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Bird, Spielberg Honored At Boston U Commencement

BOSTON (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Larry Bird and Steven Spielberg are being honored at Boston University.(File)
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Former Boston Celtics basketball star Larry Bird and film director Steven Spielberg were feted Sunday at Boston University with honorary degrees.

Bird, who played for the Celtics for 13 seasons and was enshrined in basketball's Hall of Fame, is now president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers.

Spielberg has made classic movies such as "Jaws" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." He recently directed "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano of Massachusetts delivered the commencement address at the school's 136th graduation and received an honorary doctor of laws degree. He challenged the graduates to help improve the world.

"You can get a job, climb the ladder of success, make money and build a very comfortable life for yourselves. But if that is all you do with your life, you will not feel fulfilled," Capuano said. "You will always know you didnt challenge your intellect to improve society. You didnt use your voice to protest injustice. You will pass through this life without leaving much of wake behind you."

The university also is honoring Zhang Yimou, the Chinese filmmaker who produced the opening and closing ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics, with an honorary degree. He didn't attend the commencement ceremonies and will receive his degree at another time, the university said.

University President Robert Brown said last week that Zhang's films "have offered worldwide audiences both a perspective on the people and culture of China ... and a window into universal aspects of human nature and yearning."

Zhang will start shooting a new movie in late May or June, his assistant told The Associated Press last month, marking the director's first project since designing the Beijing Olympics ceremonies.

The opening ceremony won a Peabody Award for excellence in electronic media.