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1
00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:12,074
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00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,533
THE FOLLOWING IS A SPECIAL
PRESENTATION
3
00:00:21,533 --> 00:00:24,867
OF HBO's
"SPORTS OF THE 20th CENTURY."
4
00:00:29,533 --> 00:00:33,266
THEY TALK ABOUT IT
EVERY DAY SOMEWHERE.
5
00:00:33,266 --> 00:00:35,633
IF I GO
TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY,
6
00:00:35,633 --> 00:00:37,800
"MAGIC, MAGIC,
WHERE'S MAGIC?"
7
00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,100
I MEAN,
IT'S THE SAME EVERYWHERE.
8
00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,934
WE DON'T HAVE TO
SEE EACH OTHER.
9
00:00:56,934 --> 00:01:00,133
WE DON'T HAVE TO
SAY HELLO. WE DON'T
HAVE TO CALL EACH OTHER.
10
00:01:04,433 --> 00:01:06,734
THAT'S MY MAIN COMPETITION.
11
00:01:06,734 --> 00:01:08,166
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
LIKE THAT.
12
00:01:12,166 --> 00:01:15,333
YOU KNOW YOU GOT THIS
TIGHT BOND WITH THIS CAT.
13
00:01:15,333 --> 00:01:18,900
AND YOU DON'T
HAVE TO SEE HIM
14
00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:21,066
FOR A YEAR OR TWO.
15
00:01:23,033 --> 00:01:25,600
BUT YOU'RE ALWAYS
GONNA BE LINKED TO HIM.
16
00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,867
WE GOT THIS CONNECTION
THAT'S NEVER GONNA BE BROKEN.
17
00:01:34,867 --> 00:01:37,433
I MEAN,
RIGHT TO OUR GRAVES.
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00:01:37,433 --> 00:01:40,300
THEY'LL BE TALKING
ABOUT THIS A HUNDRED
YEARS FROM NOW.
19
00:01:57,367 --> 00:02:01,233
IT ALL BEGAN HERE
IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,
20
00:02:01,233 --> 00:02:05,166
ON THE NIGHT
OF MARCH 26, 1979.
21
00:02:06,567 --> 00:02:09,133
IT WAS
THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP.
22
00:02:09,133 --> 00:02:11,633
INDIANA STATE
VERSUS MICHIGAN STATE--
23
00:02:11,633 --> 00:02:14,900
A GAME THAT STILL RANKS
AS THE HIGHEST-RATED
COLLEGE FINAL
24
00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:17,467
EVER ON TELEVISION.
25
00:02:17,467 --> 00:02:20,667
A GAME THAT'S NOW REMEMBERED
AS A PROLOGUE
26
00:02:20,667 --> 00:02:22,967
TO A RIVALRY THAT
TRANSFORMED A SPORT
27
00:02:22,967 --> 00:02:25,567
AND INTERTWINED
TWO LEGACIES.
28
00:02:27,433 --> 00:02:30,734
BUT ON THAT NIGHT,
MARCH 26, 1979,
29
00:02:30,734 --> 00:02:33,300
THE FIRST TIME MAGIC JOHNSON
AND LARRY BIRD
30
00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:35,633
EVER WENT HEAD-TO-HEAD
ON A BASKETBALL COURT,
31
00:02:35,633 --> 00:02:38,533
THEY WERE SIMPLY
TWO YOUNG MEN TRYING
32
00:02:38,533 --> 00:02:41,734
TO WIN A VERY
BIG BALLGAME.
33
00:02:41,734 --> 00:02:43,533
THIS IS PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST GAME I'LL
EVER PLAY IN MY LIFE.
34
00:02:43,533 --> 00:02:47,300
I JUST FEEL LIKE
I'M REPRESENTING NOT
ONLY MYSELF, MY TEAM,
35
00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:50,533
BUT WE'RE REPRESENTING
OUR SCHOOL AND OUR TOWN
TERRE HAUTE.
36
00:02:50,533 --> 00:02:53,500
IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE
REALLY FOR ME.
37
00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:56,633
I WON THE STATE TITLE BACK
IN MY HOME STATE.
38
00:02:56,633 --> 00:03:00,033
THEN MY NEXT ACCOMPLISHMENT
WAS GOING TO THE NCAA
39
00:03:00,033 --> 00:03:03,367
AND PLAYING IN A GAME
LIKE TONIGHT IN THE FINALS.
40
00:03:03,367 --> 00:03:05,967
THEY WERE TWO STARS
THROWN TOGETHER
41
00:03:05,967 --> 00:03:08,400
BY THE COSMOS TO COMPETE,
42
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,000
BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM
HAD BEEN GROOMED FOR
THE SPOTLIGHT.
43
00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,433
IN HIS CASE,
IT SEEMED SINCE BIRTH.
44
00:03:15,433 --> 00:03:17,734
I THINK HIS UPBRINGING
IN EAST LANSING
45
00:03:17,734 --> 00:03:20,867
REALLY PUT THAT SMILE
ON HIS FACE IN THE BEGINNING,
AND IT NEVER CAME OFF.
