Larry Bird Once Broke Craig Ehlo’s Spirit, Then Cooked Him Breakfast

Larry Bird wasn’t just a legendary player… he was one of the greatest shit talkers of all time.

His trash talk had layers, and he would often go to ridiculous lengths to get in opponents heads.

Craig Ehlo, former Cavaliers guard and lifelong Bird victim, has shared more than a few harrowing tales over the years. One of the most brutal?

“The one I really hated to guard was Larry Bird. He was not a nice guy.”

Ehlo recalled a game in Cleveland where Bird was ice cold in the first half. The old Cleveland arena had both teams walking off through the same tunnel, so as they headed in for halftime, Ehlo decided to throw a little jab.

“I puffed up next to him and said, ‘You’re 1-for-10. That’s defense, baby.’”

Bird just glanced at him and said one sentence, cool as a glacier:

“There’s two halves.”

Then he proceeded to hit ten straight buckets on Ehlo in the second half, the last of which was a left-handed dagger.

After it dropped, he turned to Ehlo and asked:

“Your mom watching this game?”

Ehlo said no.

Bird nodded solemnly. Said nothing. Walked off.

That should’ve been the end of it. But this was Larry Bird.

That weekend, Ehlo went home to see some friends. On the way out to the bars, he decided to stop by his mom’s house.

He walked into the living room and there he was… Larry Bird. Sitting in an armchair. Celtics jersey. Pipe in hand. Looked like he’d been there a while.

“Larry, what the hell are you doing here?”

Bird narrowed his eyes.

“Waiting on an ungrateful little brat who never calls his mother.”

Ehlo was dumbfounded. Furious.

“Larry, get the hell outta here before I—”

Bird cut him off, voice sharp but hushed:

“YOUR MOTHER is sleeping. She’s tired. Not just from the love-making…but from your blatant lack of respect for this household. Shut your mouth. Go to your room. We’ll talk in the morning. After breakfast.”

Ehlo started to argue, but Bird was already standing, voice low and terrifyingly parental:

“Get your ass to bed. And wash up. You smell like an ash tray. Towels are where they’ve always been.”

Ehlo obeyed. He didn't know why. He just did.

The next morning, he woke up to the smell of eggs. Came downstairs. There was Larry. Celtics jersey, apron on, pouring coffee for his mom who looked happier than he had ever seen her.

“Well, well,” Bird said. “We thought you’d never wake.”

“Larry,” Ehlo said, fists clenched, voice shaking. “I don’t know what kind of psychodrama you’re playing at here but—”

Bird didn’t flinch.

“I’m making you eggs,” he said flatly. “Now sit your disrespectful ass down. And tell your mother she looks radiant.”

Ehlo never talked trash again.

Not to Larry Bird.

Not to anyone.

And he reportedly still sends Bird father's day cards still to this day.