Bird Joins Celtic Workout, Appears Ready

Larry Bird’s sore back apparently won’t keep him from flying to Barcelona with the U.S. Olympic basketball team Saturday.

Bird made a surprise appearance Monday at the Boston Celtics’ rookie camp at Waltham, Mass., participated in drills and scrimmaged. He left before talking with reporters, but trainer Ed Lacerte said Bird seemed fit.

Bird played in two of the six games the United States had in the recent Tournament of the Americas, but Lacerte said he recovered quickly from his most recent problem because he stopped playing immediately after feeling pain during a game against Cuba.