46
00:03:20,867 --> 00:03:24,700
BORN AUGUST 14th, 1959,
47
00:03:24,700 --> 00:03:27,233
EARVIN JOHNSON
GREW UP IN LANSING,
48
00:03:27,233 --> 00:03:30,300
THE GRITTY INDUSTRIAL
CAPITAL CITY OF MICHIGAN.
49
00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:32,333
RAISED UNDER THIS
LITTLE ROOF,
50
00:03:32,333 --> 00:03:36,166
HE WAS ONE OF CHRISTINE
AND EARVIN JOHNSON
SENIOR'S 10 KIDS.
51
00:03:36,166 --> 00:03:38,066
CHRISTINE
WAS A SCHOOL CUSTODIAN,
52
00:03:38,066 --> 00:03:40,567
WHILE EARVIN SENIOR
WORKED TWO JOBS
53
00:03:40,567 --> 00:03:42,500
NEARLY AROUND THE CLOCK.
54
00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:45,934
MY FATHER GOT UP
EARLY EVERY MORNING,
6:00 OR SO,
55
00:03:45,934 --> 00:03:49,934
AND HE WENT TO WORK
ON HIS TRASH HAULING TRUCK
56
00:03:49,934 --> 00:03:51,467
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
57
00:03:51,467 --> 00:03:55,000
AROUND NOON HE WOULD
COME HOME, CATCH A NAP,
58
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,333
AND THEN HE WORKED
FOR GENERAL MOTORS
FOR 30 YEARS.
59
00:03:58,333 --> 00:04:00,734
AND HE WON AN AWARD
FOR NEVER BEING LATE
60
00:04:00,734 --> 00:04:03,100
AND NEVER MISSED A DAY.
61
00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:05,800
AS A YOUNGSTER,
EARVIN DISPLAYED
62
00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,667
HIS OWN STRONG WORK ETHIC
ON THE BLACKTOP.
63
00:04:08,667 --> 00:04:12,400
I WAS OUT THERE
ALL DAY LONG.
64
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,367
BEFORE WE WENT TO SCHOOL--
65
00:04:14,367 --> 00:04:17,133
THE BUS LEAVES
AT 7:00, 7:30.
66
00:04:17,133 --> 00:04:20,266
I WAS OUT THERE AT 6:00,
6:30 WORKING ON MY GAME.
67
00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:23,333
MY MOTHER SOMETIMES
HAD TO BRING ME FOOD,
68
00:04:23,333 --> 00:04:26,033
OR SHE WOULD HAVE ONE
OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS--
69
00:04:26,033 --> 00:04:28,333
"GO GET THAT BOY
SO HE COULD EAT SOMETHING."
70
00:04:28,333 --> 00:04:31,834
FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE,
EARVIN KNEW WHAT HE
WANTED TO DO.
71
00:04:31,834 --> 00:04:35,066
HE HAD IT ALL PLANNED OUT.
72
00:04:35,066 --> 00:04:36,700
MY DREAMS WERE
TO PLAY IN THE NBA
73
00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:40,100
AND BECOME
A BUSINESSMAN.
74
00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:41,633
THE FIRST STOP
IN HIS JOURNEY--
75
00:04:41,633 --> 00:04:45,000
NEIGHBORHOOD BASKETBALL
POWERHOUSE SEXTON HIGH.
76
00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,333
- I KNEW THE PLAYERS.
- I KNEW THE TRADITION.
77
00:04:48,333 --> 00:04:50,166
I WANTED TO BE A PART
OF THAT,
78
00:04:50,166 --> 00:04:52,133
AND IT WAS ON
THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN,
79
00:04:52,133 --> 00:04:55,834
WHICH WAS AT THAT TIME
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK.
80
00:04:57,567 --> 00:05:00,934
BUT WHEN LANSING, LIKE
MANY CITIES IN THE MID '70s,
81
00:05:00,934 --> 00:05:03,967
BEGAN BUSING TO DESEGREGATE
ITS SCHOOL SYSTEM,
82
00:05:03,967 --> 00:05:07,000
EARVIN'S JOURNEY
TOOK AN UNEXPECTED DETOUR--
83
00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,300
TO A PREDOMINANTLY
WHITE SCHOOL ACROSS TOWN.
84
00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:13,567
MY FIRST DAY AT EVERETT
HIGH SCHOOL
85
00:05:13,567 --> 00:05:15,934
WAS MY FIRST TIME
I REALLY HAD TO UNDERSTAND
86
00:05:15,934 --> 00:05:18,100
THERE WAS A RACE PROBLEM.
87
00:05:18,100 --> 00:05:20,100
NOBODY WHITE
88
00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:22,834
WOULD SPEAK
TO ANYBODY BLACK
89
00:05:22,834 --> 00:05:24,600
AND NOBODY BLACK
WOULD SPEAK TO ANYBODY WHITE.
90
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,133
A LOT OF RACIAL TENSION.
A LOT OF FIGHTS,
91
00:05:28,133 --> 00:05:29,967
RIOTING.
92
00:05:29,967 --> 00:05:33,000
THEY DIDN'T WANT
MINORITIES THERE.
93
00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,100
HE KIND OF SHRUGGED IT OFF,
94
00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:37,166
AND BASICALLY HIS
ATTITUDE WAS,
95
00:05:37,166 --> 00:05:39,467
"OKAY, WELL,
I'LL OVERCOME THIS."
