Bird Will Cause Fuss in Boston

There is “loud” and, as homage to New England slang, there is “wicked loud.” But when the noisemeter on the FleetCenter scoreboard hits “Garden level,” then the joint is really jumpin’. And as sure as there’s a Hoosier in the house, it will be jumping Sunday at noon.

Larry Bird and Robert Parish, Garden gods and future Hall of Famers who led the Celtics to three NBA titles (1981, ‘84, ‘86), never wore Celtics uniforms in the new building. But both will be at the FleetCenter Sunday, and if there’s not a few cracks in the concrete when the shouting and standing ovations are over, then the 3-year-old Fleet will last as long as the pyramids.

Parish, “The Chief,” who played more seasons (21) and games (1,611) than anyone in history, will have his No. 00 retired and raised to the rafters at halftime ceremonies to be attended by several teammates.

The most famous, of course, is Bird, whose return as coach of the Indiana Pacers might have been seen as an act of treason by Celtics fans, were it not for their Bird worship and the circumstances that led to his leaving.

After spending five Florida-based retirement years as a loose and creaky hood ornament atop the increasingly sputtering engine that was the Celtics front office, Bird, whom Red Auerbach called the greatest Celtic ever, left the nest. Turning his proud, surgery-scarred back on what he felt were majority Owner Paul Gaston’s halfhearted attempts to keep him on board, Bird, who had never coached, returned to his Indiana roots. He accepted a $4.5 million-a-year contract to coach the Pacers before moving to the front office.

The Pacers (25-11), who failed to make the playoffs last season under Larry Brown, have won four in a row and are atop the Central Division.

Neither Bird nor Parish are known for their sentimentality, but Sunday marks a turn for both. For Parish, who was at his playing best in 14 seasons with the Celtics, only to have his image forever marred by allegations he beat his former wife, the ceremonies should lend an elegant closure to his Boston years. For Bird, a Celtic at heart, but now a Pacer, it’s a new dawn. And for Celtics’ fans, one more teary-eyed photo op, for the way they were.