A planned museum will tell the story of basketball great Larry Bird and his Indiana roots.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Saturday that the museum will be part of a convention center being built in Terre Haute in western Indiana. Bird plans to donate personal items and memorabilia from his career with the Boston Celtics, Indiana State University, the U.S. Olympic team and beyond, The Tribune-Star in Terre Haute reported.
Holcomb predicts the museum will be a global draw, describing Bird as "Larry the Legend -- Indiana's favorite son."
"To have this museum, which symbolizes what being a Hoosier is all about -- hard work, determination and striving to be the best -- and to have that in Terre Haute, that's just a match made in heaven and I can't wait to see it," Holcomb said.
Bird grew up in French Lick, Ind. He led Indiana State, which is in Terre Haute, to the NCAA title game in 1979, where the Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson's Michigan State team.
Details about the museum are still being developed, but plans include interactive displays about Bird's life and career. He won three NBA championships with the Celtics.
Construction on the convention center is expected to start in the spring. The Vigo County Capital Improvement Board recently approved a more than $1.6 million contract with CSO Architects for the project.
Troubled champs
Are the Philadelphia Eagles in trouble?
Mark Maske of the Washington Post believes they may be.
The defending Super Bowl champions blew a 17-0 lead Sunday and lost 21-17 at home to the Carolina Panthers to fall to 3-4.
"For Philadelphia, this season was supposed to be about transitioning back to Carson Wentz as its franchise quarterback after winning the Super Bowl with backup Nick Foles filling in," Maske wrote. "The Eagles kept Foles rather than trading him in the offseason and had the luxury of allowing Wentz to work his way back into the lineup this season when he was fully ready, and not a moment before, with a reigning Super Bowl MVP to hold things together in the meantime.
"Even in the event of a Super Bowl hangover, wouldn't the return of a league MVP candidate at quarterback give the champs staying power this season? The Eagles might not have had the makings of a dynasty. But they certainly seemed poised to be a contender again this season.
"Instead, it's been so far, so not-so-good. The offense hasn't gotten going, making it one step forward, one step back for the Eagles all season. They've yet to win two games in a row. They've lost three of their last four games, and their record dropped to 3-4 with Sunday's defeat. The Eagles were coming off a road victory over the Giants 10 days earlier, but failed to build on that.
"There remains time for the Eagles to pull things together and possibly win the NFC East. No one in the division looks all that formidable. The Eagles, at their best, remain the division's top team.
"It's not time to count out the Eagles. But it is time to wonder whether they'll be able to pull things together."
Sports on 10/23/2018