96
00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:43,033
WHENEVER THERE IS
ANY RACIAL PROBLEMS,
97
00:05:43,033 --> 00:05:46,367
THE PRINCIPAL
WOULD GET EARVIN
98
00:05:46,367 --> 00:05:49,033
AND GO TALK
TO THESE KIDS.
99
00:05:49,033 --> 00:05:51,033
I CAN JUST SEE HIM
WITH HIS BIG HANDS--
100
00:05:51,033 --> 00:05:52,667
"JUST CALM DOWN."
HE'D BREAK UP FIGHTS.
101
00:05:52,667 --> 00:05:55,166
TALK WITH HIS FRIENDS,
TELL THEM, "LET IT GO.
102
00:05:55,166 --> 00:05:57,467
WE CAN'T FIGHT
ABOUT EVERYTHING.
103
00:05:57,467 --> 00:05:59,667
LET'S JUST CHILL.
LET'S PLAY BASKETBALL."
104
00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:03,333
AND THERE WAS NO DISPUTE
OVER EARVIN JOHNSON'S ABILITY
105
00:06:03,333 --> 00:06:05,000
TO PLAY BALL.
106
00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,600
HIS TALENT WAS SO GREAT
107
00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,300
THAT SOON AFTER
HIS VARSITY DEBUT,
108
00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:11,300
A LOCAL REPORTER
DAZZLED BY HIS EXPLOITS
109
00:06:11,300 --> 00:06:13,533
GAVE THE BUDDING STAR
A NICKNAME.
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00:06:13,533 --> 00:06:16,433
IN THE BEGINNING, I THOUGHT
IT WAS FOOLISH AND DUMB.
111
00:06:16,433 --> 00:06:19,100
I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT A NICKNAME.
112
00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:23,200
THEN WHAT HAPPENED WAS
YOU START SAYING,
"WAIT A MINUTE.
113
00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,066
IT FITS MY GAME."
114
00:06:25,066 --> 00:06:26,967
HANGING OUT WITH MY BOYS
ON THE STREET CORNERS,
115
00:06:26,967 --> 00:06:29,800
WE USED TO SING
TEMPTATIONS SONGS.
116
00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,700
THEY STARTED SAYING,
"HEY, MAN, MAGIC,
THAT'S COOL."
117
00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:34,900
AND THEN PEOPLE ON THE STREET
STARTED SAYING, "HEY, MAGIC."
118
00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:38,800
AND I SAID, "HMM."
119
00:06:40,133 --> 00:06:43,100
HE BOUGHT INTO IT,
AND I THINK HE THOUGHT
120
00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:45,834
HE HAD TO KIND OF LIVE UP
TO THAT NAME.
121
00:06:45,834 --> 00:06:47,734
AND I MUST SAY
THAT HE DID.
122
00:06:50,834 --> 00:06:54,033
HE LOVED IT,
THE MORE ATTENTION HE GOT.
123
00:06:54,033 --> 00:06:58,000
HE WANTED ATTENTION
FROM ANYBODY HE COULD
GET IT FROM.
124
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,333
YEAH, IT DOES.
I REALLY LOVE THE GAME,
125
00:07:01,333 --> 00:07:02,567
AND I JUST WANNA WIN.
126
00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:08,166
- He jams it through--
- Earvin Johnson.
127
00:07:08,166 --> 00:07:09,934
EARVIN LOVED TO DRESS--
128
00:07:09,934 --> 00:07:13,500
NICE SANSABELT PANTS
129
00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:16,066
AND OVERCOATS WITH THE FUR
AROUND THE COLLAR.
130
00:07:16,066 --> 00:07:19,433
ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE
HIS AFRO BLOWN OUT.
131
00:07:19,433 --> 00:07:21,433
HE HAD TO LOOK THE PART,
132
00:07:21,433 --> 00:07:23,166
PLAY THE PART.
133
00:07:23,166 --> 00:07:26,233
EARVIN WAS THE FIRST GUY
TO HAVE A POSSE.
134
00:07:26,233 --> 00:07:29,166
HE NOT ONLY HAD A POSSE
OF A LOT OF BLACK KIDS,
135
00:07:29,166 --> 00:07:31,700
HE HAD A LOT OF WHITE KIDS
HANGING AROUND HIM.
136
00:07:31,700 --> 00:07:34,533
SOME OF MY WHITE
FRIENDS WAS LIKE,
137
00:07:34,533 --> 00:07:38,367
"WE'RE HAVING
A KEGGER TONIGHT.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON BY?"
138
00:07:38,367 --> 00:07:40,367
AND I'M SAYING,
"WHAT'S A KEGGER?"
139
00:07:40,367 --> 00:07:42,400
SO HE SAID,
"WELL, WHAT IT IS,
140
00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,934
WE GET THIS BIG KEG OF BEER
AND YOU JUST GO FOR IT."
141
00:07:45,934 --> 00:07:48,600
"OKAY, WELL,
WHAT TIME DOES
THE KEGGER START?"
142
00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,333
'CAUSE REGULAR
PARTY TIME
143
00:07:50,333 --> 00:07:53,433
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
IS 10:00, 11:00.
144
00:07:53,433 --> 00:07:55,500
"THE KEGGER STARTS
AT 7:00."
