I don't remember him that way at all as a player or coach...he'd play dirty, he was tough but he wasn't a loud vocal guy...he'd walk off the court without many words for anyone..he left his game on the court...off court he disappeared. The story in the day was Magic was the loud, showy guy and Bird was the sulking blue collar guy who wouldn't shake Magic's hand....very few were ever as competitive as Larry Bird...but he wasn't verbally flashy from my recollection..I never saw him play live...maybe he muttered trash talk all game...I just know he came off as sullen and withdrawn and hated to talk to the media