Hall of Famer Larry Bird sat down with ESPN.com recently and opened up about how he thinks the current era of NBA players compare to his eras stars. And yes, even Larry Legend is surprised at just how much money is pouring into the game now.Q: Whats changed in this league, obviously, is the financial and economic impact of it all. When you guys talk to each other, guys who played 20, 30 years ago, are you as stunned as fans at all the money that has come into the game? A: Id be lying if I told you I thought it would get to this point. I never thought that. Im happy it has. That means the leagues doing well, the owners are doing well, the players are doing well. Thats what it was all about. But you got to remember, when I came into the league, the guys before me were bitchin about how much money I made. So it just goes down the line, so thats how it works.Q: As a former player, do you look at these guys and go, Do you know how lucky you are? Given all the money pouring into the league.A: No, I always tell the kids that you get what you deserve. Just leave the game better than you found it. And its good for everyone when it happens.Q: I saw you said recently in a New Yorker article, My era, you always think thats the greatest era, but Im not so sure anymore. Why do you believe that now? A: Because everybody that plays, no matter if it was 60s, 70s, 80s, they think their eras the best. Well, prove it to me. Like I said earlier, I think we have more stars than they do now. On every team, they had at least one, maybe two. Im talking about Dominique Wilkins -- you just go down the line. But in saying that, I dont think our eras any better than anyone elses, when it comes right down to it.Q: Do you think there are better all-around players before the current era? A: I dont know. Theres some guys I really like to watch play. Draymond Green is fun to watch. All of those [Michigan] State guys are because they defend, and they play, they play together -- thats how I like the game to be played. Move the ball, cut, pass; if you do the right things, youll get it right back. I dont know, I hate to compare eras. Its been so long since I played, but I liked to play the total game. Magic liked to play the total game. Some guys are just scorers. Some guys just defend and rebound. But the guys that are playing now are just as good as what we were when we played.Q: Youve been around the game your whole life. What would you do to put the game in a better place than where its at now? A: I dont know. Its hard, and we work on it continuously, is how the games called. The one thing Ive always been disappointed in is guys driving, jumping into the defensive player and getting calls. Its a league of points. They love to have points on the board. But I think good defenders get beat down sometimes because they dont get to play. Some guys in this league are in here because they play defense. I just wish they would clean up some of the areas in the officiating. Its really not the officials. Its really how the rules are written. But its getting to where guys are just driving, getting bail-out calls by jumping into defensive players, and thats not how the game, in my mind, is supposed to be played. Cheap Nike React NZ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Nike React NZ Outlet . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. 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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ross Detwiler knows it will take more than one strong outing for people to take him seriously again as a starting pitcher.Eight scoreless innings in his Oakland Athletics debut is certainly a good place to start, and far more than what manager Bob Melvin hoped for from his new left-hander.Detwiler and John Axford combined on a seven-hitter and Oakland beat Baltimore 1-0 on Wednesday night to knock the Orioles out of first place in the AL East.Our reports had more fastballs than anything else but he mixed it up really good today, Melvin said. Some curveballs, some sliders, some changeups. It was way more than we expected.Called up from the minors earlier in the day, Detwiler (1-0) allowed six hits over a career-high eight innings and struck out two while leading the As to their third consecutive one-run win over the Orioles.It was Detwilers first win as a starting pitcher since he was with Washington and beat the Chicago Cubs on May 10, 2013.Not bad for a pitcher who has spent most of the past two-plus seasons as a reliever. Detwiler was also nearly out of baseball after being designated for assignment by Cleveland in July before the As acquired him in a trade.Its a good start but its just one good start, Detwiler said. Its a good step in the right direction. I walked in last night ... and I felt like I had been here for a long time. I was welcomed with open arms and that helps a lot.Axford retired three batters for his second save.Chris Davis had two hits for Baltimore.The Orioles entered the day percentage points ahead of Toronto but fell a game behind the Blue Jays, who beat Tampa Bay 7-0 earlier Wednesday.Its the time of year we cant find a break, Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado said. Were all struggling right now. Real teams will come out of it. We know were better than this.Marcus Semien and Yonder Alonso hit consecutive doubles in tthe third inning for the games only run.ddddddddddddThe As had lost eight of nine and were swept in three games by the Chicago Cubs before stunning the Orioles.Baltimore starter Yovani Gallardo (4-4 ) allowed one run in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.NAILED AT THE PLATEDetwiler gave up a single and a double to the first two hitters he faced and threw two wild pitches in the first inning but escaped without allowing a run. Adam Jones was thrown out sliding into home by Oakland second baseman Max Muncy in the inning. Jones tried to score on J.J. Hardys double over the head of right fielder Danny Valencia and was initially ruled safe by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild. The As challenged and the call was overturned when replays showed Jones front leg above the plate when he was tagged out.I think the slide helped us out some, that (Jones) was above the plate, Melvin said. You dont think at that time thats going to be a key play in the game but it ended up being one.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: T.J. McFarland (left knee inflammation) pitched three scoreless innings for the Gulf Coast Orioles. McFarland is scheduled to pitch next for Single-A Frederick on Monday.Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will throw off a mound this weekend and will need to face hitters at least twice before beginning a rehab assignment. ... Left-handed reliever Patrick Schuster was designated for assignment.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Chris Tillman (14-4) faces the As in a mid-day game at the Coliseum. Tillman will try to become the first Baltimore pitcher with at least 15 wins since Bud Norris and Wei-Yin Chen in 2014.Athletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (0-0) will come out of the bullpen to make his second career start in the series finale. ' ' '