145
00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:59,100
I SAID, "THE PARTY
STARTS AT 7:00?"
146
00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:01,767
I SAID, "OKAY, MAN,
I'M GONNA COME TO THE KEGGER."
147
00:08:01,767 --> 00:08:03,967
WE HAD A GOOD TIME.
THE MUSIC WAS KIND OF BAD,
148
00:08:03,967 --> 00:08:06,533
BUT WE HAD A GOOD TIME,
YOU KNOW?
149
00:08:06,533 --> 00:08:09,967
HIS SENIOR YEAR,
JOHNSON DID AT EVERETT
150
00:08:09,967 --> 00:08:12,066
WHAT HE HAD PLANNED
TO DO AT SEXTON--
151
00:08:12,066 --> 00:08:14,233
WIN THE STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
152
00:08:14,233 --> 00:08:16,000
AND WHEN IT CAME
TO CHOOSING A COLLEGE,
153
00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,367
HE DECIDED TO STAY WHERE
THE LOVE WOULD BE ASSURED--
154
00:08:19,367 --> 00:08:21,133
HOME IN LANSING.
155
00:08:21,133 --> 00:08:24,667
NEXT YEAR I WILL BE ATTENDING
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
156
00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,467
AT M.S.U.,
157
00:08:30,467 --> 00:08:33,834
MAGIC'S STAR
QUICKLY WENT NATIONAL,
158
00:08:33,834 --> 00:08:35,300
BUT ATOP THE COLLEGE GAME,
159
00:08:35,300 --> 00:08:38,266
HE SOON DISCOVERED A CERTAIN
PRESENCE BESIDE HIM.
160
00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,734
THE FIRST TIME
I SAW LARRY BIRD
161
00:08:41,734 --> 00:08:44,333
WAS ACTUALLY
IN A MAGAZINE,
162
00:08:44,333 --> 00:08:46,333
SAW HIS STATS--
163
00:08:46,333 --> 00:08:48,300
BLOWN AWAY BY HIS STATS.
164
00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:51,266
BUT LET'S SEE
IF HE CAN REALLY DO IT
165
00:08:51,266 --> 00:08:53,300
AGAINST US.
166
00:08:53,300 --> 00:08:56,600
AND THAT'S ALWAYS A MINDSET
OF BLACK PLAYERS
167
00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,066
IF HE'S A GREAT
WHITE PLAYER.
168
00:08:58,066 --> 00:09:01,533
IN 1978, AFTER HIS
FRESHMAN YEAR,
169
00:09:01,533 --> 00:09:03,867
MAGIC WOULD
QUICKLY FIND OUT
170
00:09:03,867 --> 00:09:06,100
WHEN BOTH HE AND BIRD
WERE CHOSEN TO PLAY
171
00:09:06,100 --> 00:09:09,767
FOR TEAM USA IN THE WORLD
INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT.
172
00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:12,800
THEY WOULD PUT
LARRY BIRD AND I
173
00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,633
ON THE SAME TEAM TOGETHER
TO SCRIMMAGE, RIGHT?
174
00:09:16,834 --> 00:09:20,767
IT WAS BLOWING MY MIND
BECAUSE HE'S DOMINATING
JACK GIVENS,
175
00:09:20,767 --> 00:09:23,500
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL.
176
00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:27,367
LARRY BIRD IS
EATING HIM ALIVE.
177
00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,500
I COULDN'T WAIT TO
CALL HOME TO TELL MY BOYS
178
00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:35,300
THIS DUDE NAMED
LARRY BIRD IS FOR REAL.
179
00:09:35,300 --> 00:09:37,300
THIS IS THE BADDEST
WHITE DUDE
180
00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:40,033
I'VE EVER SEEN
IN MY LIFE.
181
00:09:40,033 --> 00:09:42,000
I THOUGHT HE WAS VERY GOOD.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
182
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,567
ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT HE WAS
PROBABLY THE BEST GUARD
ON THE TEAM.
183
00:09:44,567 --> 00:09:46,667
Earvin Johnson--
look at that!
184
00:09:46,667 --> 00:09:48,166
What a play!
185
00:09:48,166 --> 00:09:51,033
WE DIDN'T GET
TO PLAY A LOT,
BUT YOU COULD TELL.
186
00:09:51,033 --> 00:09:53,400
I THINK OUR FIRST GAME
WAS IN KENTUCKY.
187
00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,734
WE GOT ABOUT
A 10-, 12-POINT LEAD.
188
00:09:55,734 --> 00:09:58,433
MAN, THEY PUT US IN.
189
00:09:58,433 --> 00:10:01,400
WENT TO 25, 30
JUST THAT FAST.
190
00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,266
Fast break again,
three on two.
191
00:10:04,266 --> 00:10:06,734
Griffith...
192
00:10:06,734 --> 00:10:09,600
A steal by Larry Bird...
193
00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,567
TAKE US OUT,
THE LEAD GO BACK DOWN,
194
00:10:11,567 --> 00:10:15,400
PUT US BACK IN,
THE SHOW STARTED AGAIN.
195
00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,900
WHEN YOU PLAY
WITH MAGIC, THERE'S
JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
196
00:10:17,900 --> 00:10:20,600
YOU WANNA MAKE
THAT EXTRA PASS.
