Larry Bird and Bill Laimbeer have genuinely hated each other for over 30 years

Larry Bird and Bill Laimbeer stood in the middle of an intense Celtics-Pistons rivalry spanning the late 1980s and early 1990s. But the individual feud between those two wasn't just a battle within that war. It was personal. It was beef.
Starting with his trade to the Pistons in the early 1980s, Laimbeer built a reputation as not just a strong rebounder and scorer, but a relentless pest. On one hand, he'd make dirty and dangerous plays, then act like nothing had happened. On the other hand, he'd flop and whine to bait the referees into calling fouls on his opponents.
Nobody despised Laimbeer for this quite as much as Bird did. Bird's public campaign against Laimbeer's style of play dated back to the Celtics-Pistons playoff series in 1985, and really took off after Laimbeer started a brawl by fouling Bird hard in the 1987 playoffs. Bird accused Laimbeer of intentionally trying to injure him, and never withdrew the accusation. Even decades later, these two NBA legends maintain an icy distance because of how things played out on the court.
This beef might never end, so in this episode, we learn about what built it.
Written and produced by Seth Rosenthal
Directed and edited by Jiazhen Zhang
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[@SecretBaseSBN]

Hello, it's Seth! Thanks for watching this Beef History, and thanks for being you. Wanted to drop a quick note encouraging those of you who enjoy our channel to click the "subscribe" button. If you do that: 1. You'll be notified when we post new stuff. 2. You'll get to see occasional updates (and sometimes offer input!) about what we're working on. 3. We'll get to go to our bosses and be like "hey look we have a lot of subscribers" and they'll think that's cool and maybe find us more friends to help make even more videos. We love you, come be part of our community.

[@johnstjohn1987]

Beef EPISODE Mike McCarthy vs Aaron Rodgers.

[@trainwreckthomas9274]

BEEF episode Damien Lillard VS. Russell Westbrook it’s there and it’s all over Instagram and in the lockeroom Size and Hype Vs. Heart and taking souls with GM winners

[@bruh_im_a_pigeon5597]

can we get Brad Keselowski vs Carl Edwards, the most destructive beef in sports history?

[@bixMont]

Thumbs up☝ good 1

[@corycybulski5631]

Definitely keslowski vs edwards!!!

[@diabolikmitchell2960]

Bird: "I was trying to throw the ball to the referee." "Bill's face just got in the way." That's a keeper.

[@SeanFerree]

Lol!!

[@mikepastor.k6233]

The Celtics always got the calls from refs going their way. Bird is the epitome of that Boston entitlement and whining when things didn't go their way..

[@poetryofcinema6957]

@@mikepastor.k6233 he fought, he doesnt whine like your pathetic good for nothing ass

[@armandorodriguez6447]

Now this is funnnnnnny lol

[@jonquist7089]

@@mikepastor.k6233 every star gets star treatment its because refs are afraid to piss off alfa males. Same went for shaq kobe mj lebron and the rest. If the refs dont respect then that player wasn't a winner anyway.

[@raywarren5446]

The older Larry bird gets, the more he looks like a bird

[@raniadahayu1412]

LMAOOO

[@jarmelbennett7693]

Bird definitely has a face for radio lol but he's still Larry Legend 🐐

[@nygtilldeath]

Perfect example at 0:39

[@theGiver3]

@@nygtilldeath lmaaaooo he looks like he belongs in the movie Rio

[@devinsilva1569]

😂😂😂

[@courtenayblair2279]

That was a hell of a throw. He throw it over 2 people and by a third and hit his target. Dude was a great passer

[@DoggieFosters]

Mte. 🤣

[@ldwilliams9686]

Laimbeer's face got in the way

[@forgettableaccount5855]

I know it's been a year since this comment was made, but I have to bring up how Lambeer was 6'11", pushing 7'. He was a big target.

[@neonskyrain4024]

Laimbeer intercepted the pass.

[@martyemmons3100]

Larry Bird; in his prime, was THE DEADLIEST marksman among the NBA's best. That throw to Laimbeer's face is one of his finest shots.

[@bueyhohang]

I love the sneak diss of Simmons, “...he was interviewed by a fan.” So smooth!

[@davestier6247]

Yeah that was hilarious

[@BiggestLessonILearned]

Def a subtle but effective jab

[@MrOctober44]

That or ignorance.

[@ACLA23]

Pac-Man he lows who bill Simmons is lol he made a vid about himb

[@TheMan750]

Bill Simmons vs SB That’s a beef I want to see

[@ej11481]

It's interesting how Bulls, Celtics and Lakers players from that era mostly respect each other in spite of their rivalries, but so many of them still hate the Pistons.

[@eazeyt1759]

Pistons were dirty

[@jamalwalker]

@@eazeyt1759 Yeah the more I look back I'm sorta glad that this generation has rules to regulate team's better it's not perfect it needs more work but at least its stopped teams that actively cheat from getting started

[@ethanlane3055]

Gonna cry?

[@2FadeMusic]

@@ethanlane3055 We know its you Bill

[@georgewilson06]

Detroit vs the world

[@n8mless135]

“..good, now I don’t have to worry about him saying hi Larry ...and me saying f-u Bill ....” lmao ..this man is a legend for many reasons!

[@lertmelernyers8672]

Ikr, as talented as bird was the Liam's beers shouldn't have taken 3 out of 5 from the C words but they did.. What a legend!!

[@joes4593]

Laimbeer couldn't carry Bird's jock strap.

[@bananasinpajamas7393]

@Rodolfo Sotto I NEVER heard about that! Shameful!

[@bobbybole2216]

I know right. The legend Laimbeer

[@n8mless135]

MANCHESTER UNITED F.C lol, yeah ok congratulations

[@Jefe_Huncho187]

"Bill's face got in the way of the ball" 😂😂😂😂 love me some Larry Legend

[@medotorg2720]

The thing is...you NEVER see Laimbeer on a show with other old NBA stars. A lot of people will give props to Dumars, Thomas, and even Rodman before they will say anything nice about Laimbeer. And most of the old Pistons give him his props as a player, but you never get the feeling he was well-liked.

