Set 1: How Larry Bird Became Larry Legend

Stugotz and Company

iHeartPodcasts

Comedy, Sports

4.9 • 13.6K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Keith O’Brien joins Stugotz to discuss his upcoming book Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird, a deep dive into the roots, rise, and lasting legacy of Larry Bird. O’Brien shares untold stories about Bird’s upbringing in small-town Indiana and reveals how close we came to never knowing the story of Larry Bird, who could have faded into obscurity after leaving Bobby Knight’s Indiana program. Could a 1978–79 Indiana State team happen in today's college basketball, and why were the Sycamores never able to capitalize on having one of the best basketball players ever?

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Yeah, that Chuck Norris was chasing the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
0:05.9	The Rex was not chasing the Jeep.
0:08.2	Murray, Murray, you there?
0:09.8	You love sandwiches, huh?
0:11.2	Let's go to 80.
0:13.4	His name is Bo.
0:15.9	Wow.
0:16.7	That's prime time, baby.
0:17.8	I had to crush him, Betty Rubble.
0:19.4	I honestly, until after the segment ended and we went to commercial break,
0:23.2	had no idea that Jonathan Coachman was black.
0:25.9	He caused them the game last night, although they won the game.
0:29.4	You're listening to Stugatsin Company.
0:32.2	Keith O'Brien is a New York Times best-selling author.
0:35.3	He wrote Charlie Hustle.
0:36.7	We had him on to discuss that.
0:38.5	Fly Girls.
0:39.5	He is one of the great authors we have.
0:41.6	One of the great sports authors and storytellers that we have.
0:45.3	And he has a new book out right in time for March Madness, Heartland,
0:49.3	A Forgotten Place, An Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird and Keith O'Brien with us right now.
0:56.6	Keith, why did you decide to write a book about Larry Bird?
	...

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