Book "When the Game was Ours", Birg/Magic

[CruzDude]

Just finished reading the most fascinating book I've ever read about basketball, "When the Game was Ours", co-written by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson with Jackie MacMullan. This book is 100% reality about the two stars, no superstars, who saved the NBA and made David Stern a hero.

It is an auto-biography and goes back to both their childhoods through high school, college and the NBA, which at the time they entered was self-destructing and losing fans like crazy. Beginning with their national championship game in 1979 (Indiana State vs. Michigan State) many saw them for the first time as the stars they were but few would grasp them as the superstars they would become in the NBA. Then the irony of Bird being drafted by Red Auerbach and the Boston Celtics the same time as Magic being selected by the LA Lakers.

Absolutely a fascinating insight to two of the best to ever play in the NBA and their personal relationship through the years. After reading it my wife immediately picked up the iPad and began reading the eBook herself.

A must read book, or eBook ($14.30 at Amazon) for every basketball fan, especially those who remember the resurgence of the NBA in the 80's and the many Laker-Celtic championship series of the time.

 

[JayBird]

Agreed 100%. Easily the best sports-related book I have ever read. I didn't really get into the NBA until 1991, so I missed the prime years of this rivalry. But the book really did an amazing job detailing some aspects of NBA life that I never would have known existed, as seen through the eyes of two of the best to ever play the game.

Plus, I was a HUGE laker fan in the early 90's (back when the team was respectable) and always loved Magic Johnson, so it was great to learn more about him.

Definitely recommend this book to everyone.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Plus, I was a HUGE laker fan in the early 90's (back when the team was respectable)

Does not compute.

 

[JayBird]

Does not compute.

Hahaha... when my family moved to the US in 1990, we lived in Orange County for a year, and my dentist had a bunch of Laker posters in his office, so I asked him what it was and he told me all about it. Watched a few games, loved Magic and Worthy (ironically, Vlade was my least favorite). In my defense, I was 6 years old and didn't know any better.

Then in '92, my dad got reassigned to Roseville, and we didn't have cable, so the only games I could watch were Kings games on Channel 31. Despite how terrible they were, I had to watch every game I possibly could. Loved Spud Webb and Pete Chilcutt (because they gave me hope that a short guy and a white guy could make it to the NBA), and have stuck with the team ever since, even after moving back to SoCal in '99.

And now you know my life story. A life tainted by 14 months as a Laker fan. I call that era "the dark ages".

 

[Gargamel]

Plus, I was a HUGE laker fan in the early 90's (back when the team was respectable)

Were you still a fan in 93? You remember that 1st round series against Phx?

 

[JayBird]

Were you still a fan in 93? You remember that 1st round series against Phx?

Nope, I had seen the light by then and was a Kings fan. Why do you ask? Is that the one where LA was up 2-0 and lost 3-2?