Larry Bird says Chicago doesn't compare to Boston as a sports town

Larry Bird has a history of trying to get under Chicago’s skin, and it appears he’s at it again.

In a recent interview with the Boston Globe, the Celtics legend and Indiana Pacers team president said Chicago doesn’t compare to Boston as a sports town.

“There’s no sports town like Boston. I don’t care where you go,” Bird said to the Globe. “They talk about Chicago and Philadelphia. No. They don’t ever compare to Boston. I mean, there’s ladies in their 90s and they can name every player on the Red Sox and Patriots team. You just don’t have it anywhere like that.”

Bird won three NBA championships with Boston in the 1980s just as the Michael Jordan era was beginning in Chicago.

In a 1987 game in Chicago, Bird scored 33 first-half points, then taunted Chicago’s bench.

Via Fox Sports:

In 1986, the Celtics won 67 games and Bird won his third consecutive MVP in leading Boston to its 16th championship in 22 years.

When asked by the Globe if that team was the greatest in NBA history, Bird refrained from taking another shot at Chicago, where the ’96 Bulls are widely considered the all-time best.

“I don’t know about all time, but it was by far the best I ever played on,” Bird said, via the Boston Globe. “When I went to training camp, I knew that if we stayed healthy, no one could come close to beating us. And that was before we lost Sly Williams. He was unbelievable.’’

WATCH: Michael Jordan takes on Larry Bird in 1993 McDonald’s commercial