it was Bird’s return as coach of the Pacers that transformed this event into An Event, one that NBC chose to launch its 1998 NBA coverage.

Sonics say ‘Go, Snow’

The Seattle SuperSonics traded Eric Snow to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Seattle will receive a second-round draft pick from the 76ers. The Sonics can have Philadelphia’s 1998 second-round selection or the Los Angeles Clippers’ second-round pick, which the 76ers own - whichever is higher.

Or the Sonics can pass on the pick this year and take a second-round choice in 1999.

On the courts

Michael Jordan scored 45 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the final quarter, to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 106-100 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets.

At Milwaukee, David Robinson had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and Tim Duncan had 20 points and 11 rebounds as San Antonio beat Milwaukee 98-92 in overtime.