FROM the time he arrived on Monday, Larry Bird has not opened up to the media and never granted any request for an autograph.
Until Wednesday.
The reticent Boston Celtics icon was surprisingly animated when he appeared before the media both local and foreign at the Mall of Asia Arena, talking at length about the Indiana Pacers and the 1992 Dream Team.
The Pacers' president for basketball operations was later overheard praising the Filipino mediamen's deep knowledge of the game and the NBA and showed a spot spot for kids during the team's practice.
GMA News sports reporter and Spin.ph columnist Chino Trinidad said he also saw the NBA great accommodate a rare autograph request from a kid watching the Indiana Pacers' practice at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Trinidad said he saw Bird motion to a kid watching from the stands to come over. He later granted the autograph request - believed to be one of the few he has given during the Manila trip.
Bird was later overheard saying, “The Filipinos ask the right questions,” as he stepped down the podium after the press conference.
"Larry Legend' also drew laughs from the media when he good-naturedly snapped at a reporter who had asked him where he feels more pressure — as an executive or as a player.
“Pressure, I don’t know what that is,” Bird said. “Obviously, you've never seen me play.”
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