Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about basketball and whether they are true or false. Click here to view an archive of the basketball urban legends featured so far.

BASKETBALL URBAN LEGEND: A convicted man asked for his sentence to be INCREASED to honor his favorite basketball player.

Eric James Torpy was in a bind in October of 2005.

The Oklahoma City man was charged with shooting with intent to rob and kill.

His defense attorney and the prosecutors worked out a plea agreement for Torpy – he would plead guilty and serve 30 years for the charge.

Torpy, though, had a different idea in mind.

Going under the notion that 33 years was not much different than 30 years (I don’t know if I should even say “going under the notion,” as it makes it sound like he was using logic), Torpy petitioned the court to EXTEND the agreed upon sentence from 30 years to 33 years.

Why?

Why to honor his favorite basketball player, Larry Bird, #33, of course!

I sure hope for EVERYone’s sake that this is the oddest tribute that Larry Bird has ever received.

The legend is…

STATUS: True

Feel free (heck, I implore you!) to write in with your suggestions for future urban legends columns! My e-mail address is bcronin@legendsrevealed.com