YOU WANNA GET THAT REBOUND
197
00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,367
AND START THE BREAK.
198
00:10:23,367 --> 00:10:25,633
WE CAME DOWN
A COUPLE TIMES,
I GO BEHIND MY BACK,
199
00:10:25,633 --> 00:10:28,700
NO LOOK TO HIM,
HE NO LOOK BACK TO ME.
200
00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:31,200
AND I'M LAYING IT UP.
I'M SAYING, "OH, MAN!"
201
00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,700
There's that last play.
Magic Johnson going in,
drops off to Bird.
202
00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:37,166
Bird puts it back off,
inside to Johnson.
203
00:10:37,166 --> 00:10:38,700
Super basketball.
204
00:10:38,700 --> 00:10:40,333
THIS GUY GOT GAME.
205
00:10:40,333 --> 00:10:44,033
THEY HAD SOME WONDERFUL
MOMENTS ON THE COURT,
206
00:10:44,033 --> 00:10:46,667
BUT THEY PROBABLY SPOKE
TO EACH OTHER FOUR,
207
00:10:46,667 --> 00:10:49,500
MAYBE FIVE TIMES
DURING THAT ENTIRE
TIME PERIOD.
208
00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:52,400
AND IT WAS MORE LIKE,
"HELLO. HOW ARE YOU
THIS MORNING, LARRY?"
209
00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,433
"I'M GOOD, MAGIC.
WHAT DID YOU HAVE
FOR BREAKFAST?"
210
00:10:54,433 --> 00:10:56,533
"DON'T REMEMBER.
HAVE A NICE DAY."
211
00:10:56,533 --> 00:10:59,266
BUT SUCH CURTNESS
WAS HARDLY STRANGE
212
00:10:59,266 --> 00:11:01,200
COMING FROM LARRY BIRD,
213
00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,600
WHO WAS NOT ONLY ONE
OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S
BEST PLAYERS,
214
00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,133
BUT ALSO
ITS BIGGEST ENIGMA.
215
00:11:07,133 --> 00:11:09,533
I THINK HE WAS A MYSTERY
TO THE EXTENT
216
00:11:09,533 --> 00:11:11,333
THAT HE WANTED
TO BE A MYSTERY.
217
00:11:11,333 --> 00:11:13,266
HE DIDN'T ENJOY
DOING INTERVIEWS.
218
00:11:13,266 --> 00:11:16,633
HE DIDN'T GO OUT
OF HIS WAY TO DO THEM.
HE WASN'T GOOD AT THEM.
219
00:11:16,633 --> 00:11:18,767
HE WAS KIND OF LIKE,
"HEY, THIS IS WHO I AM.
YOU WANNA KNOW WHO I AM?
220
00:11:18,767 --> 00:11:21,300
WATCH THE GAME.
THAT'S WHO I AM."
221
00:11:21,300 --> 00:11:24,433
I START TO READ MATERIALS
THAT YOU'RE VERY QUIET
222
00:11:24,433 --> 00:11:26,800
AND YOU DON'T ENJOY TALKING
TO NEWSPAPER PEOPLE.
223
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,033
WELL, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS
OF NEWSPAPER PEOPLE.
224
00:11:30,033 --> 00:11:32,300
THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT TRY TO PUSH YOU.
225
00:11:32,300 --> 00:11:33,900
PEOPLE TRY TO GET
THINGS OUT OF YOU,
226
00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:35,700
THINGS THAT DON'T EVEN
PERTAIN TO BASKETBALL.
227
00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:37,567
THEY'RE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE
I LIKE TO STAY AWAY FROM.
228
00:11:37,567 --> 00:11:39,533
HE DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT HIS FAMILY.
229
00:11:39,533 --> 00:11:42,333
HE DIDN'T WANT HIS MOTHER
TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT
OR HIS SIBLINGS
230
00:11:42,333 --> 00:11:43,500
TO HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THAT.
231
00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:45,800
YOU GOTTA REMEMBER
WHERE LARRY CAME FROM.
232
00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,800
LARRY WAS RAISED IN A TWO-
OR THREE-ROOM HOUSE
233
00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,367
ON A RAILROAD TRACK.
234
00:11:51,367 --> 00:11:55,367
THEIR FAMILY PROBABLY LIVED
ON $50 A WEEK.
235
00:11:55,367 --> 00:11:56,800
HE WAS RAISED TOUGH.
236
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,000
LARRY JOE BIRD GREW UP
IN SOUTHERN INDIANA
237
00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,033
IN THE TWIN TOWNS
OF FRENCH LICK AND WEST BADEN.
238
00:12:05,033 --> 00:12:07,767
"THE VALLEY," AS LOCALS
CALL IT,
239
00:12:07,767 --> 00:12:09,100
WAS A TOUGH
WORKING-CLASS AREA.
240
00:12:09,100 --> 00:12:11,233
TINY AND REMOTE,
241
00:12:11,233 --> 00:12:14,800
IT WAS ONE OF THE POOREST
PLACES IN THE STATE.
242
00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,066
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE
MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
243
00:12:17,066 --> 00:12:19,633
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY
HAD A FAMILY CAR.
244
00:12:19,633 --> 00:12:22,233
I WAS IN MY OWN COCOON.
