In tonight's Pacers news update, when the Indiana Pacers' Lance Stephenson blew into the ear of LeBron James during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Twitter quickly took hold of the footage and turned into one of the biggest sports memes of recent memory.
However, Stephenson's new-found Internet celebrit didn't impress Pacers president Larry Bird, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports: "Asked via text message if he was bothered by Stephenson blowing in James' ear, Pacers president Larry Bird replied, 'Yes I am.'"
Per James Herbert of CBSSports.com (via Stephen Babb of Bleacher Report), Stephenson might have something to say on the matter - but he's deciding to hold his tongue for now -
Stephenson himself didn't comment on it, and after all the talking that he's done in this series, that was probably a wise move. He might not have changed his on-court antics -- he also joined a Miami huddle and earned a flopping fine in Game 5 -- but his team definitely delivered a message about his public remarks. Bird would approve of that, at least.
The only thing Stephenson did say about the incident, according to IndyStar's Zac Keefer, is that he was "just playing ball."
One thing's for certain. When Stephenson is "playing ball," it sure is must-see television.
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