[@syncmonism]

Rodman wasn't going around trying to badly hurt people. He played hard, and maybe not always entirely within the rules, but it didn't seem like he was genuinely trying to seriously hurt anybody. Laimbeer would literally try to assault and seriously injure the best players. His dirtyness was on a different level, which is also actually extremely rare for the really big guys, who usually seem averse to appearing to be bullies. Shaq could be a bit of a bully, but pushing people over is not nearly as bad as knocking someone off balance when they're three feet off the ground.

[@familyguyfreemoviedownload8314]

that’s also why laimbeer had to settle for a coaching position in the wnba despite being qualified for the nba. everyone in the nba who had to deal with him absolutely hates him

[@detectivemarkseven]

​@@familyguyfreemoviedownload8314 this is so true lol

[@THERSC216]

Facts

[@jasondyrkacz8270]

Laimbeer didn't need to play dirty but he did.

[@ralphmellish845]

Referring to Bill Simmons as a "fan" made me genuinely laugh

[@SuperNuclearUnicorn]

Because he seems to absolutely hate the Celtics unless they're winning titles?

[@JamesBrown-hr5qs]

Bill Simmons is narrating this

[@BridgesOnBikes]

James Brown dude sounds exactly like him... how disrespectful to call the guy he is imitating a ‘fan’. They now have their own beef.

[@joshnic6639]

Yeah. It also made me laugh when he said Bird submitted to Jordan’s Bulls in the early 90’s 🤦‍♂️. Jordan NEVER beat Bird and the Celtics! This dude doesn’t know wtf he is talking about!

[@BroJ3221]

C-3PO Protocol Droid 14:52

[@jonathancastillo7625]

Seriously, who hadn’t had beef with Beef Laimbeer.

[@dbag3345]

D Rod

[@jonsnipe5484]

facts.. he was brutal basketball player

[@benn255b3]

Basketball was different back then, not like today where you can get ejected just for looking at someone funny.

[@MrBcardinal35]

Sim Bhullar

[@outlawstarjoseph8064]

Benn255 B oh stop, back then it was just shitty players hacking the star because they had no other way of guarding anyone

[@angusdog22]

Bill Laimbeer is the GOAT of NBA villains. He played that role like no one else .

[@theilluzionist3565]

donald sterling?

[@alZiiHardstylez]

100% man. He's in my top 10 purely out of who he was. Just an absolute goon and I love him for it. He's like Batman if his parents weren't murdered.

[@matteowatteo1296]

Kermit Washington?

[@johntoomey357]

That he was He used to get paid back at times though 😂

[@prevost8686]

He was paid to fulfill that role. Bird loved to trash-talk so who expected the two to be buddies?

[@Lalaphive]

That Laimbeer interview about Birds executive decisions and coaching made me spit out my drink. "That would drive me nuts. I'd probably quit."

[@raytflower]

And bird eventually did quit. He did not succeed after firing Isiah Thomas as head coach.

[@pierrechildress8875]

Classic Laimbeer lolz

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

They were both funny. They were both intelligent competitors as well. These games were war back then.

[@PerfectionInMotion69]

Liar. Stop using that false, played-out "spit my drink out" nonsense. Kids do that stuff.

[@muhammadbarokah81]

Bill Laimbeer did the “Detroit vs Everybody” before Eminem

[@alexanderadonyae7937]

He sure did💯💯💯

[@Sp1n1985]

😂

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

Muhammad Barokah and Larry Bird is the Eminem of the NBA 😂😂😂

[@austinneveau9387]

@Servant to Be and you are? Fanbase is so huge that haters somehow find their way to niche comment sections

[@austinneveau9387]

@Servant to Be 100% you only hate him because you think it's cool to. Realistically you sound like a butthurt kid who didn't get his autograph signed lolol

[@ValensBellator]

“Interviewed by a fan” I mean, he’s not wrong lol... interviewed by his *biggest* fan really

[@mcmuffin7612]

I laughed at that part too lol

[@williamlomica7469]

Best line in video

[@Juice-ig3jz]

A new beef was born

[@jamaaldagreatest2748]

I dont get why they dont like each other what happened ? Or was it just a joke

[@tgms177]

Lol i was about to write that xD

[@zew1414]

The NBA was in a bad spot in the late 70’s and thank GOD for Magic and Bird! They saved basketball, especially the 1984 Finals. An all time classic.

[@twocooleetoh3128]

Then came Lebum to f it up

[@sol1120]

Not as bad as today. It’s irreparable. NBA deserves the self induced implosion as per greed and corruption

[@bobbyscarfo2544]

The media just wants you to think Larry and Magic saved the NBA and brainwashed everyone into thinking precisely that..... the person who saved the NBA was Julius Erving....1976.... when he was traded from the ABAs New Jersey Nets to the NBAs Philadelphia 76ers....

[@Duval-Dame]

Zew I agree then M.J came and took over and put the league on his back..

[@Duval-Dame]

@@twocooleetoh3128 yes LBJ and some of these new generation players have totally effed the league up man.. The 80s and 90s was the best.

[@brandonmaddox4862]

This is one of the many reasons 80-90’s era of nba was so awesome

[@hardnewstakenharder]

The drama was so much stronger.

[@gumdeo]

Celtics, Pistons, Bulls, Lakers... good times.

[@desean3402]

Robert Parrish gave that man a whole beat down and didn’t get a foul call 🤣🤣🤣 gotta love 80s nba

[@akeme25]

He did get fined though, but still 😂😂😂

[@oneelrockwell79]

No Doubt dropped a couple of bombs on him.🤣

[@supernbjl402]

Mj would not have the same success against the prime pistons

[@salvatoreperez5113]

Parrish would of killed

[@gordongrant444]

@dano And who's the thug?

