French Lick

From Bloomberg News

Man Demands More Jail Time to Honor Hero Larry Bird

Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- A 27-year-old man demanded extra prison time because he wanted to honor his basketball hero, Larry Bird. A lawyer for Eric James Torpy reached a plea agreement with Oklahoma City prosecutors for a 30-year jail term on two charges of shooting with intent to kill and one count of a violation, District Court Judge Ray Elliott said in a telephone interview. Torpy then insisted on getting 33 years to match the uniform number Bird wore when he led the Boston Celtics to three National Basketball Association Championships during the 1980s, Elliott said. The judge on Oct. 18 accommodated his guest.

``He told his attorney that Larry Bird was his long-time hero, and that if he was going to go to prison he wanted to go down with that number,'' Elliott said. Under Oklahoma law, prisoners must serve 85 percent of their sentence before being eligible for parole, Elliott said. Torpy understood that and told his lawyer that it didn't matter, the judge said. ``In 26 years, I've never seen an individual request more time,'' Elliott said. ``They're generally begging and pleading for less time. But he was as happy as he could be.''

Bird, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player who is now an executive with the Indiana Pacers, didn't immediately return a message left at his office. ``Maybe Bird will autograph a jersey for him,'' Elliott said.