NBA

See the Larry Bird mural after artist removed nearly all tattoos at the NBA legend's request

Street artist Jules Muck removed all but one of the tattoos from the Larry Bird mural she painted in Indianapolis, leaving "INDIANA" on his left forearm, in accordance with the basketball legend's request.

"This is another human being that is obviously not liking it," she told the IndyStar. "If he was happy and thought it was funny, that's a different story."

Bird's lawyer, Gary Sallee, worked with Muck to try to reach a compromise. They agreed she could keep the black inked "INDIANA" on Bird's arm and Muck's tag "Muck Rock" somewhere on the mural -- just not embedded in a heart on his right bicep.

"And (we'll) call it a day," Muck said.

The tattoos that were removed included:

  • A spider web on the left shoulder
  • A red cardinal on the left cheek
  • Mating bunnies on the right arm
  • "Hoosier" spelled out on the neck
  • Dagger on the left cheek
  • 76 on the right upper arm
  • Shamrock on the left biceps
  • Basketball on palm
  • B-I-R-D spelled out on the fingers of his left hand
  • MUCKROCK — Muck's signature — was moved from the right biceps
A side-by-side comparison of Jules Muck's mural depicting Larry Bird before and after a majority of the tattoos were removed.