[@CzarsSalad]

The 80's Eastern Conference was a war zone.

[@scottbuono2507]

So you’re telling me the Sixers and the Celtics didn’t get in a circle and pray together after their games?? Pistons-Bulls either?? I can’t believe that😂..we didn’t know it at the time but unfortunately that was the golden age of the NBA..was never the same again

[@willstern3755]

Right now is definitely the golden age of the NBA. More people watch than ever before, it's the main sport covered by the main sports news outlets, and their social media monopoly is growing. Just because it's not the same as before doesn't mean it's worse.

[@scottbuono2507]

Will Stern So you’re saying you were also a big NBA fan in the 80’s and you prefer the modern day version?

[@robynbennett793]

Ppl do watch basketball more now but that's because ppl have changed, society has changed, the way its promoted has changed...it has nothing to do with the quality of the current format...AND WRONG it is not the most watched sport in America...maybe it WAS basketball as a whole, not exclusively the NBA but last year, the NFL broke television ratings records in 2019 and went down as the most watched sport in history in the U.S....look it up, 6.1 million viewers tuned in to the draft alone. Worldwide it was Association Football..the soccer league. The late 80s-mid 90s were indisputably the golden age of basketball. Look at the superstars to come out of that era vs now AND the games had more passion and less candyass rules....that's just the way it is. I cant even begin to get into it now like I did back then.

[@kenrickeason]

@@robynbennett793 Soccer is #1 in the world while Basketball is #2 in the world.. American Football doesn't even make the list in what the *"WORLD"* watches.. These are just facts..

[@SirSponge941]

i love how badass and cocky Bird was. man was an absolute savage

[@jabels4479]

I love this era. They hate each other. No jersey swaps and joining each others teams. They hate each other 40 years later. Love it

[@cm9241]

Why is that something to be celebrated?

[@415javito]

@@cm9241right lol that’s sad lol it ain’t that deep bro 😊

[@ccece6938]

but isaiah and magic are basically giving each other pecks? lmao

[@izzy031096]

@@cm9241 Staunch competition should be celebrated. People are too soft and forgiving today, particularly in sports.

[@cm9241]

@izzy031096 whatever that means

[@jupiteral8217]

"If I need to win a game on the last shot I give the ball to Jordan. If I need a shot to save my life, I give the ball to Bird."-Pat Riley

[@Wis_Dom]

"If I need to win a game on the last shot I give the ball to Jordan. If I need a shot to save my life, I'm going to the hospital." -Me

[@supernbjl402]

Wis Dom that also true

[@jupiteral8217]

@Ulysses432 What's got you so stupid?

[@jupiteral8217]

Ulysses-FYI genius, I'm a Bulls fan from back in the Norm Van Lier and Bob Love days in the 60s and 70s. I love MJ, he's the best thing to ever happen to Chicago sports and the best player ever. But that doesn't diminish my respect and admiration for Bird. Being compared in the same breath as MJ is just a compliment to Bird. So stop with the insecure bullshit

[@KLRCHRIS]

@Ulysses432 You two need to get a room....

[@coolguy5412]

Some of Larry's lines This man could be a comedian

[@mybeardnappybaybee]

Facts 🤣

[@daniellove162]

He could be a roast master.

[@tellyhennessey5422]

These NBA players today ? Would NEVER be measure up

[@kenrickeason]

LMFAO 😂😂😂 He should take a look at Comedy.. Bird and P. Manning in a TV series

[@kaiasmith5404]

Good now I wont have to worry about him getting on the bus and saying “Hi Larry” and me having to go “F U bill”

[@jimhallal2513]

There were a few years where basketball games were literally wars. Some of those old-school fouls would be a 40 game suspension today.

[@veritas4364]

No, there were figuratively wars. The Ukraine war is a literal war.

[@jimhallal2513]

@@veritas4364 I agree. Wars only in the context of basketball.

[@cashflodigitalsportsnetwork]

Parish clocks Bill Laimbeer… no foul, no tech, but only a one game suspension, after the fact.

[@jimhallal2513]

@@cashflodigitalsportsnetwork the good old days lol

[@Scuba_Bro]

Bill Laimbeer was like a classical spoiled rich kid who grows up to be the obnoxious villain everyone hates 😂

[@innosanto]

He played the game he considered to be important the mental one very well. But he did spme dangerous fouls that he shouldnt.

[@hrorq]

Dude, the Jordan interview where he calls Laimbeer and Bird dirty was cut prematurely. Jordan went on to establish that Bird was intelligent/smart in his play while Laimbeer was just a thug.

[@richieblack5530]

I didnt know being a dirty basketball player made someone a thug

[@ianclark2785]

Masked Savage for example Patrick Beverley

[@junior2404]

@@richieblack5530, and now you know.

[@junior2404]

@@ianclark2785 naw... The rules have Pat Bev tame in comparison to Laimbeer. Bev is more like X man.

[@AlbeezKneez]

So?

[@kacebox174]

Beef History: Seth Rosenthal Vs. Bill Simmons

[@T.H.E.O.R.Y.]

Does he have beef with him?

[@DeLaKole]

@@T.H.E.O.R.Y. He called him a "fan" interviewing Larry Bird in this video.

[@Heie_]

@@DeLaKole bruh I thought I was tripping when he played on him like that I remember bill Simmons from when I was a kid watching basketball so I know he knew who he was 😂

[@TheOddMindofSamBo]

One’s a very smart and funny person who has changed the landscape of internet sports content, and the other is Bill Simmons

[@E-Brightvoid]

Deadspin vs Venture Capitalists

[@markwiles666]

Great piece! HATED Bird and the Celtics growing up as a Pistons fan, later in life started to appreciate what a great rivalry it was and that Bird was the GOAT. Still amazes me to this day that 1: The Celtics walked off against the Pistons and no one cared; Pistons did it to Jordan and it almost became a civil suit lol! and 2: the infamous takedown of Bird was actually Rodman and his leg wrapping around Birds shoulder and head; Larry just assumed it was Laimbeer and went after him.

