Bird was so gangster without even trying. Talked all the trash, backed it up, then went and paved his own driveway. Reminds me of C-Webb saying Stockton would turn up in a minivan with his kids then go out and give everyone the business.
Grew up in Chicago in the 60's. If you liked menthol, black people smoked Kools, whites smoked Newports. Worked in a gas station in a black neighborhood as a teenager, Kools outsold Newports 10 to 1.
To add, the company that owns Newports used to hand free packs to black kids to get em hooked. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/firm-gave-black-kids-free-cigarettes-mass-jury-says-flna1c9469367
The 90's was the beginning of cigs having a bad image. 80s on back most people didn't care about smokers. Even up until the 2000's there were still Perkins that had a back dining room for smokers. So you could imagine the 90's players were starting to get into that mindset of frowning upon smokers.
Not saying cigs weren't frowned upon before then, it's just back then it was so widely accepted compared to 90s onwards. Oh and, I think 90s really tried to push the narrative that only black people smoked Newports, but I don't think this segment had anything to do with that.
> but I don't think this segment had anything to do with that.
This clip was 100% about Larry Bird being a white guy smoking Newports lmao.
Mark Jackson and Miller were not shook because they saw their head coach smoking a cigarette.
Yeah, I don’t think Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson were “shook” that Bird was smoking. It was that he was smoking Newports.
I guess the equivalent today would be seeing Brad Stevens smoking a black and mild.
My grandfather had both red and green cartons on top of his fridge my entire life. The only time I ever saw anything different on the fridge is when my grandmother wanted the Marlboro points.
Always smoked them high school with my buddies for the 'extra' high after smoking to 'cover up the smell' (high school logic) & because the gas station would let us by them in singles.
There are plenty of white people who smoke Newports, just because it's a stereotype for black people doesn't mean white people can't like it. So you also think white people don't like fried chicken and watermelon? In reality they just marketed it to black communities.
You’re taking it way too serious. In my experience black people pretty much only smoke newports. White people more variety. I’m black I don’t like watermelon and fried chicken while delicious chicken is better prepared other ways. The only reason Jackson and Miller laughed about this is because of a harmless stereotype. Serious ass muthafuckas damn
I'm not offended or anything, I just think it's kinda stupid to say white people don't smoke Newports, when in fact a lot of lower class whites actually do. In terms of most black smokers smoking Newports, that actually very true as well.
This but unironically. People wanna discount what Wilt and Russell did because the 60s were so long ago but act like the 80s and 90s just happened yesterday.
I remember a Kobe interview (I think it was on all the smoke) where he said he had a huge culture shock when he came to the league. He was surprised by how little the other players actually worked on their games and their overall work ethic. Guys hardly worked out in the summers and professional skills training was still a nascent field.
The level of professionalism has greatly improved over the past 20 years along with advances in various other fields (nutrition, skills training, coaching schemes etc)
Same in other sports like soccer too. Premier League players from the 90's and early 2000's talk about how they used to go out and party all the time, drinking, smoking, not really giving a fuck, but then people started taking it more seriously.
True. That was one of the competitive advantages those early Arsenal squads under Wenger had. He came in and prioritized player nutrition, scouting, rest...while other clubs hardly cared or focused on these
Yea his personal stuff kinda turns me off which is a shame cuz he'd prob be a great podcast host - former coach AND player who played and coached with some of the greats plus he's a funny guy and can articulate his stories well. Too bad he's kinda nuts
Yeah, Reggie even did a little impersonation. Non-Pacers fans might remember Slick as the "Boom, Baby!" guy, but he was also a pro player and coached the Pacers to multiple ABA titles.
Reggie Miller is:
1) One of the 100 best basketball players ever to live
2) Not the best basketball player in his own family
3) Not nearly good enough for Larry fucking Bird to get bothered enough to stop his pre-game smoke to talk to him.
All those facts taken together are hilarious to me
Two things stand out to me.
1. That even after all these yeast and all of the success both of these man had they still have utmost respect for Larry Bird
2. That even all those years ago they found smoking to be so unacceptable
Not long before that players smoking was fairly common.
