Byrd Family Nests In Atlantic City

What an exciting time to be a member of the Byrd family tree.

Chris Byrd, shown here with his father Joe and mother Rose.

Shock Assistant Coach Laurie Byrd scored a school record 41 points in a game for Flint Hamady High School as a prep athlete.

While newly named Detroit Shock Assistant Coach Laurie Byrd prepares for her first season in the professional basketball coaching ranks in the WNBA, her younger brother Chris is set to fight Evander Holyfield for the vacant International Boxing Federation heavyweight title December 14th in Atlantic City, N.J. (Note: Byrd defeated Holyfield by a unanimous decision to win the title.) Keeping with the family theme, joining Chris ring-side at Boardwalk Hall will be his trainers, Joe Byrd (father) and Rose Byrd (mother).

BYRD FAMILY TREE OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES Joe (father) Trainer and former prized fighter, amateur and professional ('92 US Olympic Boxing Head Coach) Rose (mother) Trainer, boxing Joe Boxer, amateur and professional Timmy Boxer, amateur and professional Laurie Professional basketball player/coach Kay Runner, recently qualified for the 2003 Boston Marathon Ronnie Boxer, amateur and professional Tracy Boxer, professional Patrick Boxer, amateur and professional Chris Boxer, amateur and professional

�Our entire family will be in Atlantic City for the fight, whether participating or watching,� said Laurie, who was named assistant coach by Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer on October 17th.

�My sister Tracy has it set up for all of us brothers and sisters to be seated together in what is being dubbed the �Byrd Nest�. We�re all excited for this event. This is an ideal fight for Chris as he�s finally getting his due. As the number one contender, Chris could have chosen to fight any of the top ten ranked heavyweights, but he wanted to fight the best and Evander was next in line.�

Chris Byrd, a fast, clever southpaw, will fight former four-time World Champion Holyfield at Boardwalk Hall. It shapes up as a battle of speed and skill against strength and ruggedness. Byrd is 35-2, with 20 KO�s, Holyfield 38-5-2 with 25 KO�s.

�It�s great, I can�t ask for much more,� said Chris, who now lives and trains in Las Vegas. �I�m fighting one of the all-time greats in Holyfield. I�ve been very patient, but I�m going to take full advantage of this opportunity.�

The entire Byrd family is gifted athletically, and all are involved at the professional level within their sport. �My younger brothers Timmy, Ronnie and Patrick are also boxers, my sister Tracy is a boxer and is fighting December 21st, and my sister Kay just qualified to run in the 2003 Boston Marathon,� said Laurie. �We grew up in a large, caring family in Flint (Mich.). All of us were athletically-inclined, and training was a family affair. We would all get up early in the morning at the same time and go workout together. We wanted to work hard to improve ourselves; it was in our blood.

�Thinking back, I remember being as young as six years old and training in the park with my dad. Later in high school, we all branched off in to different sports -- running, boxing, and for me, basketball. My older brother Joe taught me how to play, and I fell in love with the game. It was my junior year when I realized I could secure a college basketball scholarship. My family helped me achieve that goal as their competitive nature and toughness inspired me. It was all about the love and joy my parents instilled in us.�

Laurie�s dad Joe owns the Joe Byrd Boxing Academy in Flint, where he coaches and trains amateur and professional fighters. Taking a page out of her dad�s coaching book, Laurie is now excited about the opportunity to teach basketball at the professional level with the up-and-coming Detroit Shock.

�Growing up and watching my mom and dad as teachers of the game of boxing, I fed off that and knew eventually I wanted to get into coaching,� said Byrd. �I have the passion to be the best, and now my job is to help others be their best.�

(Laurie Byrd and Byrd family photos courtesy of Laurie Byrd.)