[@aarondigby9859]

I was so glad when the Pistons closed out the eighties with back to back championships ending the Byrd/Magic showcase, I was so tired of their bs, the Pistons took no prisoners: Bulls, Knicks, Hawks Celtics, Lakers and Trailblazers, no doubt a great team.

[@johnpoole3871]

It's because Jordan took it personally. The Pistons just laughed at the Celtics.

[@jdapaul1351]

The Pistons' reputation caught up to them, that's all. Sore losers lmao. Plus the Pistons were in their homecourt, while the Celtics were in the Palace when they walked off, so Detroit had the support of the fans and weren't threatened when they walked off.

[@zacharyradford5552]

Because it was something Laimbeer would do. His teammates would say the same thing.

[@mfdixon1985]

​@@jdapaul1351 That's the part that people don't understand when they compare the Celtics and Pistons walking off early. It's a practical move if the outcome is no longer in doubt and the winning team is home. When the visiting team is clinching in a blowout, that's not such a big concern.

[@Chapstick426]

Did they just call Bill Simmons a “fan”? I think we may have some fresh beef on the menu boys

[@MichaelJW72]

Nate Chapek just needs to be properly dry aged.

[@Juice-ig3jz]

Yeah that was a low blow.

[@dez5k]

This was a good Beef History, but that was my favorite part. The shade is glorious

[@aaronwalker1678]

😂😂😂

[@RRRRRRRRR33]

Bill Simmons is a joke

[@mg19cal]

When you think about it, Bill Laimbeer could have a SB Nation series all on his own. Bill Laimbeer vs Kevin McHale. Bill Laimbeer vs. Robert Parish. Bill Laimbeer vs Scottie Pippen. Bill Laimbeer vs. Charles Oakley. Bill Laimbeer vs. Michael Jordan. Bill Laimbeer vs. his own teammates

[@persephone2706]

Lmfao that's the truth.

[@salvatoreperez5113]

Bird would of beat laimbeer's ass

[@netrade3898]

I remember Mchale saying about Laimbeer, "Any guy who drinks beer and plays golf can't be all that bad."

[@mg19cal]

@@netrade3898 he DID shake his hand after the 88 Eastern Conference Finals but BEFORE that they would've probably pissed on each other's graves

[@jamvan2k]

Bill Laimbeer vs Charles Barkley too. 🤣🤣

[@Kriptiko]

Unrelated but do you understand how rare of a moment that Magic v Bird in the NCAA Final was? Something like that will never happen again.

[@krieginphernjacobson]

Just to be clear, Bird was a great coach and didnt have a playoff drought. He got his Pacers closer to beating the bulls than any other team during either of the Bulls 3-peat runs and made game 6 in the finals against the 2000 Lakers.

[@honorfirst7506]

Refs helped pacers vs bulls. Mckey trip on MJ potential game winner a non call. Miller shove on Jordan for game winner a non call. And the foul on jordan against Best, after MJ was tripped, was questionable.

[@lynnerose7891]

HE LITERALLY SAID 2008. Bird was not the coach in 2008.

[@krieginphernjacobson]

@lynnerose7891 So then I obviously wasn't talking about Bird in 2008, was I?

[@pickettmandi]

Larry Bird did not "submit" to Jordans Bulls. Jordan was 0 and 6 against Bird in the playoffs. Birds back gave out.

[@eyeconqueror1185]

If only he stayed healthy

[@thegreekdeal4747]

Bird himself said that mj was god in shorts.

[@rashb3994]

They wouldn't of beat them that year regardless. Bird was past his prime and Jordan was entering his. The 0 and 6 is more based on Jordan not having a squad vs Bird having a full squad. Not saying a full squaded Jordan beats the Celts every game. But they'd have at least two or three series wins.

[@MidwestDIY]

Also in 80s Jordan lost to Bucks, Pistons in playoffs multiple times. Bird played just 1.5 more season than MJ, MJ retired in his prime 2x (both times after winning championship), MJ could have had 10 rings if he didn't retire, "Birds back give out" then , MJ never lost in his prime, he retired at top twice, nobody could stop MJ but MJ in his prime and he did that twice. If Bird didn't take care of his body and MJ did, I don't think we can blame MJ for that, that is on Larry to take care of his back.

[@Gd-jq6mz]

@@MidwestDIY Pippen himself said they might not have got the second 3 peat if they had continued on. That break helped them kickstart again. Infact a jordanless Bulls had a legitimate shot at winning the title.

[@christianjames6256]

If this beef happened in this generation, they’d be broke from all the fines 😂😂😂

[@gforce8530]

Christian James , did you not see rondo and Chris

[@liamryan7239]

G Force That is not a tenth of this

[@caesar_19]

@@gforce8530 not even comparable

[@adamfeliciano6321]

G Force you did not just type that out with confidence.

[@venicec3310]

Christian James fighting is much more penalized now to think they would fight and only be ejected from the game shoot now your out for half the season what an era it was haha

[@randysandberg5615]

I am neither a Celtic's fan or a Piston's fan, but in all honesty, this is 100% Bill Laimbeer's fault. Larry wasn't a dirty player. He was a trash talker. Bill wasn't a trash talker. He was a dirty player. Laimbeer's own teammates fought with him. He, and the Pistons, were bad for basketball. That is 100% honesty.

[@juanblanco8992]

Los bad boys el mejor de todos los equipos

[@Andrew-of7rx]

@@juanblanco8992not top ten

[@juanblanco8992]

@@Andrew-of7rx number one

[@zacharyradford5552]

Yeah if you was dropped on your head as a baby.

[@darkhelmutt3417]

Larry Bird was an absolute filthy player. He just wasn’t the dirtiest player so he’s bitchy about it. Jordan himself called Bird a filthy player and he was.

