Thursday, October 22, 2009

HOLY CRAP Book Update!!!!


When the Game Was Ours by Larry Bird & Magic Johnson, a book all of us have been waiting for for decades without even knowing it. I ain't read it yet, matter of fact I just heard about it right now and am waiting for the co-author (Jackie MacMullan) to be interviewed by Mike Francessa any minute now. Quick review HERE:
Of the slew of stories in this highly entertaining book, one of my personal favorites is the moment when Magic (who had gone public with his diagnosis of HIV infection in November 1991) lobbies Bird (who was having serious back problems) to agree to play on the United States Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Harking back to the first time they passed the ball in 1978, Magic says, " I've been waiting my whole career to play with you one more time." Larry had to say yes, and what a show that was from these phenomenal athletes. As former Celtics player Kevin McHale comments, "Larry and Magic are still the only two guys I know who could take ten or eleven shots and still dominate the game."
It seems like a natural progression from last year's incredibly awesome When March Went Mad, about the 1979 NCAA title game that introduced Bird/Magic to the world. PLUS apparently it gives the inside dope on what a shithead Isiah Thomas is, which should provide some fireworks in the media as soon as Zeke gets done completely destroying whatever junior varsity girls badminton traveling team he has been put in charge of in Florida and has time to say some stupid things on camera. Can't wait!!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

While I'm not sure I can read Simmons prose for 300 pages, his Basketball Book looks pretty damn interesting and right in his wheelhouse.

Xmastime said...

300 pages is too much Sports Guy. plus, I dont care about the current NBA enuff to read about it

Unknown said...

Actually, I didn't check the Amazon stats properly. It's 736 fucking pages. But he's posted some interesting excerpts about ABA-era stuff.

Xmastime said...

736!!!!! actually, the odds of me NOT reading it are pretty slim, particularly since you say he's doing a lot of old shit. maybe i should re-evaluate?