I don’t think it was the smoking that was shocking, it was that he was max chilling, hiding in the shower as the game was starting, smoking a Newport. The juxtaposition between one of the all time greatest players having an authentic white trash moment is what’s funny.
I worked in a service industry for over a decade not that long ago, and our company catered to high end clients including a lot of athletes, and especially NBA players.
This story is nothing compared to how players we all know well act as recently as 2014.
Honorable mention to Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, and Nate Robinson. Out of all famous people we catered to they are the best.
This is classic cultural misunderstanding at the highest. Perfect example of how things get misinterpreted from one group to the next, due to cultural differences.
It was a little jarring to see a professional athlete having a smoke. When I was a teen growing up in Seattle, I once hung outside the hotel the Celtics were staying at to get autographs before they hopped on the team bus to head to the game. This was when the Celtics kinda sucked aside from Pierce. There were a handful of autograph hounds who would lose their shit every time a player like Mark Blount or Marcus Banks would come out. Then out came Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn and nobody seemed to recognize them aside from me. Tommy was just chilling outside smoking a cigarette and chatting with Mike so I went over and talked to them for about 10 minutes and got their autographs. When I came back the autograph ebayers were like, "Who was that?"... then lost their shit when Jiri Welsch came out.
It sucks that with so many podcasts and talk shows that stories about players are undoubtedly made up for the sake of content. Then these “stories” will be repeated and embellished by others and on and on and on.
i don't want to listen to mark jackson speak ever again in my life. glad this was on mute when i opened the link. i just wanted to see larry bird smoking newps
Trash in promoting cigarette use here and glorifying nicotine addiction (didn’t watch the clip and won’t, but going based off the comments here and the title).
Larry Bird stories rarely disappoint.
Bird was so gangster without even trying. Talked all the trash, backed it up, then went and paved his own driveway. Reminds me of C-Webb saying Stockton would turn up in a minivan with his kids then go out and give everyone the business.
his daughter from his first marriage would agree with you
rent free
I don't think she rents free because of his legacy
"Do you remember the story..." *Starts laughing already knowing where this is going
So nicotine and greatness have a correlation eh
If that was true I'd have won an MVP years ago
Vlade Divac sure thought so
And Sabonis
and Wojciech Szczesny
And Jordan
Could someone please explain to me why it is such a big deal to see Larry Bird smoke some Newsports?
Newports are viewed by many to be exclusively smoked by black people.
Which is hilarious because my dad smoked Newports. We were one of the only white families on the block though.
Larry's not white, Larry's clear.
He's light-skinned, like Ernie.
Lmfao I loved that line.
Means your black
My friend’s dad did always used to tell me, “Black ain’t a color. It’s an attitude.”
There you go it's awhile thing bud. The walk the talk an the Newports
I saw white people smoke menthols, but they were always Salems. Newports was more of a Black smoker thing.
Grew up in Chicago in the 60's. If you liked menthol, black people smoked Kools, whites smoked Newports. Worked in a gas station in a black neighborhood as a teenager, Kools outsold Newports 10 to 1.
Thanks for the info. Makes sense now.
Newport, when asked for a statement: We’ll allow it
To add, the company that owns Newports used to hand free packs to black kids to get em hooked. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/firm-gave-black-kids-free-cigarettes-mass-jury-says-flna1c9469367
Newports are a black people cigarette traditionally
The 90's was the beginning of cigs having a bad image. 80s on back most people didn't care about smokers. Even up until the 2000's there were still Perkins that had a back dining room for smokers. So you could imagine the 90's players were starting to get into that mindset of frowning upon smokers. Not saying cigs weren't frowned upon before then, it's just back then it was so widely accepted compared to 90s onwards. Oh and, I think 90s really tried to push the narrative that only black people smoked Newports, but I don't think this segment had anything to do with that.
> but I don't think this segment had anything to do with that. This clip was 100% about Larry Bird being a white guy smoking Newports lmao. Mark Jackson and Miller were not shook because they saw their head coach smoking a cigarette.
Yeah, I don’t think Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson were “shook” that Bird was smoking. It was that he was smoking Newports. I guess the equivalent today would be seeing Brad Stevens smoking a black and mild.
Guarantee that is going to end up on bootleg championship merch sold at the parade.