[@estebong]

"I'd probably quit" Funny coming from a coach who's team starts the season with an 8 outta 12 chance of making the playoffs lol

[@impasse0124]

Lol let’s be honest. Anyone would rather coach a terrible NBA team than a “great” WNBA team.

[@MrGrace]

My mom bought me and my brother "Bill Laimbeer Combat Basketball" for Super Nintendo. You could push and shove players, leave traps on the court, it was the best bad video game I've ever played 😂

[@dre-p3058]

They should show him playing that game I bet he win every single time lol

[@ray0064]

Dude I thought you were joking about that game, I can’t believe it’s actually real 😂

[@MrGrace]

@@ray0064 lmao! Yessir, its real! Hahahaaaaa. There's only like 1 or 2 videos on YT though. We spent countless hours playing that horrible game 😂

[@ericvance2859]

Good times, those! My childhood bf, Andrew, had that beaut.

[@ericvance2859]

Esmond Coleman ‘Tis real, friend. Absolutely hilarious stuff!

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

Bird: "I really don't like this Laimbeer, let me carry on a Cold War with him for 30 years" Parish: "HULK SMASH"

[@surfshack2]

lol

[@TrideepNagg]

J M also in 1991

[@tomace194]

Oh basketball . You think that was bad? He looked like alex ovechkin in his first fight . Dunkin keith lost 7 teeth from a slapshot and played the rest of the game .

[@maryakopyan3224]

And still lost in the Finals to Magic.

[@ql5481]

@J M you can talk when you have 14 more chips

[@unclehays750]

"Bill Laimbeer was more than a thug, but that's what he'll be remembered for" - Dennis Rodman

[@detroitkilljoy5954]

Bad boys for life feel lucky to have watch alot of these games

[@semja]

When your mom's favorite player is everyone but you

[@merleringewold1816]

that's Hilarious!

[@djquinn11]

As a native Detroit’s and Piston’s fan, we used to say how much we would hate Lambier if he played for anyone else. We loved him here in Detroit though, the city really embraced the Bad Boys. Those Celtics battles were epic. I also have major respect for Larry Bird, he was a fierce competitor

[@ethanlane3055]

Facts man

[@luisneves3706]

Used to live in Boston from 1987 to 1992 but I Love Detroit because down here in Brasil 🇧🇷 play defense never exist so The Bad Boys were not just defense and people forget How good Laimbeer used to be to score even at that time big guys like him was not supoused to do.

[@Gnofg]

Lambeer never coached and was forgotten by the NBA. You bet that drives him up a wall.

[@armyofninjas9055]

And now all you Detroit guys whine that no one likes them lol.

[@djquinn11]

@@armyofninjas9055 : LOL, no we used to say when he was still playing that we’d hate Lambier too if he didn’t play for the Pistons. I get it, he was dirty and aggravating but he was our guy.

[@Tim_Dunkin]

I love he called Bill Simmons just "a fan" 😂 It would have been a little better if they said "groupie"

[@johnbaker3375]

Watching Laimbeer back then was a treat. Dirtiest player ever and he absolutely loved it. I live in Utah and remember going to a Jazz/Pistons game back in the day. Laimbeer and Rodman were abusing the Hell out of Stockton all night. Mark Eaton went after Rodman. Classic game.

[@tito5139]

The fact that Bird didn’t get ejected for punching Laimbeer tells how much the game has changed

[@Maltesfilm]

It was Parish that punched him I think

[@asymbolofpurehatred]

Bird only got ejected for throwing a ball at Laimbeer

[@chesterwilberforce9832]

The fact that Laimbeer didn't get ejected from half his games shows the change, too.

[@jace2802]

Wish it was still like the old days but unfortunately the NBA got a bad rep for the fights saying it was the African Americans doing the beef. Not true, look at hockey. Plus imagine Steven Adams squaring up with KD 😅 probably best they don't fight anymore it would be a blood bath with the strength we have today alongside with a 6ft pg.... A punch would give him a cucussion

[@Oly1y]

@@jace2802 if you want a fight go watch fights

[@DragbobInAgar]

Yo he straight up punched him 3 times at 9:22 and no foul I think the refs didn't like him either lmao

[@christianmccaffrey7113]

He was a dirty player in college and the nba almost like greyson Allen , if you remember him from Duke.

[@mbengaful]

I bet not even Mrs Laimbeer liked him.

[@julianmarsh1378]

Notice how when Parrish took him down, Detroit players did not leap to Bill's defense....that is not normal and tells us everything we need to know.

[@julianmarsh1378]

@@mbengaful When he was a baby his mother took him with her everywhere she went...so she wouldn't have to kiss him goodbye.

[@SweetMandolinbyLG]

@@mbengaful Draymond Green is an inocent child in his playing style when compared with Bill Lambeer

[@meche1230]

I love Laimbeer doing things and act like he didn’t do nothing 😂

[@raytflower]

His job was to agitate and walk away. He knew what he planned on doing. Not hurt. Bird had more fist fights than bill did. Talk about dirty.

[@Corninthesky]

Laimbeer played the most underrated role in all of sports (or life for that matter); he was the guy that took all the hate to relieve the pressure from his teammates, allowing them to thrive.

[@crispyasfuck2856]

People hate laimbeer for what every single player in the league did its hilarious

[@jeffw1267]

He deliberately tried to hurt people though. That's not sportsmanlike.

[@theobuniel9643]

Like Draymond Green or Patrick Beverley?

[@osio7528]

​@je ffw1267 you're soft😂😂

[@hK_Ultra_]

“Interviewed by a fan.” Yo put some respect on Bill Simmons 😂 damn

[@Twigg4075]

I thought that was funny too. Bill Simmons is kind of a big deal, especially when it comes to Boston sports. The man is a guest commentator in the 2K games!

[@JesusSoTex23]

I caught that too lmao Is there some beef here that we don’t know about?? Worthy of it owns episode maybe 😂😂

[@itofu254]

All-time sneak diss. Love it!

