Red & Larry Play Tennis, Red Keeps Score, Red Wins

Larry Bird's summer got off to a slow start. He dropped his annual challenge tennis match with Red Auerbach, 6-4, 6-4, although the outcome was marked by some questionable scorekeeping on the general manager's part.

"We were tied, 8-8, in the first set when I asked Red the score," said Bird. "He said it was 2-1. I said how can it be 2-1? Easy,' he said. I won the first set, 6-4, and now I'm ahead, 2-1.' Next time I keep score."

Coach Bill Fitch, who had a dollar riding on Bird, cautioned Auerbach that he might have made a mistake in winning. "Larry's mad as hell, Red. He says he's going to take it out on you the next time he sits down to talk contract."