Basketball legend Larry Bird cried foul over a mural in Indianapolis showing him covered in tattoos.
The mural was done by California-based street artist Jules Muck on the side of a multi-family home in Indianapolis’ Fountain Square.
The artwork depicts the basketball legend as a heavily tatted version of himself. The tattoos included two rabbits mating.
Muck said he decided to take some creative liberties with Bird’s famous 1977 Sports Illustrated cover and add tattoos to the Indiana State star’s arms, face and neck.
Apparently still very much concern with his image, Birdgot upset with the mural and demanded that the artist remove the tattoos from the artwork.
Bird was one of the few players who have no tattoos during his play days with Indiana State and Boston Celtics.
Muck said it was not his intention to offend Bird and that he just tried to add a unique twist to the iconic cover.
The 62-year-old Bird has tapped his lawyer to settle the issue.
According to Bird’s lawyer, the artist has promised to remove the tattoos except for the word “Indiana” on Bird’s forearm.