[@theronkersey4597]

Well, he is a fan of the Celtics and he is definitely biased.

[@Eutizzy]

hill_uh_ree i loved that...bill Simmons knows his basketball...but he’s NEVER OBJECTIVE about the Celtics lol good sneak diss from SB

[@thegreatcalvinio]

I want a Rasheed Wallace vs. referees

[@Experimentblack]

Ball don't lie

[@tompkinssquaretrackclub]

Both teams played hard

[@eyeconqueror1185]

Boff teams played hard, my man

[@AEMoreira81]

The ironic part is: he was playing peacemaker in that huge brawl, and it was BEN Wallace who was hot.

[@terrencehenretta8266]

Ball don't lie

[@chris14487]

Back when teams played to win! As an MJ & Bird fan, U'll never hear me defend laimbeer or the pistons, but Detroit always played to win! Great rivalries that made the game awesome to watch!

[@rareroe305]

Just discovered this channel. I like how you have the guy with the friendliest face and voice talk about the rivalries.

[@joecommie4890]

Birds throw of the ball at Laimbeer was spot on. That ball threaded through 3 ppl to hit Laimbeer.

[@MichaelJW72]

“Bird was interviewed by a fan.” Someone get Simmons some ointment for that burn.

[@LawrenceRoss1906]

I heard that...

[@james_robnett]

That was the best era in Basketball as far as I was concerned. It takes player 3 or so years to figure out how to play and teams about that long to figure out how to beat their rival. In that period from 1980 to 1990 the 76'ers won 3 of 4 from the Celtics till Dr J was too old and the Celtics had plugged the holes to finally pass them. The Celtics then won 4 straight while east coast rivals tried to figure them out (including the '85 76ers with Dr J, Moses Malone and a rookie Charles Barkley). Eventually Bird, McHale and Parish wound down and the Pistons rose to the top taking the next 3 to finish out the decade. It took the Bulls 3 years to figure out how to beat the Pistons during the end of the 80s (and put together the pieces to do it) which mostly focused on smothering defense and a new decade started off the 90s. It was over 20 years before that kind of dominance occurred again with the Heat then the Cavs controlling the East from 2011-18

[@brockhard3555]

This was one of the best mini-docs I have ever seen. Great work!

[@wes2262]

1986: real nba rivalries 2020: enemies join same team

[@tragiksituation]

💯

[@emburtgarnett5535]

And they would call it the evolution of the league lmao

[@asadmohamed4442]

facts

[@babystaystackinfoe8266]

what ememies have joined the same team?

[@geraldstelly490]

@@babystaystackinfoe8266enemies applys to best players in the leagues as well and that includes durant joining curry.

[@meharinationsportspodcast2582]

I would like to see a beef history between Michael Jordan vs Isiah Thomas. Those two had bad feelings with each other during the Chicago vs Detroit rivalry in the late 80's to early 90's, and still going on to this day.

[@uzairrahman4640]

Actually they made up

[@raffycanolo4583]

Scottie pippen vs isiah thomas

[@spongeaang98]

The entire league hated the Bad Boys really. Karma kinda came for them though seeing as how many of their careers ended early and they're rarely celebrated in the league.

[@EFunkRock]

spongeaang98 disagree. They were no more different than the Celtics who played the same way, the teams throughout the 1970s (see Washington punch on Rudy Tomjonovich), and the 1980s. Detroit is a small-market team but was winning championships with that style of play - that’s when it became a problem. The truth is that the league intervened with flagrant foul rules, no hand-check rules (benefited Jordan), etc. and Detroit broke up the team too early. They also didn’t draft well after 1987. Isiah, Edwards, Vinnie, Aguirre and Laimbeer were old, yes. Joe Dumars was still in his prime, Rodman was growing into his prime (see 1995-98 Bulls Run). Overall, they were a dynasty. There was no karma at all against Detroit.

[@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic]

@@EFunkRock HILARIOUSLY FALSE you tried it though 😂😂😂😂.

[@kylebushmire3881]

Larry bird is so funny man he’s just honest about what he thinks and it’s hilarious.

[@analogalien651]

Great video, thank you! “Sometimes when you agitate someone there agitated for ever” unfortunately that’s very true for many people. It’s hard but I really don’t like the idea of giving people power over me and allow them to upset and agitate me on site. One very important point, there are so many variables and close calls , and what ifs in life. we cannot control most of the thing that occurs in our lives. But we can always control how we CHOOSE to react. They go low, I go high. “Hope springs eternal “

[@TimothyFitch]

Lmaoooo calling Bill Simmons “a fan” 😂

[@eyeconqueror1185]

I mean he is a Celtics fan first

[@BroJ3221]

That was amazing lol

[@hamz6197]

Aged well Even a fan would play better than him

[@MaximusWolfe]

@@hamz6197 Than who?

[@MysticMungusSlungus]

"Bird was interviewed by a fan" is probably the best line I've heard on SB Nation. Very accurate.

[@bzen5917]

The Celtics hate for Laimbeer transcended into Pop Culture as well. Kevin McHale was a guest on the TV show Cheers. There's a scene where they were looking at an X-Ray of an adult male gorilla's foot and KM suggested it was Laimbeer.

[@otistheyellowdog]

This is the first video I’ve watched from this channel. Nicely done! Thank you

[@kingkeithgaming]

He called Rick Mahorn his “fouling companion” 😂😂

[@justindavis7435]

Together they fouled you to times but only one of them got called for it.bully ball

[@thunderb00m]

@@justindavis7435 so they were smart as well.

[@adriankelley6447]

Justin Davis it’s wordplay, fouling -> fowling -> birds -> Larry Bird thanks for the history lesson though

[@patrickburke1710]

I really don’t get how people dislike these videos quality has gotta be the best on KZbin

[@nathaniellevesque2782]

Luckily, a large percentage of the time, those people are a very, very small minority.

