Back in 2005, Eric Torpy, an Oklahoma native and lifelong Celtics and Larry Bird fan, was in front of a judge at a hearing for his alleged involvement in an armed robbery of a Little Caesars Pizza shop a few year prior. With the jury already deciding on a guilty verdict for Torpy and an accomplice, he decided that at that exact moment was the appropriate time to pay a tribute to Celtics basketball legend Larry Bird.
In a story first reported by Boston.com, instead of simply accepting the usually handed out 30 year sentence for the crimes committed, Torpy asked for an additional 3 years, totaling 33 years behind bars, in honor of….you guessed it, Larry Bird.
Amazingly, the judge allowed it and the prisoner began serving his time in Davis Correctional Facility in Oklahoma. Torpy, who grew up in Oklahoma but idolized Bird, has some eerie fascination with Larry Legend and the number 33. He keeps a scrapbook and has a make-shift shrine to Bird inside his cell where he has tons of newspaper clippings and magazine articles that mention Bird. As you could imagine, Torpy has many tattoos, two that deserve mention are a Celtic shamrock just under his left eye and two number 3 tats, one on each elbow, that when put together reads 33.
With Torpy turning, amazingly enough, 33 years old this year he has been getting some media attention for his unusual situation. Other inmates constantly throw up 3 fingers in passing and regularly take part in shooting 3 point shots in the yard for recreation. Torpy claims to be able to connect on 6 out of 10 three point shots but adds that he cannot make a lay-up.
That was roughly 6 years ago and after spending more than half of a decade in a 10 x 15 cell, Torpy now regrets the decision to add the 3 extra years onto his punishment. After living life behind the wall for a number of years and now realizing he’s not eligible for parole until 2033, when he’s in his late 50’s, Torpy commented on his extended plea bargain and if he now regrets asking for the extra time:
“Now that I have to do that time, yes I do,’’ says Torpy. “I kind of wished that I had 30 instead of 33. Recently I’ve wisened up.” “I’m sorry, Larry Bird,’’ he says, “but I don’t love you that much to hang out to 2033. I’m ready to go out now.’’
Surrounded by razor laden barbwire fences, Torpy now works for a miniscule $16 dollars a month in the prison recreation area. Hang in there Eric, maybe one day you can earn upwards of $33 dollars a month.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
