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Kenyan orphans recreate famous 1987 Larry Bird steal

The adorable tribute video doubles as  a fundraiser for the Grace Care Orphanage in West Nairobi, Kenya.

 

Fidel Martinez

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Posted on Nov 23, 2012   Updated on Jun 2, 2021, 6:48 am CDT

Remember those Kenyan kids who recreated the final out of the 1986 World Series? They’re back and at it again.

This time around, the children of the Grace Care Orphanage in West Nairobi, Kenya have replayed the famous, final moments of game 5 of the 1987 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Detroit Pistons and the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics in a makeshift basketball court.

That game ended in dramatic fashion after Bird stole an inbound pass from Isiah Thomas with less than five seconds to go and his team down 107-106. Bird then passed it to a wide open Dennis Johnson, who made the game-winning layup.  The play was immortalized by announcer Johnny Most, whose narration you can hear in the video below.

Worthy of note in the tribute video is the child holding a sign that reads “future Sports Guy,” a nod to Grantland Editor-in-Chief Bill Simmons, who was present at the historic game.

The clip, uploaded on Tuesday by Daniel Freiman, has amassed over 15,000 votes and 180 likes. Besides amusing sports fans, it’s meant to double as a fundraiser for the orphanage. In his video description, Freiman provides a link to where viewers can donate money so that the Grace Care Orphanage can build a playing field.

“GRACE CARE CENTRE is home to over 200 children. There is nowhere for them to safely access a playing field. Please help turn their dreams into reality by contributing to this campaign, so the orphanage can purchase a field they desperately need.”

The organization hopes to raise $56,000, which will cover the costs of the field, various fees, and taxes.

Photo via Daniel Freiman/YouTube

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*First Published: Nov 23, 2012, 1:32 pm CST