[@harrischoudhary]

Patrick Burke Jxmyhighroller has higher quality

[@patrickburke1710]

Harris Choudhary love jimmy too these just hit different for me dog

[@Mike-ts2eq]

@@harrischoudhary so? i love jxmy vids but that doesnt justify people disliking the vids lmao

[@harshoperator416]

You must work for SB nation huh

[@GhostRider-mm6ky]

secret base i love this channel plz never stop NEVER!!!

[@nicmagtaan1132]

Hearing about bill just makes me wanna see him today because holy hell he sounds like an elite player nowadays

[@Maximillian200HP]

"Detroit got Laimbeer a new fouling companion..." I can't breathe! XD

[@Zieg_Games]

Me thinks the narrator has some biases

[@lowlife_gaming_yt6164]

Once Laimbeer got in your head you stopped thinking about the game you’re playing and started thinking all about kicking him in the teeth. Lol I think Rodman took a lot from him.

[@countfloydschillerhorrorth2090]

Yeah it's pretty obvious Rodjerk did.

[@countfloydschillerhorrorth2090]

@John Harlowe Typical Shiton fan. Probably not even from Shitroit.

[@TheZakR]

He literally got in your head with his arrest-worthy elbows

[@kennethhardeman4209]

Count Floyds Chiller Horror Theatre 3000 kek

[@chrisbr1969]

LoWliFe_Gaming_ YT, Parish got into Laimbeer’s head...with his fists!

[@xdrizzydoe3525]

Just commenting to say, after 4 hours binging this channel today, you guys produce some of the best sports docs in the world. Thank you so much!

[@kenperk9854]

You aren't mentioning the fact that Larry's back problems were so bad, he spent most of his time laying on his stomach on the sidline.

[@rpmfreak9150]

When you're a Celtics fan from that era you will always remember these 3 things. #1. Bird steals inbound pass. #2. Bird hits Laimberr with ball. #3. Parish goes off on Bill.

[@CovfefeDotard]

Indeed

[@scottlosey4978]

And, The Gaden (Garden) with its leaky roof, failing AC, dead spots on the floor

[@fitz1tj]

Don't leave out Tree Rollins biting Danny Ainge's finger.

[@eamonwright7488]

Don't forget The McHale Foul on Kurt Rambis!

[@rpmfreak9150]

@@scottlosey4978 .oh it definitely needed that remodeling job.

[@ivankowalczyk8032]

“Bird was interviewed by a fan” This beef is tender, getting marinated and about to go on the grill!

[@bryladam]

Can you please explain this one? I don't get it

[@bryladam]

@Ulysses432 oh so basically he's a fanboy of anything Boston. Thanks!

[@komassiah5945]

This was a spicy one. Almost fell out of my chair when I heard that dig.

[@givecamichips]

I'll never forget reading a book called The Greatest Team about the fifteeen players they picked to make an all-time team. The opening of Bill Laimbeer'c chapter is amazing. It intercuts shots of a respectable, high-class kid with opponents cursing him to refs. It's a great moodsetter and my introduction to the Bad Boy Pistons. Notably, they put Laimbeer on a team with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Honestly the best part of the book is reading what each of the people they picked had to say for their own greatest team.

[@LordDisneyland]

I loved to watch Pistons of that era. And - surprise, surprise- Laimbeer was my favourite player, next to Dumars... good old days.

[@clivewarren3403]

There's a reason Bird has universal respect. The guy was real. He ate, breathed, and shat real.

[@Wixom2200]

Lambeer slapped Bird around. I like Bird though!

[@guitary]

Birds mom was prolly like, "My Billy dropped 40 on you, son."

[@gwkiv1458]

LOL

[@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283]

My “Larry”, you mean?

[@TRJ2241987]

@@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283 did you watch the video? It establishes that Laimbeer was one of Bird's mother's favorite players before Detroit rose to power

[@namesurname7172]

@@tuckercarlsonsmicropenis1283 Apparently, you did not watch the video.

[@thecensoredmuscle563]

Bill was one of Birds moms favorite players. Unfortunately Larry was not one of her favorite players lol she supported Bill in that fight.

[@yeti4269]

"Where's your broom now?" I swear these guys never actually played basketball but sat around and thought of the most intelligent things to respond with

[@eggsmann594]

🤣lmao

[@markbaylor3101]

Growing up watching lambier I thought you were supposed to punch people under the net😂😂😂😂😂

[@MerkinMuffly]

Celtics left court early in 88 because they were in fear of getting murdered by Pistons fans who had already thrown objects at them during the game, big difference than Pistons leaving the court in their own arena because Bulls swept them.

[@lihniniseod]

true dat boi

[@alasfouroday9427]

"If I need to win a game on the last shot I give the ball to Jordan. If I need a shot to save my life, I give the ball to Bird."-Pat Riley

[@Keyser___Soze]

@@alasfouroday9427 um yeah kind of exactly the same thing someone else wrote 9 months before you did that has over 1,000 likes in this comment section already your dumb POS. Learn how to think for yourself, become original and not copy or steal other people stuff like a dumb little kid

[@edwardbach5538]

@@Keyser___Soze Its a quote. By your logic the person who also posted this in the comment section and got a 1000 likes is a "dumb POS". You can't steal a quote if you credit the person who originally said it.

[@TL2354]

If leaving early is bad then it’s bad, can’t pick and choose to fit your narrative you phony

[@PainfullyCasual]

That inbound steal still gave me chills

[@pierrechildress8875]

I'm a long time Pistons fan: that is the only time in 54 years I've shed a tear during a sporting event. I can laugh about that now... good times.

[@davidbarton1806]

I grew up seeing that all the time and it's still great every time i see it

[@raoiii8352]

@@pierrechildress8875 as an 11 year old, the 09 final where Lidstrom almost tied the the game with 5 seconds left..we lost the back to back I was so upset

[@jring49]

Just popping in for all the 90s gamers to say that I had a copy of combat basketball on the super nintendo. Getting 5 Laimbeers on your team was the unlocked achievement back in the day.