I WAS IN A SMALL TOWN WITH
THE PEOPLE I KNEW,
245
00:12:22,233 --> 00:12:25,100
AND I THOUGHT I WOULD
LIVE THERE FOR THE REST
OF MY LIFE.
246
00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:28,867
ARRIVING PEARL HARBOR DAY,
1956,
247
00:12:28,867 --> 00:12:30,600
LARRY WAS THE FOURTH
OF SIX KIDS BORN
248
00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,200
TO GEORGIA AND JOE BIRD.
249
00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,767
EARLY ON,
HE AND HIS OLDER BROTHERS
250
00:12:35,767 --> 00:12:38,266
EARNED A REPUTATION
AROUND THE VALLEY.
251
00:12:38,266 --> 00:12:40,500
WE WERE ALWAYS
CONSIDERED TROUBLEMAKERS.
252
00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:43,333
WE WERE EITHER FIGHTING
AMONGST OURSELVES
253
00:12:43,333 --> 00:12:46,600
OR THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE
OF US FIGHTING SOMEBODY.
254
00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,700
LARRY WAS ALWAYS ONE THAT
KIND OF INSTIGATED THINGS.
255
00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:53,667
IF I COULD GET MY BROTHER
IN A FIGHT WITH SOMEBODY
HIS AGE,
256
00:12:53,667 --> 00:12:55,700
I WAS AS HAPPY AS HELL,
'CAUSE I LIKED TO SEE
HIM GET BEAT UP,
257
00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:57,934
AND THAT'S
JUST THE WAY IT WAS.
258
00:12:57,934 --> 00:13:01,934
IF I GOT IN SCRAPE
WITH SOME KID,
259
00:13:01,934 --> 00:13:04,166
AND MY BROTHERS
DIDN'T COME TO MY SIDE,
260
00:13:04,166 --> 00:13:07,633
THEY KNEW THAT
WHEN HE GOT HOME,
MY DAD WAS GONNA WHIP 'EM.
261
00:13:07,633 --> 00:13:09,900
LARRY AND MY DAD
262
00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:12,567
WERE BEST OF FRIENDS.
263
00:13:12,567 --> 00:13:14,400
THEY DONE EVERYTHING
TOGETHER.
264
00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,367
WHEN MY DAD WOULD GO OUT
TO MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE,
265
00:13:17,367 --> 00:13:20,500
LARRY WOULD ALWAYS GO WITH HIM.
THEY'D GO FISHING,
266
00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:21,967
DO A LOT OF THINGS
TOGETHER.
267
00:13:21,967 --> 00:13:24,967
BUT JOE BIRD
ALSO HAD A DARKER SIDE,
268
00:13:24,967 --> 00:13:28,333
STEMMING FROM A TRAUMATIC
TOUR OF DUTY IN KOREA.
269
00:13:28,333 --> 00:13:30,333
LARRY REMEMBERS WAKING UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
270
00:13:30,333 --> 00:13:32,600
HEARING HIS FATHER'S
BLOODCURDLING SCREAMS
271
00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,900
FROM THE NIGHTMARES
HE HAD HAD FROM THE WAR.
272
00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:38,867
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FATHER
IN THE WAR AFFECTED
HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
273
00:13:38,867 --> 00:13:41,800
HE WAS NEVER ABLE
TO QUITE GET RID OF
274
00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,600
WHATEVER
THOSE DEMONS WERE.
275
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,567
A TALENTED CRAFTSMAN,
276
00:13:46,567 --> 00:13:49,500
JOE BIRD STRUGGLED
TO HOLD STEADY JOBS.
277
00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:51,500
AND EVEN WHEN
HE WAS WORKING,
278
00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:54,800
HIS DEMONS WOULD, ON OCCASION,
DRIVE HIM TO THE BOTTLE.
279
00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:56,900
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN JOE
WENT OUT WITH THE GUYS
280
00:13:56,900 --> 00:14:00,033
AND HAD A FEW BEERS,
AND THE WAGES DIDN'T
COME HOME THAT NIGHT.
281
00:14:00,033 --> 00:14:02,000
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
EVERY DAY.
282
00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,834
IT HAPPENED ONCE
IN A WHILE, BUT WHEN MONEY'S
AS TIGHT AS IT WAS
283
00:14:04,834 --> 00:14:08,333
FOR THE BIRDS, ONCE
IN A WHILE WAS A MAJOR
PROBLEM FOR THEIR FAMILY.
284
00:14:09,667 --> 00:14:11,767
MY MOM SOMETIMES
WORKED LATE.
285
00:14:11,767 --> 00:14:14,834
SOMETIMES SHE HAD TWO JOBS,
BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS.
286
00:14:14,834 --> 00:14:17,600
I WORKED AT SCHOOL
DURING MY LUNCH HOURS,
287
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,934
WORKED AT THE LOCAL
GROCERY STORE,
288
00:14:19,934 --> 00:14:22,367
PUT UP HAY
IN THE SUMMER.
289
00:14:22,367 --> 00:14:25,133
IF YOU WANTED MONEY,
YOU HAD TO GET IT ON YOUR OWN.
290
00:14:25,133 --> 00:14:29,066
TO YOUNG LARRY, ACTIONS
SPOKE LOUDER THAN WORDS.
