The Bird-Laimbeer Clothesline: George Blaha vs. Johnny Most

May 23, 1987 - Well, times were certainly different then. For one, Bill Laimbeer & Dennis Rodman's tag team takedown of Larry Bird in Game 3 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals resulted in zero suspensions. Not only that, but the two teams were right back at it the very next day, playing a back-to-back right in the midst of the conference finals.
Above, CBS took a break from their Game 4 coverage to engage in an impromptu lesson on hometown sports media bias.
Representing Detroit: George Blaha
Representing Boston: Johnny Most
After emerging with an 18-point victory in Game 3, the Pistons doubled down in Game 4, winning 145-119. Alas, the series would end in supreme heartbreak for Detroit, with a miraculous Larry Bird steal turning the tide and leading the Celtics back to the NBA Finals.
Full sequence of the Bird takedown: • Bill Laimbeer Bodyslam...
Laimbeer's Game 4 postgame interview on the Bird takedown: • Bill Laimbeer's Interv...
Robert Parish's retaliation against Laimbeer in Game 5: • Robert Parish punches ...
Laimbeer shaking hands with Bird following the Pistons' Game 7 defeat: • Bill Laimbeer Begrudgi...
Box Score: www.basketball-reference.com/...

[@HWolfeIII]

Looking back on this at multiple angle, Dennis Rodman indeed brought Bill Laimbeer down who in turn grabbed Larry Bird and took him down in the process.

[@biggsweaty]

Excellent sir

[@jamesrandolph4577]

They don't show that angle often. As again, this shows Laimbeer did not premeditate the takedown. However, he did slam him hard and has admitted to that.

[@rew2949]

Good clean ‘80s common foul by future HOFer Mr. Laimbeer. I might concede that momentum made this look worse.

[@ayske1]

Laimbeer walloped 🎉🎉