Dinah Mattingly Raised 2 Adopted Children – All We Know about Larry Bird’s Wife

Dinah Mattingly is an Indian State University alumna chiefly known for her relationship and marriage to former NBA player and coach Larry Bird. Before tying the knot with Mattingly, Bird had been married to Janet Condra for a short time before divorcing in 1976.

Dinah Mattingly’s husband, Larry Bird, has a history of tumultuous relationships, including his short marriage with Janet Condra. At a young age, Bird suffered the loss of his father due to suicide. As his 1989 biography testifies, these experiences affected his relationship with Mattingly.

Furthermore, despite his friends describing him as a difficult person to live with and the 1980 NBA Rookie of The Year admitting it himself, Bird acknowledged Mattingly’s patience with him throughout the years. Soon after marrying, the couple adopted Connor and Mariah.

Larry Bird and his wife Dinah are photographed during Bob Woolf’s funeral in the Brookline neighborhood of Boston, in 1993.

Dinah Mattingly’s Father Worked in the FBI Office

Dinah Mattingly graduated from Terre Haute High School before moving to Indiana State University to attain her business degree. According to her husband’s biography, at the time of publication, Mattingly’s family now lives in Indianapolis, where her dad continues working with Indianapolis Colts and helps them with security.

While Mattingly was still in high school, her dad worked for the local FBI office in Terre Haute. With the belief that his wife should be able to buy her own clothes and non-essential items, and after landing a $3.2 million deal, Bird requested that Mattingly finds employment.

Mattingly went on to work as a Kelly girl for nearly two years. Bird’s friends also testified that Mattingly was a significant pillar of strength, going as far as saying Bird wouldn’t be able to function without her. From the time they met and throughout their relationship, she helped to keep his life in order and was often described as a “saint.”

Dinah (Mattingly) Bird photographed as she watches during his press conference at Market Square Arena | Source: Getty Images

Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird Met in College

Mattingly and her husband were both new students at Indiana State University; however, Bird only attended for 24 days before dropping out. During her time there, Mattingly went out with many basketball players. She spent her downtime in a popular student hangout called Ballyhoo – where she met her husband.

Mattingly made her interest in Bird known among her peers. By spring, the pair’s romance had ensued. However, Bird and Mattingly started dating while he was still married to Janet Condra, Bird’s ex-wife, who was six months pregnant at the time. Four months before, Condra had felt ill for an entire week before needing to visit the E.R.

One night, after taking some medication, she decided to go to bed immediately but had difficulty falling asleep. Condra awoke her then-husband asked him to take her to the E.R., who called her “a big baby,” and went back to sleep. Fearing for herself and her baby’s health, she called their mutual friend Tony Clark.

Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics is photographed while shooting a foul shot against the Houston Rockets during an NBA basketball game circa 1981 at The Summit in Houston, Texas | Source: Getty Images

Clark agreed to take Condra to the hospital, where she was admitted. Fortunately, her condition did not cause too much concern, and her baby was safe. However, Bird only showed up to see her the day she was discharged.

As his biography states, that incident was the first of a few others – and it was the beginning of the end for the former couple. Condra was upset when she learned about Bird and Mattingly. When she confronted him, he pushed her, causing her to fall on her bum.

Although she wasn’t physically hurt, she recalled how embarrassed she felt as he had done so in front of their friend, Clark. Nearly a decade after his divorce from Condra, Bird shared some bitter feelings about his first marriage, stating that it was the worst decision he’d ever made.

He continued to describe a dream in which both Mattingly and Condra were present, where Condra was trying to win him over. Bird would then turn to Mattingly and tell her that he didn’t want to return to his ex-wife. The biography also stated how Condra recalled having a similar dream where she tried to win Bird over from Mattingly.

After dating for over a decade, Bird finally asked Mattingly to be his wife in 1987. However, his proposal was unconventional. Mattingly and her husband were in his home when he simply told her she could wear the ring if she wanted as he handed it to her.

Mattingly’s relationship with Bird still had its ups and down. Per the biography, there was a year in which the couple barely spent any time together, and Mattingly would stay with her parents for months at a time. At one point, Bird himself had asked her to leave.

Bird even bought Mattingly a BMW to calm her anger when she learned he was “seeing other people.” Regardless of some bumps in the road, Bird’s relationship with Mattingly helped him deal with some of the traumatic events that occurred in his life.

They Got Married after 12 Years of a Relationship

Dinah Mattingly and her husband’s marriage was officiated during a five-minute ceremony in Terre Haute, where they both wore stone-washed jeans, on October 31, 1989. Bird was still recovering from an injury he incurred and subsequent surgery. His recovery period lasted between 1988 and 1989.

Dinah Mattingly Always Supported Larry Bird

Mattingly has been with her husband for over three decades, supporting his career from conception to end. In August 1979, she accompanied him to his first rookie match at Camp Millbrook – where she wasn’t so welcome.

Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird photographed while posing with the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award in the press room during the 2019 NBA Awards in Santa Monica | Source: Getty Images

Bird had also expressed his disapproval at the inaccuracy of the court design. In 1986, Bird delivered a stellar performance on the court with The Celtics, earning the team a 122-91 score. Mattingly, his long-time supporter, and adviser couldn’t help but snap, saying:

“Where are the people who don’t wanna pay him now!?”

However, when the time came for Bird to leave his career as a player, she didn’t take it too well. Bird sent his wife to their West Brook home as he worried about the emotional toll it would take on her. Per his biography, Mattingly was at a salon doing her hair when the news broke on the radio, leaving her teary-eyed.

Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird Have Two Adopted Children

Mattingly and Bird’s adopted children are Connor and Mariah Bird. Tuko reported that Mariah Bird is a professional events manager with a degree in science and recreation from Indiana State University. Not much is known about her personal life, as Mariah prefers to keep it under wraps.

Connor Bird is the couple’s only son who often lands himself in hot waters with the law. In 2013, he faced several criminal charges, including possession of marijuana and battery with injury when he tried to run his ex-girlfriend over with his car. In 2011, he was arrested for underage drinking and disorderly conduct.

Born August 14, 1977, Corrie Bird is Larry Bird‘s only biological daughter from his previous marriage with Condra. His lack of a relationship with her is credited to his unpleasant marriage with her mom. Regardless, Corrie often made efforts to be part of his life, including writing letters to him and sending report cards.

Dinah (Mattingly), Larry, and Mariah Bird are photographed as they enter the “Late Show With David Letterman” taping in New York City | Source: Getty Images

She was an excellent athlete in college and now leads a successful managerial career. Corrie is also married to Trent Theopolis Batson, and the couple has two children. Bird took a job as the Indiana Pacers coach, leading him to move closer to Corrie.

After Mattingly left Corrie two tickets to one of the Indiana Pacers games, Corrie had her first conversation with her dad, after which he walked her to her car and hugged her. As reported by Sports Casting, despite missing a good part of her life, Bird is proud of Corrie and the life she’s led for herself.

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