French Lick Origins: The Impossible Larry Bird Story | Keith O'Brien | Engel Angle

from Engel Angle · host Mac Engel

Bestselling author Keith O'Brien reveals the untold origin story of Larry Bird's rise from poverty in rural Indiana, including his traumatic departure from Indiana University and near-disappearance into blue-collar obscurity before Indiana State coach Bill Hodges literally drove the streets looking for him. Through interviews with Bird's childhood friends, teammates, and coaches, O'Brien uncovers the hidden details of how the "Hick from French Lick" almost never made it out of his small town, offering a completely different perspective on one of basketball's greatest legends. Discover the fascinating backstory behind Bird's legendary 1979 NCAA championship game against Magic Johnson and how a traumatized teenager shooting baskets alone at midnight became one of the NBA's most iconic players. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 25, 2026

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French Lick Origins: The Impossible Larry Bird Story | Keith O'Brien | Engel Angle

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This episode is 45 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 25, 2026.

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