291
00:14:29,066 --> 00:14:31,367
HE WAS VERY QUIET,
292
00:14:31,367 --> 00:14:33,600
KIND OF HUNG TO HIMSELF
A LITTLE BIT.
293
00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,967
I SAW LARRY TAKE AN "F"
IN AN ENGLISH CLASS
294
00:14:36,967 --> 00:14:40,900
BECAUSE HE HAD TO GET UP
IN FRONT OF HIS PEERS
AND GIVE A SPEECH.
295
00:14:40,900 --> 00:14:42,467
"I WON'T DO IT."
296
00:14:42,467 --> 00:14:45,166
HE JUST COULD NOT GET UP
IN FRONT OF HIS FRIENDS
AND TALK.
297
00:14:45,166 --> 00:14:47,367
HE WAS THAT SHY.
298
00:14:47,367 --> 00:14:50,567
OF COURSE,
NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
WHEN HE KNEW IT WAS TIME
299
00:14:50,567 --> 00:14:54,333
FOR ALL OF US TOGETHER
AT THE GYMNASIUM,
THERE HE'D BE.
300
00:14:54,333 --> 00:14:56,934
THE MINUTE HE'D GET
A BASKETBALL IN HIS HAND,
301
00:14:56,934 --> 00:14:59,400
THINGS WERE
TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
302
00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:00,700
BASKETBALL WAS JUST--
303
00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:03,734
IT CAME TO ME,
SEEMED LIKE EASY.
304
00:15:03,734 --> 00:15:07,600
I DIDN'T HAVE THE QUICKNESS.
I DIDN'T HAVE JUMPING ABILITY.
305
00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,066
I JUST THOUGHT
THE GAME OUT.
306
00:15:09,066 --> 00:15:12,133
BY HIS SENIOR YEAR
AT SPRINGS VALLEY HIGH,
307
00:15:12,133 --> 00:15:15,934
LARRY BIRD HAD SPROUTED
INTO A STAR.
308
00:15:15,934 --> 00:15:17,900
BUT BIRD WAS
FROM THE VALLEY,
309
00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:19,900
HARDLY A HOTBED
OF TALENT
310
00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:22,400
IN THE BIG-TIME WORLD
OF INDIANA HOOPS.
311
00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,400
THE FIRST THING THEY SAY,
"WELL, THEY DON'T PLAY
NOBODY DOWN THERE.
312
00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:27,266
HE'S FROM FRENCH LICK.
313
00:15:27,266 --> 00:15:29,533
THEY DON'T PLAY NOBODY."
314
00:15:29,533 --> 00:15:31,133
I THINK THAT PUT
A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER,
315
00:15:31,133 --> 00:15:34,567
ALWAYS HAVING
TO PROVE WHO HE WAS
AND HOW GOOD HE WAS.
316
00:15:34,567 --> 00:15:38,300
HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR INDIANA
UNIVERSITY'S BOBBY KNIGHT
317
00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:40,533
TO COME CALLING
LATE HIS SENIOR YEAR.
318
00:15:40,533 --> 00:15:42,100
AND FOLKS IN THE VALLEY
319
00:15:42,100 --> 00:15:44,533
COULDN'T HAVE
BEEN PROUDER.
320
00:15:44,533 --> 00:15:47,266
THEIR LOCAL HERO
WAS HEADING 60 MILES NORTH
321
00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:50,667
TO PLAY BALL FOR ONE
OF THE BEST COLLEGE TEAMS
IN THE LAND.
322
00:15:50,667 --> 00:15:53,333
ONCE I GOT TO I.U.,
323
00:15:53,333 --> 00:15:55,600
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
TO REALIZE THAT I WAS
324
00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,166
OUT OF MY COCOON.
325
00:15:58,166 --> 00:16:00,967
HAD OVER 30,000 STUDENTS.
326
00:16:00,967 --> 00:16:03,367
DAD DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS.
327
00:16:03,367 --> 00:16:05,433
FIRST WEEK AND A HALF,
328
00:16:05,433 --> 00:16:07,567
I THOUGHT,
"MAN, THIS AIN'T GONNA WORK."
329
00:16:07,567 --> 00:16:10,967
HE LEFT AFTER 24 DAYS.
330
00:16:10,967 --> 00:16:12,934
LET MY MOTHER DOWN.
331
00:16:12,934 --> 00:16:14,900
SHE DIDN'T TALK TO ME
FOR TWO MONTHS,
332
00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:18,333
BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAID.
TO THIS DAY, I DON'T CARE.
333
00:16:21,066 --> 00:16:23,166
BACK IN FRENCH LICK,
334
00:16:23,166 --> 00:16:25,166
BIRD TOOK TO WORKING
FOR THE CITY,
335
00:16:25,166 --> 00:16:27,834
HAULING TRASH
AND PAINTING PARK BENCHES.
336
00:16:27,834 --> 00:16:29,967
MEANWHILE,
BY THAT WINTER,
337
00:16:29,967 --> 00:16:32,433
HIS FATHER'S DEMONS
HAD TAKEN HIM
338
00:16:32,433 --> 00:16:34,600
TO AN EVEN DARKER PLACE.
