Larry Bird is one of the most well-known basketball players ever. He set records, won titles, and became an NBA legend. He was just a young man from a small town who fell in love before all of that. Janet Condra, his high school sweetheart, was once a big part of his life. They were young and in love, and they thought they would be together forever. In 1975, they got married. But things didn’t go as planned, and they split up after only a year of marriage.
Their relationship didn’t end totally, even though their love story wasn’t long. When they got divorced, Janet found out she was going to have their daughter, Corrie Bird. Larry Bird wasn’t very involved in her life after she had Corrie in 1977. Janet had to raise their daughter by herself because of this. Larry worked hard on his basketball job, and Janet did everything she could to give Corrie a good life.
A lot of people are curious about what happened to Janet after she married Larry Bird. Did she get married again? What did she do to rebuild her life after getting divorced? Where is she now? We will look at Janet’s life before and after her time with Larry Bird in this piece. We’ll talk about her job, her life as a single mum, and her choice to stay out of the public eye. Let’s jump right in!
The Early Years of Janet Condra
Janet Condra was born in American small town French Lick in the 1950s. Larry Bird also grew up there. Everyone in French Lick knew each other because it was a quiet town. People looked out for each other and life was easy there. People in that town were like family to each other, and kids played outside until it got dark. This is where Janet grew up.
Janet had a simple and happy life, just like most kids in small towns. She was involved in school events while she was at Springs Valley High School. People there liked Janet because she was friendly and full of life. She met a great basketball player named Larry Bird at this time. At that time, no one knew he would become a basketball star.
Janet and Larry quickly fell in love in high school. People in their town thought they were a great pair because they spent a lot of time together and went to school events together. They seemed to be a great match, and they were ready to take their relationship to the next level after high school. For a while, they thought their love would last, but life had other ideas. Let’s look into the whole story.
The story of how Janet Condra and Larry Bird fell in love
The love story between Janet Condra and Larry Bird began when they were kids. They were young and happy, and they thought they would always be together. They were friends and went to school dances, sports games, and family gatherings.
Larry’s mind was already on basketball. He worked on his game for a long time because he wanted to be a great player one day. But Janet was always there for him, even when he was busy. She was there for him, cheered him on, and believed in his dreams. In French Lick, everyone knew they were a great match. Yes, they stayed together even when Larry went to Indiana State Tech. Larry wasn’t well-known at that point. He was just a freshman in college playing hoops.
Lawrence and Janet’s Short Marriage
Janet and Larry got married in November 1975, after being together for a long time. They thought they would be happy together, but it didn’t work out that way. They were both young and still getting to know each other. Larry was very dedicated to basketball and spent most of his time training and striving to reach his goals. They couldn’t stay close because of this.
They were married for less than a year before they split up. In 1976, they split up. A lot of people think that the fact that they were young and Larry’s basketball career were big reasons why they broke up. Larry was working hard to make it in basketball, while Janet might have wanted a simpler, more safe life. It became clear to them that they were too different to be happy together.
They were no longer together, but their story wasn’t over. Let us see what comes next!
The birth of their daughter
A few months after getting divorced, Janet Condra learnt she was going to have a child. Her daughter was named Corrie Bird, and she was born in August 1977. It should have been a happy time for both parents, but it wasn’t. Most dads are there for their kids, but Larry Bird wasn’t.
Lawrence didn’t think Corrie was his daughter at first. It was hard for Janet because he said he wasn’t her father. A DNA test was done to show that Larry was really the father. After that, he agreed with it, but he was still not a big part of Sarah’s life. Janet had to take care of their baby by herself.
It’s never easy to be a mum by yourself, but Janet did everything she could to make sure Corrie had a good life. Lawrence was busy playing basketball and becoming a big NBA star while Janet took care of her. He didn’t have time for his family. Janet loved and cared for Corrie even when Larry wasn’t there.
Larry Bird didn’t spend time with his daughter.
Larry Bird became popular in the NBA, but he didn’t spend much time with his daughter Corrie. He didn’t help raise her or spend time with her. Janet took care of everything and raised Corrie by herself. They had a good life together even when Larry wasn’t around.
Lawrence didn’t go see Corrie, but he did open a bank account for her. The money was hers until she turned 18. He did this to show that he cared, but he wasn’t there as a father.
At the same time, Janet was always there for Corrie. She took care of her daughter and loved her, taking on the roles of both mother and father.
What Janet Condra Did After Her Divorce
While many ex-wives of famous people want to be famous or get public attention, Janet never did. She never gave a big talk about her marriage to Larry Bird and she didn’t write a book about it.
She decided to live a quiet life away from the attention of everyone else. Lawrence Bird was making history in basketball, but Janet was focused on having a child and making her own plans for the future.
To stay out of the public eye, she chose, which shows that not everyone close to a star wants attention. She made her life quiet and normal because that’s what she wanted.
Janet’s Job as a Mail Carrier
Since she was no longer married, Janet worked as a mail worker in Indiana. It wasn’t a fancy job, but it was steady and gave her a reason to live.
She stayed in touch with her neighbourhood by delivering mail and meeting new people every day. She liked her job for its own sake and being able to support her daughter on her own.
Janet was happy with her life, even though she wasn’t making as much money as her ex-husband.
The second time Janet Condra got married
After her breakup with Larry Bird, Janet went on and got married again. She married a guy named Mike Deakins, but she didn’t tell anyone about this relationship like she did with her first husband.
Since not much is known about her second marriage, it seems like she was trying to live a normal life without the media getting in the way.
This was yet another sign that Janet Condra never wanted fame. She only wanted to be happy and safe.
In what place is Janet Condra now?
Janet Condra still keeps her private life going today. It is thought that she is still in Indiana, living a happy life away from hoops.
She doesn’t use social media, doesn’t go to public events, and hasn’t talked about her life in years. Some news sources say she might want to be a guide to young women, but this has not been confirmed. Just the way she wanted it, her story stays quiet and private.
Last Thoughts
The story of Janet Condra is really amazing. She used to be married to Larry Bird, but they split up, and she chose to live a quiet life.
Larry’s fame could have kept her in the spotlight, but she didn’t want that. She instead focused on taking care of her kid and having a simple job.
Not everyone wants to be popular, as her story shows. In the public eye, some people, like Janet, would rather have a quiet and normal life. Do you believe she made the best choice?
(FAQs)
Who was the first woman Larry Bird married?
He married Janet Condra for the first time. They fell in love in high school and married in 1975. But they were only married for a short time. In 1976, they got a divorce.
How old is Janet Condra?
There is no public record of Janet Condra’s exact birth year. She was born in the 1950s. She is probably in her early to mid-70s by 2025.
Larry Bird and Janet Condra: Did they have kids?
Yes, Janet and Larry did have a girl. Her name was Corrie Bird, and she was born in August 1977. After they split up, Janet raised Corrie by herself because Larry wasn’t very involved in her life.
Did Janet Condra get married again?
In fact, Janet Condra did marry someone else, whose name was Mike Deakins. This relationship was more private than her first marriage, and she stayed out of the public eye.
Does Larry Bird have a wife now?
He is married to Dinah Mattingly and has been since 1989. They have been together for more than 35 years and have adopted two children, Connor and Mariah.