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The book __Drive: The Story of My Life__ by author Larry Bird is an autobiography about Larry himself. An important theme of Bird's book is that through toughness, willingness, and perseverance lifes toughest challenges can be overcome. Larry grew up facing many challenges and he did what he thought needed to be done to overcome these challenges. Larry grew up in the small town of French Lick in the state of Indiana. He was the fourth of six children in the Bird family. Larry did not have an easy early life or an easy life at all. His dad jumped from job to job while his mother worked being a was. The Bird family never had money like most people in French Lick. Larry looked past the fact that he had been growing up poor, and was determined to be the best he can be at whatever sport he was playing, whether it be basketball, football, or baseball. Bird describes an encounter in the story while at the age of thirteen attending a family reunion out in Hobart, Indiana. While walking down the street, a group of fifteen and sixteen year olds asked him to play basketball. He had not played much basketball prior to this encounter but decided he would give it his all. He hit virtually every shot he took that day and was admired by the older kids. To me, Larry's first real basketball encounter was foreshadowing to his later careers at Indiana State University and while playing for the Boston Celtics. In that pick-up game Larry did what he did best in his career as a basketball player, he shot and he scored, leaving his opponents in admiration. A scene from Larry's NBA career in the book __Drive: The Story of My Life__ defines his character as well as toughness. His first year playing for the Boston Celtics did not prove to be an easy task. Being the rookie of the team, the coach decided to give Larry various challenges like guarding the best player or having players double team him. Not only did he overcome these challenges and prove the coach wrong, but he earned a starting spot on the Boston Celtics in his rookie year. Any challenge that lie ahead of Larry "Legend" seemed to be magically conquered. These challenges were not overcome magically, but rather by one mans willingness to persevere and be the best he could be. Fans and teammates loved him, while opposing teams hated his very name. Love him or hate him, you have to respect Larry Bird, his toughness, and everything he represents.

Image number 1:"Books: Drive: The Story of My Life (Paperback) by Larry Bird (Author)." //Tower.com: Buy Music CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, Books, New Releases//. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. []
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Image number 2: "Top 10 Players in NBA History." //Sports Insider//. LoudSportsShorts, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. []

Author/Book related Web Page:" Larry Bird Biography ." //Get a NFL Item or MLB Item at LarryBird.com - the source for a Football, Baseball, NBA Item or even NHL Item.//. FansEdge, Inc, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. []

Reviews:"Drive: The Story of My Life by Larry Bird - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists ."//Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. []