Corrie Bird: Larry Bird’s Daughter, Whose Request to Attend Larry Bird Night Was Denied by Her Father

Larry Bird is an NBA all-star who’s received the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times consecutively. On top of that, he’s the only player in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year in a career. 

That’s why many fans consider him one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 

While the public was able to keep up with Larry on the field, his personal life was a mystery to most people. For instance, fans didn’t know the NBA legend had a biological daughter. 

Well, I’m here to remedy that. In today’s article, I’ll dive into the life of Corrie Bird, Larry’s eldest daughter. From her childhood to her career, I’ll cover it all. 

Corrie Bird Profile Summary

Corrie Bird’s Parents

Larry Bird and Janet Condra met at a young age. The two attended Springs Valley High School in French Lick and were childhood sweethearts. 

Then, Larry received a scholarship to play college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers under head coach Bob Knight in 1974. Although, he quit the school after about a month of classes. 

It seemed that life around the large population of Bloomington was overwhelming for the basketball player. So, he quickly moved back to his hometown and enrolled at the Northwood Institute. 

This allowed him to reconnect with Janet, and within less than a year, the couple tied the knot. However, around the same time, Larry’s career began to skyrocket. 

While this was great for his professional status, his personal life took a hit. Bird didn’t have much time for his relationship with Janet, which led to a brief separation. 

Yet, the couple reconciled in 1976 and soon later had a child, Corrie. Unfortunately, having a baby didn’t fix the issues that Larry and Janet faced in their marriage. 

So, when Corrie was just a few months old, the couple split up for the final time and filed for divorce. 

Despite her parents’ separation, Corrie endeavored to foster a positive bond with her biological dad, Larry. 

She even took up high school basketball and kept her father updated on her achievements. Yet, she was met with silence in response.

Corrie’s attempts to connect were initially overlooked by Larry, who also declined her request to attend Bird Night, a retirement celebration hosted by the Celtics in honor of Larry Bird, known as “Larry Bird Night.” 

This rejection led to significant media backlash, culminating in a February 8, 1993, headline: “Bird Ignored Daughter on His Special Night.”

Corrie Bird’s parents each found their own happiness in time. Larry then went on to marry Dinah Mattingly in 1989, while Janet found bliss with Mr. Hargrave.

Corrie Bird’s Early Life

Corrie Bird was born on the 14th of August, 1977 in Brazil, Indiana. She lived with both of her parents for a few months before their eventual breakup. 

After that, Larry Bird moved to Boston to pursue his NBA career and Janet took on the role of raising Corrie. The mother-daughter duo lived on their own until Condra met her mister right. 

Janet ran into Mr. Hargrave while Corrie was still a child and the two immediately hit it off. Then, they decided to marry. 

That’s when Mr. Hargrave took on the role of Corrie’s stepfather. 

Corrie Bird’s Education

Corrie’s education was a top priority for her parents. Both Mr. Hargrave and Janet wanted the best for their daughter.

Because of that, after Corrie graduated high school, she attended Indiana State University. There, she earned more than one degree. 

These included bachelor’s in elementary education and business administration. She also earned an MBA in health management from Wesleyan Indiana University.

Corrie Bird’s Career

Thanks to Corrie’s extensive educational background, she was able to snag many jobs throughout her career. Starting as a business office manager at St. Vincent Clay Hospital, Bird worked her way up to a registration supervisor in no time. 

During her professional journey, Corrie has worked at some of the most prestigious hospitals in Indiana. These include:

• Union Associated Physicians Clinic
• Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
• Putnam County Hospital in Greencastle, Indiana

However, Bird left her career behind to focus on starting a family. 

Corrie Bird’s Family

Corrie married her long-term boyfriend Trent Theopolis Batson in 2008. The couple have been together for over a decade and they have two children together, Violet and Sebastian Baston. 

Aside from that, we don’t know much about Corrie and Trent’s relationship. 

In other news, while Corrie doesn’t have any biological siblings, her father adopted two children, Conner and Mariah, with his wife Dinah. 

Wrapping Up

Corrie Bird is the daughter of NBA legend Larry Bird. She was born on the 14th of August and raised by her mother, Janet Condra, and stepfather, Mr. Hargrave. 

Bird would then go on to attend Indiana State University and Wesleyan Indiana University to earn degrees in business administration and elementary education. 

Finally, Corrie is happily married to Trent Theopolis Batson, and the couple has two children.