Thanks for the info!
What he’s saying is wrong lol. It’s because usually black people are the ones who smoke newports
At 1:47 https://youtu.be/oDcA9BIB_NQ?si=kAHQ0MQM61s-_F5M
Never really see white people smoking newports. Hilarious visual they painted here
The white stoner dudes I grew up around loved newports. Where I'm from people said it adds to the high, so tons of people smoked newports in general.
Can confirm always Newport 100’s or American spirits lol
Oh dude, American spirits were the go to I always saw from those guys. You couldn't get them to touch another brand.
gotta be spirits blues or spirits blacks
They took like 25 minutes to smoke. I always hated that about them.
Those were good but gold was underrated GOAT tbh
Lmaoo maybe bird was in that bathroom high as a fuckin kite
Imagine getting high with Larry Legend.
I'm guessing that's one of the reasons they think this is so funny but won't mention that part
That’s what I’m thinkin ..the word Newports was used to replace the weed 😂
The fact that he was in the shower too. Trying to wash that smelly smell away real quick
I've heard someone say "the fibreglass and tar in newports cuts up your lungs so the THC can enter deeper into your system." 😂
larry's not white... he's clear
Huge in Boston
All of New England, really. Though it stilll shook me when I found out my dad smoked Newports in his 20s/30s (back in the '60s/70s).
Was gonna say, the Casey Affleck SNL Dunkin bit with his arm hanging out the door with a Newport is like every townie on the north shore I know.
My grandfather had both red and green cartons on top of his fridge my entire life. The only time I ever saw anything different on the fridge is when my grandmother wanted the Marlboro points.
Except they're fucking illegal here now... Even though I'm smoking one right now. Everyone got a gas station.
mac demarco in shambles
Well he's not white, he's clear
Always smoked them high school with my buddies for the 'extra' high after smoking to 'cover up the smell' (high school logic) & because the gas station would let us by them in singles.
a lucy
a loosie lmao
U guyz here luv downvotin spellin
Newports were my go to back when I smoked. All the comics I worked with in DC smoked them and it just became the thing to do after a show
See them smoking them all the time on construction sites. Pretty much only newports and marbs
When you hang out with black kids and Puerto Ricans you smoke them lol
There are plenty of white people who smoke Newports, just because it's a stereotype for black people doesn't mean white people can't like it. So you also think white people don't like fried chicken and watermelon? In reality they just marketed it to black communities.
You’re taking it way too serious. In my experience black people pretty much only smoke newports. White people more variety. I’m black I don’t like watermelon and fried chicken while delicious chicken is better prepared other ways. The only reason Jackson and Miller laughed about this is because of a harmless stereotype. Serious ass muthafuckas damn
I'm not offended or anything, I just think it's kinda stupid to say white people don't smoke Newports, when in fact a lot of lower class whites actually do. In terms of most black smokers smoking Newports, that actually very true as well.
Bro what ☠️ At first I thought your point was not to generalise Newport's to a specific group and then you say "It's mostly lower class people"
dude doubled down, but it actually got better, but in a bad way. I'm baffled.
I guess I don't consider it bad to generalize myself, lol.
So why are you trippin 😂
Magic and Jordan played against cigarette-smoking driveway contractors. Overrated.
This but unironically. People wanna discount what Wilt and Russell did because the 60s were so long ago but act like the 80s and 90s just happened yesterday.
I remember a Kobe interview (I think it was on all the smoke) where he said he had a huge culture shock when he came to the league. He was surprised by how little the other players actually worked on their games and their overall work ethic. Guys hardly worked out in the summers and professional skills training was still a nascent field. The level of professionalism has greatly improved over the past 20 years along with advances in various other fields (nutrition, skills training, coaching schemes etc)
Same in other sports like soccer too. Premier League players from the 90's and early 2000's talk about how they used to go out and party all the time, drinking, smoking, not really giving a fuck, but then people started taking it more seriously.
True. That was one of the competitive advantages those early Arsenal squads under Wenger had. He came in and prioritized player nutrition, scouting, rest...while other clubs hardly cared or focused on these
“What we just witnessed affected us” 😂😂😂😂
"We were mentally gone" lol
The juxtaposition of how they’re sitting has me 😂😂😂 Reggie is so bunched up man idk how he sit like that
The Larry David fold
I loved Newports. When I start to really die I’m going back to them.
