Realest of the Week - A Little Delayed

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October 21, 2005 Friday

SECTION: SPORTS

LENGTH: 111 words

HEADLINE: Larry Bird Inspires Man's Longer Jail Term

DATELINE: OKLAHOMA CITY

BODY:
A man got a prison term longer than prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed to - all because of Celtics great Larry Bird.

The lawyers reached a plea agreement Tuesday for a 30-year term for a man accused of shooting with an intent to kill and robbery. But Eric James Torpy wanted his prison term to match Bird's jersey number 33.

"He said if he was going to go down, he was going to go down in Larry Bird's jersey," Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott said Wednesday. "We accommodated his request and he was just as happy as he could be.

"I've never seen anything like this in 26 years in the courthouse. But, I know the DA is happy about it."

LOAD-DATE: October 21, 2005