Other Sports Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals - Page 3

Deberg_1990 · 03-18-2010, 12:41 PM

Watched this last night on HBO. Great stuff.

These two really did save the NBA.

Doubtful there will ever be another rivalry as great as this one was. The Lakers and Celtics hated each other back in those days.

Check it out this month if you can.

http://www.nesn.com/2010/03/hbo-docu...asketball.html

Magic and Bird. Bird and Magic. They were the two iconic figures of the NBA in the 1980s, the two men who saved the game and the two men who kept it alive for a generation of fans.

On the floor, they were similarly great players -- team-oriented guys who made everyone around them better and would stop at nothing to win. Off the floor, they could not have been more different. They were the yin and yang of the NBA, the gregarious black superstar in Hollywood and the quiet, introspective white guy dubbed the "Hick from French Lick."

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the two subjects of Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals, a made-for-TV documentary that premieres March 6 on HBO. The film, directed by Ezra Edelman and produced by HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, goes inside the lives of the two NBA legends, examining both the players and the men who epitomized basketball in the 1980s.

The story of Magic and Bird begins in 1979. That's when Magic's Michigan State Spartans and Bird's Indiana State Sycamores, the nation's two best teams led by the nation's two biggest stars, met in the NCAA Tournament final. It was the highest-rated college basketball game in history and it was a game that would forever alter the landscape of basketball in America.

The game catapulted Magic and Bird to even more attention on the national stage. Magic reveled in that attention; Bird shied away from it. But both went on to become immediate superstars in the NBA, as Magic went No. 1 overall to the L.A. Lakers, and Bird went to the Celtics, who drafted him the previous year.

Magic became caught up in fame and stardom in Hollywood -- he went to countless parties, met countless women and became a superstar in every sense of the word. Bird was the complete opposite. He was gritty, hardworking and relentless. He dove into scorers' tables for loose balls. He was quick to fight with opposing players. He went about his business -- he showed up, he won and he went home. He would rather be seen mowing his lawn outside his rural Indiana home than partying on the town.

But it was their difference in race that was magnified by the political climate in America in the '80s. Bird shied away from the issue; he hated being called the "Great White Hope" of the NBA. To all outward appearances, he was the only man in America who really just didn't see race.

The film captures all of these psychological and cultural contrasts between Magic and Bird in living color, but more importantly, it chronicles their historic rivalry on the court. Between 1980 and 1989, every NBA Finals featured either Magic or Bird. Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met head-to-head three times, in 1984, '85 and '87. You see all the key moments, from Bird's heroic performance in '84 to Magic's famous "baby sky hook" that sank the Celtics three years later.

For all the great moments on the floor, there were traumatic moments off it. Bird endured a childhood of poverty, with fighting parents and an alcoholic father dealing with post-traumatic stress after a tour in Korea. His parents eventually split up and his father committed suicide.

Magic's lust for life caught up to him. His diagnosis with HIV in 1991 brought his career to a halt and made the world realize his mortality. Magic was 32, and his reign as one of the greatest players of all time had been tragically cut short.

But his legacy lived on, as did Bird's, despite a multitude of nagging injuries that kept him from playing on into his late 30s. Both men are remembered as saviors of a game that had lost its place in America's hearts.

There's a great moment toward the end of A Courtship of Rivals where Bryant Gumbel, one of the media figures featured prominently in the film, violently dismisses the idea that Michael Jordan saved the game of basketball. Magic and Larry saved the NBA, he argues. Magic and Larry.

After you've seen this documentary, it's hard to disagree. That's what the film is about: Two players who saved the game, and two men that a generation of fans will never forget.

Amnorix · 03-19-2010, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

heh...yea no doubt. The doc briefly mentions the incident where Isiah and Rodman commented on Bird not being very good and only getting run because he was white.

What a couple of D-bags...

That they were. Even though I hated them, I had tremendous respect for the 76ers and Lakers teams of that era, and their players. The Pistons players could all die in a fire. No respect.

Magic answers this himself at the beginning of this clip"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic

Alot of black guys will ask me, "could Larry Bird really play that good?" And I say, "Man, Larry Bird was so good it was frightening."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULvo7__wwBU

Amnorix · 03-19-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Growing up in the Portland area, I HATED the Lakers. The Blazers had some good teams but couldn't get past the Lakers.

