Larry Bird has mellowed in his old age. (Getty Images)
Larry Bird has mellowed in his old age. (Getty Images)

Once upon a time, Larry Bird was the greatest trash-talker of them all. The Hick from French Lick used to absolutely tear down his opponents with his mouth. While Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Gary Payton and others would come along to top him, Bird still goes down as one of the flat-out coolest trash-talkers in the league. 

But in a terrific interview with the Dan Patrick Show on Monday, it became clear that Basketball Jesus has gone soft in his old age. He admits Michael Jordan would "crush him" one-on-one these days.

From the Score.com: 

"I hate to admit this, but (Jordan) would kill me," a jovial Bird said. "I'm forty pounds more than I was when I played, I'm broken down, I really don't care like I used to ... I have a fight in me but it's not the fight that I once had."
However, the hyper-competitive Bird did give himself some rightful credit. "But it would be a pretty close game," Bird added.

Source: Larry Bird: Michael Jordan 'would kill me' in game of 1-on-1 | theScore. 

This one's pretty obvious. Jordan said back in June he could take all the Hornets one-on-one, right now. He dunked two weeks ago. He's kept himself in shape (although he's also still partying it up, apparently). It is kind of interesting that Bird admitted that his "fight" isn't the same. This was one of the most competitive guys on the planet. But eventually, that all fades away. 

Unless you're MJ. 

Because that's what makes him Jordan. Winner then, winner now, winner forever. Except as an executive. Then not so much.