A Larry Bird Fan That Was Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison Asked For An Extra 3 Years To Match The Celtics Legend’s Number 33

NBA fans are some of the most passionate people on this planet, they live and breathe for their favorite teams and players. Debates rage across social media daily about which player is the GOAT, which players make it to the Top 5, and which legends would beat other legends if they played in the same era. And as the world has changed, so has the fanaticism of some supporters. 

LeBron James has stans that will defend him against anything anyone has to say. The same is true for Michael Jordan, whose fans constantly keep reminding everyone about that he is the GOAT. But when it comes to superfans, probably no NBA superstar in NBA history can match Larry Bird, whose greatness once inspired a fan of his, Eric James Torpy, to get his prison sentence increased as part of a plea bargain to honor bird. ESPN reported on the story in 2005. 

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“A man got a prison term longer than prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed to because of Larry Bird. The lawyers reached a plea agreement Tuesday for a 30-year term for a man accused of shooting with an intent to kill and robbery. But Eric James Torpy wanted his prison term to match Bird’s jersey number 33.

“‘He said if he was going to go down, he was going to go down in Larry Bird’s jersey,’ Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott said Wednesday. ‘We accommodated his request and he was just as happy as he could be. I’ve never seen anything like this in 26 years in the courthouse.

It is insane to think that any human being would get their prison sentence increased just to honor the legacy of a basketball player. But Torpy was a bird superfan, and it probably made sense to him at the time. Since then, though, he has admitted to regretting it. 

Eric James Torpy Said He Regretted Asking To Get His Prison Sentence Extended

Things like this always sound better than the reality of what a person has to go through. While Torpy was the one that asked to have his sentence increased, he spoke to the Boston Globe in 2011, admitting that he regretted that decision. 

“Now that I have to do that time, yes I do,’’ says Torpy. “I kind of wished that I had 30 instead of 33. Recently I’ve wisened up. That three is a big deal, you know? Three years matters.’’

He went on to express his loyalty and love for Larry Bird nonetheless, though, claiming that Larry Legend superseded all other basketball icons. 

“Larry Bird is a legend,” he says. “To me, he supersedes all basketball legends. I told them, ‘Look, you might as well just give me three more and give me a number I like.’ And I’ve always liked Larry Bird. And I’ve always liked the Boston Celtics.’’ 

Ultimately, this is one of the more bizarre stories ever told. Considering how down-to-earth and sensible Bird was, though, it’s unlikely he was too impressed when he heard about this decision. But one thing everyone can agree with Torpy on is that Larry Legend is without a doubt one of the greatest to ever do it.