I always like Drexler. Clyde the Glide. I always felt bad for some teams, like Portland and, especially in my case, because I saw them so often and could appreciate that they really were GOOD, the Bucks. But they were just never going to be good enough, and poor Don Nelson (former Celtic) with his disheveled hair, trying to figure out how to make it happen.

FAX · 03-19-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Moses Malone had ridiculous strength too. I loved watching McHale. He would spin guys right out of their shoes. Great defender too. And those hairy armpits and the whole Frankenstein thing just capped it all off.

My favorite was that wacky "over/under" move of his. He would fake the ball up, bring it back down, spin inside on his pivot foot, switch the ball to his left hand, and lay it up. All in one, fluid, seamless move. Impossible to defend unless you anticipated the "under" part. But if you did that, he'd just bank it in. McHale was a freaking machine in the post.

FAX

FAX · 03-19-2010, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I always like Drexler. Clyde the Glide. I always felt bad for some teams, like Portland and, especially in my case, because I saw them so often and could appreciate that they really were GOOD, the Bucks. But they were just never going to be good enough, and poor Don Nelson (former Celtic) with his disheveled hair, trying to figure out how to make it happen.

Clyde the Glide. Another great post player. Remember the Phi Slama Jama?

FAX

Pioli Zombie · 03-19-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Being a Celtics fan in the 80s was certainly great. Alot of of great moments and memories. I remember being VERY pissed that the Rockets beat the Lakers in '86 because we wanted revenge for '85 and were 100% certain we would destroy them. That '86 team was absurd.

It's really too bad McHale broke his foot in '87. If it wasn't for that we would definitely have had a much better chance in the finals against the Lakers that year. After that, we were basically passing the torch to the Pistons and ThugBall. I think about the only thing Lakers and Celtics fans agreed on in those days was that the Pistons and their brand of basketball completely sucked.

One of my many happy Celtics memories from the 80s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3tc7TXMBT8

What people forget too is that before McHale broke his foot he was a MONSTER on defense. Unstoppable in the post and he shut down the opponants big men. For a stretch there between 84 and 87 McHale was a top 15 of all time player. In 1986 I used to love the rare games that they got behind and they would put out a lineup of Parish,Walton,and McHale upfront with Bird and DJ in the backcourt and I still say that was the best the NBA ever saw.
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Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan · 03-19-2010, 08:38 AM

While there's no denying the Magic/Bird rivalry (and some tremendous games they had between them), I still love the old McDonald's commercial featuring Bird and Jordan.

"Over the freeway, through the window, off the scoreboard, nothing but net."
*swish*

Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan · 03-19-2010, 08:42 AM

I still remember the older Lakers/Celtics rivalry too.

I remember watching the old Laker teams that featured Jerry West, Connie Hawkins (the former Globetrotter with the incredibly huge hands), Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich.

Still remember the backcourt of JoJo White and John Havlichek for the Celtics too.

Amnorix · 03-19-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Clyde the Glide. Another great post player. Remember the Phi Slama Jama?

FAX

Sadly, I never got into college basketball, so while I heard alot about it, I never saw or knew all that much about them.

Frankly, it says alot that I even get the reference, because in my whole life I have literally watched maybe 3 college basketball games from beginning to end. And two of those was because I was there in person. :O

Amnorix · 03-19-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

While there's no denying the Magic/Bird rivalry (and some tremendous games they had between them), I still love the old McDonald's commercial featuring Bird and Jordan.

"Over the freeway, through the window, off the scoreboard, nothing but net."
*swish*

Heh. "No Dunking!"

You can see them all on YouTube. When the Celtics were drivign for their most recent Championship I got nostalgic and started looking at all the vidoes relating to the 80s Celtics on YouTube. Some great stuff.

I can't find, and maybe it doesn't exist on film, Michael Jordan's quote about Bird. Apparently a writer or someone asked him at some point "Other than yourself, if you had to pick someone to shoot a game-winning..."

And before the guy even finished the question, Jordan said "Bird". Nice.