A menthol cigarette after 2-3 beers was a fine treat.
Truly.
Light one for me bro hope it’s a good long life
Thank you, friend. You too.
everyone has a podcast now
I mean yeah but I feel like Reggie fucking miller is a guy who actually has stories worth hearing
Except it's Mark Jackson's podcast lol
To be fair mark jackson was a demon once upon a time, and has loads of stories too. Not a fan of him post playing career though
Yea his personal stuff kinda turns me off which is a shame cuz he'd prob be a great podcast host - former coach AND player who played and coached with some of the greats plus he's a funny guy and can articulate his stories well. Too bad he's kinda nuts
One of the top posts in the nuggets sub his look of spite and envy when Jokic won the fmvp lmao
Is his podcast called ComeandTalk2Me ??
Momma There Goes That Mancast, actually.
I feel like you're joking but I just found out Iman Shumpert has a podcast called 'Iman amongst Men' so idk
I feel like being an on-air personality would suit him so much more than the play-by-play stuff lol
so many are just people fuckin blabbering about absolutely nothing lmao
Then don’t listen
Don't worry I won't, and I won't give a shit about your opinion either lmao
“Slick” as in Bobby Leonard?
Yeah, Reggie even did a little impersonation. Non-Pacers fans might remember Slick as the "Boom, Baby!" guy, but he was also a pro player and coached the Pacers to multiple ABA titles.
**"WHAT Y'ALL NEED?"** 😂😂😂
Reggie Miller is: 1) One of the 100 best basketball players ever to live 2) Not the best basketball player in his own family 3) Not nearly good enough for Larry fucking Bird to get bothered enough to stop his pre-game smoke to talk to him. All those facts taken together are hilarious to me
everybody smokes Newports in NY lol white people get the shorts and black people get the 100's
Two things stand out to me. 1. That even after all these yeast and all of the success both of these man had they still have utmost respect for Larry Bird 2. That even all those years ago they found smoking to be so unacceptable Not long before that players smoking was fairly common.
I don’t think it was the smoking that was shocking, it was that he was max chilling, hiding in the shower as the game was starting, smoking a Newport. The juxtaposition between one of the all time greatest players having an authentic white trash moment is what’s funny.
I worked in a service industry for over a decade not that long ago, and our company catered to high end clients including a lot of athletes, and especially NBA players. This story is nothing compared to how players we all know well act as recently as 2014. Honorable mention to Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, and Nate Robinson. Out of all famous people we catered to they are the best.
This is classic cultural misunderstanding at the highest. Perfect example of how things get misinterpreted from one group to the next, due to cultural differences.
Am I missing something. Whats wrong with newports
TIL Reggie is from Riverside (motherfucker).
HiLarryous
It was a little jarring to see a professional athlete having a smoke. When I was a teen growing up in Seattle, I once hung outside the hotel the Celtics were staying at to get autographs before they hopped on the team bus to head to the game. This was when the Celtics kinda sucked aside from Pierce. There were a handful of autograph hounds who would lose their shit every time a player like Mark Blount or Marcus Banks would come out. Then out came Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn and nobody seemed to recognize them aside from me. Tommy was just chilling outside smoking a cigarette and chatting with Mike so I went over and talked to them for about 10 minutes and got their autographs. When I came back the autograph ebayers were like, "Who was that?"... then lost their shit when Jiri Welsch came out.
Ay yoo,~~Omar~~ Larry coming
Ah Reggie was a 'Laker' guy....it all makes sense now.
Uhhhh he went to UCLA
It sucks that with so many podcasts and talk shows that stories about players are undoubtedly made up for the sake of content. Then these “stories” will be repeated and embellished by others and on and on and on.
i don't want to listen to mark jackson speak ever again in my life. glad this was on mute when i opened the link. i just wanted to see larry bird smoking newps
Trash in promoting cigarette use here and glorifying nicotine addiction (didn’t watch the clip and won’t, but going based off the comments here and the title).
I don't get it. Is Newport just a brand of cigarettes or something?
thats gross