Thursday, February 18, 2010

'When the Game Was Ours' by Larry Bird and 'Magic' Johnson well worth reading

If you are looking for a good book to read I suggest When the Game Was Ours by Larry Bird and Earvin 'Magic' Johnson with Jackie MacMullan. The book chronicles the long rivalry between the two basketball legends as well as how the rivalry helped the two create a lasting friendship.

A few thoughts:

Bird had a lot of success in the NBA, winning three titles as well as multiple Most Valuable Player awards. However, I think his greatest achievement was leading Indiana State to the NCAA championship game where it lost to Magic's Michigan State team. Indiana State was a blip on the basketball radar before Bird got there and has not accomplished much since he left. Those of us old enough to remember that season can remember it as magical, and it is well chronicled in this book.

Magic is the greatest Los Angeles Lakers' player ever. For a long time, I thought that honor should go to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but Magic's overall versatility now gives him the nod in my book. If you disagree, check out Magic's performance in Game 6 of the NBA finals in 1980. As a rookie, the 6'9" Johnson filled in for the injured Abdul-Jabbar and scored 42 points with 15 rebounds and seven assists. Not bad at all.

Like I said, this book is worth it. It should be coming out in paperback soon.

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