I still remember Jordan dropping 63 on the Celtics in the playoffs -- and thinking "damn, that guys pretty good. Gotta keep an eye on him!"

seclark · 03-19-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Clyde the Glide. Another great post player. Remember the Phi Slama Jama?

FAX

ooga ooga i'm a cooga!
sec

Amnorix · 03-19-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

I still remember the older Lakers/Celtics rivalry too.

I remember watching the old Laker teams that featured Jerry West, Connie Hawkins (the former Globetrotter with the incredibly huge hands), Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich.

Still remember the backcourt of JoJo White and John Havlichek for the Celtics too.

That's alot of memory. I've read many books by the old time Celtics -- Auerbach, Cousy and Russell. I also have a Celtics 6 or 8 disk video collection of their entire history. Good stuff.

Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan · 03-19-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

That's alot of memory. I've read many books by the old time Celtics -- Auerbach, Cousy and Russell. I also have a Celtics 6 or 8 disk video collection of their entire history. Good stuff.

I remember watching one game on a Sunday afternoon. I don't recall who the hell the Lakers were playing, but Chamberlain had just grabbed a rebound and Hawkins was making a break for the other end.

Chamberlain whipped a pass down the court but it was way over Hawkins's head. Connie put on a burst of speed, jumped up and snagged the ball with one hand and whipped it behind his back before crashing into the seats. Hit Goodrich in stride at the free throw line who just layed it into the basket like they'd practiced that play a hundred times.

The announcers couldn't say a word. It was just dead air as the camera kept flashing between Hawkins climbing out of the crowd and the announcers just sitting there slackjawed.

Probably one of the greatest plays I ever saw.

Hydrae · 03-19-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I always like Drexler. Clyde the Glide. I always felt bad for some teams, like Portland and, especially in my case, because I saw them so often and could appreciate that they really were GOOD, the Bucks. But they were just never going to be good enough, and poor Don Nelson (former Celtic) with his disheveled hair, trying to figure out how to make it happen.

That team would have rocked the league if they could have gotten Sabonis over here before his knees were shot.

I was very happy for Clyde when he got a ring in Houston. Same for Terry Porter later with San Antonio. My favorite player though may have been Jerome Kersey.

Hydrae · 03-19-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

Clyde the Glide. Another great post player. Remember the Phi Slama Jama?

FAX

That final against North Carolina (if I am remembering correctly) was great. He and Olajuwon worked together extremely well.

RJ · 03-19-2010, 10:29 AM

I was an NBA fan from the days of Earl the Pearl and Clyde and Wilt and on through the Magic/Bird era. The NBA was a great league then. Unfortunately, I can barely watch it today. Looks like a completely different game to me.

Yeah, plays. I remember plays.

McHale, btw, was a freak. A 6'11" Rubber Band Man. I loved those Celtic teams. Except for Ainge. He made too many cry baby faces.

I remember a playoff game between the Celtics and Hawks. Bird and Dominique were both completely on fire. It was like there were only two players on the court. What a show.

Laker/Celtic games were a reason to be home in front of the TV. Never wanted to miss one.

I miss those days.

