When basketball fans think of Larry Bird, they remember the NBA legend who led the Boston Celtics to three championships. However, few know about Janet Condra, Bird’s first wife, who has lived a remarkably private life despite her connection to one of basketball’s greatest players.
Early Life and High School Romance
Janet Condra grew up in French Lick, Indiana—the same small town where Larry Bird was raised. The two met as teenagers at Springs Valley High School in the early 1970s and became high school sweethearts. In this tight-knit community where everyone knew everyone, their relationship was well-known and supported.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Hometown | French Lick, Indiana |
| School | Springs Valley High School |
| Relationship | High school sweethearts |
| Era | Early 1970s |
Janet was described as kind, soft-spoken, and steady—providing a grounding presence during Bird’s turbulent youth, especially after his father’s suicide in 1975.
The Brief Marriage
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 1975 | Janet Condra and Larry Bird marry |
| October 31, 1976 | Divorce finalized (less than one year) |
| August 14, 1977 | Daughter Corrie Bird is born |
The couple married in November 1975 when both were barely out of their teens. At the time, Bird was navigating his college career—having left Indiana University after 24 days and eventually enrolling at Indiana State University.
Why the Marriage Failed
The marriage collapsed under multiple pressures:
- Age and Immaturity: Both were teenagers with limited life experience
- Tragic Circumstances: Bird’s father’s suicide created emotional trauma
- Career Demands: Bird’s emerging basketball career required increasing time and focus
- Financial Stress: Young couple struggling with limited resources
- Physical Distance: Separation as Bird pursued basketball at Indiana State
The marriage lasted only about eleven months before the couple separated and officially divorced in October 1976.
Raising Corrie Bird as a Single Mother
Despite their divorce, Janet gave birth to their daughter Corrie on August 14, 1977. The relationship between Larry and his daughter was strained for many years—Bird initially denied paternity until a DNA test confirmed he was the father.
Janet’s Parenting Approach
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Residence | Indiana |
| Profession | Mail carrier |
| Parenting Style | Focused on stability and privacy |
| Values Instilled | Education, independence, self-reliance |
Bird later admitted: “I can’t honestly say I’ve had much to do with her life because of my differences with Janet. I think about Corrie all the time, but what can I really do now? I can’t go back and relive the first five or six years of her life.”
Janet worked multiple jobs, including as a mail carrier, to provide for Corrie. She shielded her daughter from media attention and never sought to profit from her connection to Bird through interviews or tell-all stories.
Corrie Bird Today
Thanks to Janet’s emphasis on education and self-sufficiency, Corrie built a successful life:
Corrie’s Achievements:
- Graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Indiana State University (1999)
- Earned MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University
- Works in healthcare administration
- Married Trent Theopolis Batson in 2008
- Mother to Violet Marie Batson (born 2012) and Sebastian Grey Smith (born 2017)
The father-daughter relationship eventually improved. In 1998, when Bird coached the Indiana Pacers, his wife Dinah gave Corrie tickets to a game. Corrie later shared: “Dad seemed interested in what I had to say. He walked me to my car, and he hugged me.”
Life After Divorce
Janet’s Second Marriage
Janet eventually remarried Mike Deakins in a private ceremony. They have maintained complete privacy, with reports suggesting they may have had a daughter named Mandy, though details remain unconfirmed.
The Power of Privacy
Janet’s life choices stand in stark contrast to today’s culture:
- No social media presence (no Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter)
- No published interviews about Larry Bird
- No attempts to monetize her connection to fame
- No reality TV or media appearances
- Complete privacy maintained for over 40 years
Larry Bird’s Second Marriage: A Comparison
Bird found lasting love with Dinah Mattingly, whom he married in 1989.
| Aspect | First Marriage | Second Marriage |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 1975 | 1989 |
| Duration | Less than 1 year | 35+ years (ongoing) |
| Children | 1 biological (Corrie) | 2 adopted (Connor, Mariah) |
| Bird’s Age | 18-19 | 32 |
| Status | Struggling student | NBA superstar |
The timing difference is crucial—Bird was an established NBA legend with financial security and emotional maturity by his second marriage, factors completely absent during his union with Condra.
Key Lessons from Janet Condra’s Story
Privacy as a Choice
Janet demonstrates that:
- Fame by association is optional
- Privacy can be maintained with discipline
- Personal dignity doesn’t require public validation
- Silence can be more powerful than speaking out
Single Parenthood Resilience
Janet provided Corrie with:
- Emotional stability despite her father’s absence
- Financial support through consistent work
- Protection from media exploitation
- A foundation for building her own success
- A model of dignity and self-sufficiency
The Reality of Young Marriage
The Condra-Bird marriage illustrates the challenges of marrying too young, especially when facing:
- Rapid career evolution
- External tragedies and financial stress
- Incomplete identity formation
- Lack of emotional maturity and communication skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Janet Condra? Janet Condra is Larry Bird’s first wife and the mother of his daughter Corrie. She has maintained an extremely private life, working as a mail carrier in Indiana and avoiding all public attention.
How long were they married? They married in November 1975 and divorced in October 1976—approximately eleven months.
What does Janet Condra do now? She worked as a mail carrier for many years and has remarried Mike Deakins. Current details remain private as she has no public social media or media presence.
What is Janet Condra’s net worth? Estimates place her net worth around $500,000, though this is speculative as she keeps all financial details private.
Did Larry Bird have a relationship with Corrie? The relationship was extremely strained for years. Bird initially denied paternity. They began reconciling in the late 1990s, and their relationship has improved significantly since.
Conclusion
Janet Condra’s story is about dignity and choice. While her brief marriage to Larry Bird placed her in basketball history’s orbit, she refused to let that connection define her entire life. She raised a successful daughter, built a stable second marriage, and maintained her privacy for over four decades.
In a culture obsessed with celebrity exposure and monetizing personal connections, Janet Condra represents a rare alternative: living life on your own terms. She proves that proximity to fame doesn’t obligate participation in it, that silence can be strength, and that the most meaningful legacies are often built quietly, away from cameras and headlines.
Her greatest achievement isn’t her connection to an NBA legend—it’s demonstrating that ordinary people connected to extraordinary fame have the right to remain ordinary, protect their peace, and write their own stories.
