The “Hick from French Lick” was born near French Lick, Indiana, as baby number four of six in his family. Things were tough for the Bird family; Joe Bird worked various jobs over the years, including factory work and construction, but was often unemployed and the family barely had enough money to keep the home heated. Their coal furnace often broke down, making winter nights particularly tough. Joe was also an alcoholic, when meant his earnings were sometimes spent at the bar instead of on bills or food for the family.
Poverty is a powerful motivator, though, and Bird said that escaping these conditions was a big reason why he pursued basketball. After two failed attempts at post-secondary schools and a stint in French Lick as a garbage man, Bird finally played for Indiana State in 1976. He was drafted to the NBA in 1978 and signed a contract in 1979 that gave him $3.25 million over five years with the Celtics.
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