Growing up the Sports star is one of the first people kids idolise, this dissaptes over time, or at least it should. People realise as they mature that those high paid stars of the sportsworld are just regular folk like you and me.They just have extra powers that let them control an round object or take a blow to the head without immediate damage.
Then there are people who are fans first, humans second. People who live and breathe their chosen sport and club to the bitter end.
Eric Torpy is one of those guys.
In 2005 Eric requested that his 30 year sentence be extended by 3 more years in dedication to his most favourite of basketball players, Larry Bird.
From the Boston Globe
In October 2005, Torpy asked an Oklahoma County judge to tack on three more years to his 30-year prison sentence for armed robbery and two counts of shooting with intent to kill.
“He said if he was going down, he was going to go down in Larry Bird’s jersey,’’ Oklahoma District Judge Ray Elliott told the Associated Press back then. “He was just as happy as he could be.’’
But after sharing a 10-foot-by-15-foot cell at the Davis Correctional Facility for the last six years, Torpy regrets asking for the extra time.
“Now that I have to do that time, yes I do,’’ says Torpy. “I kind of wished that I had 30 instead of 33. Recently I’ve wisened up.
“That three is a big deal, you know? Three years matters.’’
Torpy will turn 33 this year and is not eligible for parole until 2033.
The 33 imagery doesn’t end there. Put his arms together and the tattoos on his elbows read “33.’’ He also has a small green shamrock tattooed near his eye.
“I’ll always represent Larry Bird,’’ he says. “He’ll always be on me.’’