[@tmota6020]

"Interviewed by a fan" always gets me lol

[@pogimax]

Seeing the title alone, I was like "Who didn't genuinely hate Laimbeer?" Detroit of course. But that should go without saying.

[@ihavechutzpah]

pogimax we love him. We’d hate him if he wasn’t one of us. But we love him

[@mangrove]

@@ihavechutzpah Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most once said he'd take Laimbeer in a trade "in a heartbeat".

[@mangrove]

@Slatternly Skaghalter Nah, most Pistons fans thought Isiah (one 'a') was in the wrong, punching Lam in the head (in a scrimmage!). They quickly made up shortly thereafter, and have remained best friends since then.

[@dafttassia1960]

Bill lambier could be on a number of these

[@DaVinci_Diesel]

*Laimbeer

[@dafttassia1960]

@@DaVinci_Diesel Bill Laimbeer could be on a number of these

[@lukasrudenas5398]

Lam

[@DaVinci_Diesel]

@@lukasrudenas5398 youre *lame

[@MichaelJW72]

Pippen vs Rodman. Go!

[@micky2549]

Interviewed by a fan... Lol, I supposed he is a fan but so much more aswell. Bill Simmons on Grantland (and Jalen Rose) was must see. Mos def one of the best YT channels for sports, ever. I wish it was still around. The season preview is legendary.

[@JohnDoe-ep1cp]

I would love to see a pod with these two though. Idc if they like each other but to hear those old stories first hand from these two would be epic.

[@Wayne_C_Kelly_II]

"Dirty, Like A Diaper." How~ Accurate!! LOL

[@nicolascuenca254]

"Insert any player's name from the 80s that wasn't on Detroit" and Bill Laimbeer genuinely hated each other - and it would would probably be right.

[@MelCrosby]

My man Big Bill Laimbeer, Deeeetroit Basketball 🏀😂🏀 Those were good times. Respect to Boston and Larry Bird, thank you for teaching my Pistons. Just a note the Pistons weren’t the only team that played dirty. You look back to the 70s you had teams who had what was called enforcers who agitated or through cheap shots at the imposing team. Danny Ange was one of those players as Dr J, the Pistons just did it better and became champions of that as well. Not denying it one bit. 🏀💯🏀☝🏿

[@jimhallal2513]

Mel, when you look back at the East, you had the Sixers, the Celtics, the Pistons and the Bulls from 80 to 90. Each of those teams had their own "agitators" lol. But look at how many Hall of Famers were on those teams, I think close to 20 guys. Those were great years of hard, tough ball.

[@conchobar]

Detroit also had another villainous goon to root for during that same time period, Red Wings Player Rob Probert.

[@Z06corvetteracer]

Both these guys where valuable to there teams.Both where tough as hell. They played when the NBA was worth watching. Both where fundamentally sound. neither one of these guys would ever miss a blockout .

[@Gcool243]

My dad was a multiple time all American football player at Notre Dame in the years Lainbeer was there and they were good friends. Laimbeer had a thing where he HATED when people said he was 7feet tall and was always adamant he was only 6’11” and that being 7 foot made him feel like a freak lol

[@elali4173]

Bird was such a beast..

[@fredjones9750]

Well I loved both players. 2 great hard nosed competitors. I miss that level of playoff intensity. The players are all friends now.

[@MaximusWolfe]

No, one great player and one glamorized utility player who shot jumpers and tried injure opponents (win artificially).

[@fredjones9750]

@@MaximusWolfe 2× NBA champion (1989, 1990) 4× NBA All-Star (1983-1985, 1987) NBA rebounding leader (1986) No. 40 retired by Detroit Pistons Not too bad for a utility player.

[@sebastiandiego5905]

I love that era of NBA. Especially the history between all those teams. MJs Lakers, Birds Celtics, Bad Boys Pistons, MJs Bulls. The physicality of the game back then was incredible

[@innosanto]

Magic and Kareem Lakiers

[@lancemilliken9078]

Kobe Bryant somehow got me here, in a roundabout kind of way. Rest in peace Kobe

[@jackhall9267]

This is the first time I ever heard anyone say anything about the Celtics walking off the court and not shaking hands with the Pistons.

[@Gleadogg]

Yup... But do that against Jordan and you hear about it for the next 30 years!

[@verizonaccount4561]

A+ content. Subbed

[@markfrost2707]

I "grew up" (late 20s early 30s) in this era and as a basketball fan, let me just say THANK GOD. I had fun growing up in Phoenix, which were always a good team. I had to hate LA since they were the Suns rivals plus all that Hollywood Showtime, jack Nicholson BS was not my style while, I watched Bird take a team ENTIRELY on his back to the NCAA Championship (and not as a 7'4" type of dominate player) then his ROOKIE year take Boston to the Finals, who had not even gone to the playoffs the year before, and I fell in LOVE with him and the Celtics. McCale, too. They seemed like regular joes--blue collar guys who were playing on their lunchbreak (like I use to do) at the factory. And since they were in the East and the Suns in the West, I got to have TWO favorite teams...anyways--after watching this, I see why lambier was a DOUCHEBAG and someone like Bird was not, is because Bird came from a blue-collar family while Billy was fed with a silver-spoon. THAT explains him to me now. It seems like almost ANY kid who grows up rich, turns into a giant adult douchebag. But, of course, right?? We all know it. mad respect to those who did grow up WEALTHY and still be decent people. Man, Detroit and Boston.....you gota realize that EVERY TIME the Celtics made it through the play-offs, they had to be beat UP getting past Detroit--if they COULD. Detroit was NO joke. This was an era where teams still could be known as defensive teams (basically dirty or shall we say--too rough type teams) which grew out of the East not being able to hit the broad side of a barn back then, which is a big reason The Bulls had so much success...very little competion. I mean if you look at the Suns route to the 93 Championship vs the Bulls!??