03-18-2010, 12:41 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3454454	Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals Watched this last night on HBO. Great stuff. These two really did save the NBA. Doubtful there will ever be another rivalry as great as this one was. The Lakers and Celtics hated each other back in those days. Check it out this month if you can. http://www.nesn.com/2010/03/hbo-docu...asketball.html Magic and Bird. Bird and Magic. They were the two iconic figures of the NBA in the 1980s, the two men who saved the game and the two men who kept it alive for a generation of fans. On the floor, they were similarly great players -- team-oriented guys who made everyone around them better and would stop at nothing to win. Off the floor, they could not have been more different. They were the yin and yang of the NBA, the gregarious black superstar in Hollywood and the quiet, introspective white guy dubbed the "Hick from French Lick." Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are the two subjects of Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals, a made-for-TV documentary that premieres March 6 on HBO. The film, directed by Ezra Edelman and produced by HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, goes inside the lives of the two NBA legends, examining both the players and the men who epitomized basketball in the 1980s. The story of Magic and Bird begins in 1979. That's when Magic's Michigan State Spartans and Bird's Indiana State Sycamores, the nation's two best teams led by the nation's two biggest stars, met in the NCAA Tournament final. It was the highest-rated college basketball game in history and it was a game that would forever alter the landscape of basketball in America. The game catapulted Magic and Bird to even more attention on the national stage. Magic reveled in that attention; Bird shied away from it. But both went on to become immediate superstars in the NBA, as Magic went No. 1 overall to the L.A. Lakers, and Bird went to the Celtics, who drafted him the previous year. Magic became caught up in fame and stardom in Hollywood -- he went to countless parties, met countless women and became a superstar in every sense of the word. Bird was the complete opposite. He was gritty, hardworking and relentless. He dove into scorers' tables for loose balls. He was quick to fight with opposing players. He went about his business -- he showed up, he won and he went home. He would rather be seen mowing his lawn outside his rural Indiana home than partying on the town. But it was their difference in race that was magnified by the political climate in America in the '80s. Bird shied away from the issue; he hated being called the "Great White Hope" of the NBA. To all outward appearances, he was the only man in America who really just didn't see race. The film captures all of these psychological and cultural contrasts between Magic and Bird in living color, but more importantly, it chronicles their historic rivalry on the court. Between 1980 and 1989, every NBA Finals featured either Magic or Bird. Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met head-to-head three times, in 1984, '85 and '87. You see all the key moments, from Bird's heroic performance in '84 to Magic's famous "baby sky hook" that sank the Celtics three years later. For all the great moments on the floor, there were traumatic moments off it. Bird endured a childhood of poverty, with fighting parents and an alcoholic father dealing with post-traumatic stress after a tour in Korea. His parents eventually split up and his father committed suicide. Magic's lust for life caught up to him. His diagnosis with HIV in 1991 brought his career to a halt and made the world realize his mortality. Magic was 32, and his reign as one of the greatest players of all time had been tragically cut short. But his legacy lived on, as did Bird's, despite a multitude of nagging injuries that kept him from playing on into his late 30s. Both men are remembered as saviors of a game that had lost its place in America's hearts. There's a great moment toward the end of A Courtship of Rivals where Bryant Gumbel, one of the media figures featured prominently in the film, violently dismisses the idea that Michael Jordan saved the game of basketball. Magic and Larry saved the NBA, he argues. Magic and Larry. After you've seen this documentary, it's hard to disagree. That's what the film is about: Two players who saved the game, and two men that a generation of fans will never forget.
Posts: 66,914

03-19-2010, 08:38 AM	#36
Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan I am Number Six Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Columbia, MD, USA Casino cash: $1270000	While there's no denying the Magic/Bird rivalry (and some tremendous games they had between them), I still love the old McDonald's commercial featuring Bird and Jordan. "Over the freeway, through the window, off the scoreboard, nothing but net." swish __________________ One of the lowest PPD of any of the original members of the Planet . . . and proud of it. My web site My writer's page
Posts: 6,583

03-19-2010, 08:42 AM	#37
Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan I am Number Six Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Columbia, MD, USA Casino cash: $1270000	I still remember the older Lakers/Celtics rivalry too. I remember watching the old Laker teams that featured Jerry West, Connie Hawkins (the former Globetrotter with the incredibly huge hands), Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich. Still remember the backcourt of JoJo White and John Havlichek for the Celtics too. __________________ One of the lowest PPD of any of the original members of the Planet . . . and proud of it. My web site My writer's page
Posts: 6,583

03-19-2010, 10:29 AM	#45
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9955202	I was an NBA fan from the days of Earl the Pearl and Clyde and Wilt and on through the Magic/Bird era. The NBA was a great league then. Unfortunately, I can barely watch it today. Looks like a completely different game to me. Yeah, plays. I remember plays. McHale, btw, was a freak. A 6'11" Rubber Band Man. I loved those Celtic teams. Except for Ainge. He made too many cry baby faces. I remember a playoff game between the Celtics and Hawks. Bird and Dominique were both completely on fire. It was like there were only two players on the court. What a show. Laker/Celtic games were a reason to be home in front of the TV. Never wanted to miss one. I miss those days.
Posts: 14,931