There was golf, luxury, and illegal gambling. Thanks to local sulfur springs, spas and resorts sprung up in the region. While French Lick is most widely known, at least among sports fans, as the home of Larry Bird, the town used to be on the map for another reason. | Maddie Meyer/Getty Images, Joe Raedle/Getty Images When it came to bringing a casino to French Lick, Donald Trump outdid Larry Bird Larry Bird and Donald Trump were on opposite sides of a battle for a gaming license. Sound like a Mad Lib that someone happened to shoehorn some wacky nouns into? Let’s head back in time to check it all out. The man who ended up claiming victory? None other than Donald Trump. Bird was part of a big-time bid but ultimately lost out. There, in the early 2000s, the state was set to issue a gaming license within the town. That may have come away from the hardwood, but it did take place in French Lick, Indiana. There was, however, one showdown he lost. Even in retirement, Larry Legend proved to be a capable coach and executive. In the professional ranks, he won three NBA championships and countless other individual honors. He didn’t win an NCAA title, but he did his part and carried Indiana State to the brink of history. While no one can be perfect, Larry Bird did pretty well for himself on the basketball scene.