339
00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,266
BY THIS POINT,
JOE AND GEORGIA WERE DIVORCED.
340
00:16:37,266 --> 00:16:40,266
AND HE WAS BEHIND IN
HIS PAYMENTS TO THE FAMILY.
341
00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:42,567
THE POLICE CAME BY,
AND OF COURSE, THEY
ALL KNEW HIM.
342
00:16:42,567 --> 00:16:45,266
SO JOE SAID,
"HEY, I NEED A FEW HOURS
TO GET MY AFFAIRS TOGETHER
343
00:16:45,266 --> 00:16:47,266
BEFORE YOU TAKE ME AWAY,"
SO HE CALLED GEORGIA
344
00:16:47,266 --> 00:16:49,266
AND HE SAID, "YOU GUYS
WILL BE BETTER OFF
WITHOUT ME,
345
00:16:49,266 --> 00:16:52,100
AND I'M GONNA TAKE MY LIFE,"
AND HE PUT THE PHONE DOWN
346
00:16:52,100 --> 00:16:54,600
AND HE KILLED HIMSELF.
HE SHOT HIMSELF.
347
00:16:57,033 --> 00:16:59,800
WHEN DAD PASSED,
IT HURT LARRY.
348
00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,600
I MEAN,
THAT WAS HIS BEST FRIEND--
349
00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,767
WAS GONE NOW,
350
00:17:04,767 --> 00:17:07,400
BUT LARRY DIDN'T SHOW IT
A LOT.
351
00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,200
HE JUST DIDN'T SAY MUCH.
352
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,867
YOU KNOW, HE JUST KIND OF
HELD IT WITHIN.
353
00:17:12,867 --> 00:17:16,400
I NEVER HEARD HIM
SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT
354
00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,100
AT ALL.
355
00:17:20,467 --> 00:17:22,700
I WAS MAD WHEN
I HEARD ABOUT IT.
356
00:17:22,700 --> 00:17:26,200
AND I WAS MADDER
357
00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:27,667
AFTER THE FUNERAL
358
00:17:27,667 --> 00:17:30,166
BECAUSE I THOUGHT
HE SORT OF
359
00:17:30,166 --> 00:17:32,567
CUT OUT ON US
DURING A TOUGH TIME,
360
00:17:32,567 --> 00:17:36,000
BUT HE WENT THROUGH
A LOT IN HIS LIFE.
361
00:17:37,367 --> 00:17:39,500
HE DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO.
362
00:17:42,934 --> 00:17:45,767
IF BILL HODGES HADN'T
BEEN AS PERSISTENT
363
00:17:45,767 --> 00:17:49,800
AS HE HAD BEEN,
LARRY BIRD MIGHT HAVE NEVER
EXISTED IN ANY OF OUR MINDS.
364
00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,500
I BELIEVE THAT
WITH ALL MY HEART.
I REALLY DO.
365
00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:55,133
IT WAS BILL HODGES,
A YOUNG COACH
366
00:17:55,133 --> 00:17:57,333
FROM INDIANA STATE
UNIVERSITY
367
00:17:57,333 --> 00:18:00,333
WHO CONVINCED BIRD
TO GIVE COLLEGE HOOPS
ANOTHER SHOT.
368
00:18:00,333 --> 00:18:02,967
SO WITH A PROMISE
TO HIS MOM TO GRADUATE,
369
00:18:02,967 --> 00:18:05,734
BIRD HEADED TO TERRE HAUTE
AND I.S.U.,
370
00:18:05,734 --> 00:18:09,500
A SCHOOL THAT NEVER
SO MUCH HAD BEEN TO
THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
371
00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:12,567
ONCE I STARTED PLAYING,
IT WAS THE SAME OLD THING--
372
00:18:12,567 --> 00:18:15,166
IT WAS A SMALL SCHOOL,
AND WE AIN'T PLAYING
AGAINST ANYBODY,
373
00:18:15,166 --> 00:18:18,600
WHICH IS FINE.
STILL DOMINATED.
374
00:18:43,266 --> 00:18:47,300
BY THE TIME HE HAD LED
TINY I.S.U. AS A SENIOR
375
00:18:47,300 --> 00:18:49,000
TO A 33-0 RECORD
376
00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,600
AND A SPOT
IN THE '79 TITLE GAME,
377
00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,400
LARRY BIRD HAD BECOME,
ALONGSIDE MAGIC JOHNSON,
378
00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:56,533
THE TALK
OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL.
379
00:18:56,533 --> 00:19:00,333
JUST A YEAR AFTER SHARING
THE COURT ON TEAM USA,
380
00:19:00,333 --> 00:19:03,600
THEY WERE BACK TOGETHER,
AND THE DAY BEFORE
THE BIG GAME,
381
00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:05,967
MAGIC COULDN'T WAIT
TO GREET HIS OLD PLAYMATE.
382
00:19:05,967 --> 00:19:08,767
INDIANA STATE WAS
PRACTICING.
383
00:19:08,767 --> 00:19:11,767
AND WE WERE
WAITING IN THE TUNNEL.
WE GOT THERE EARLY.
384
00:19:11,767 --> 00:19:15,300
I WANTED TO DEFINITELY
SAY HELLO TO LARRY.
385
00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:17,033
WHEN THEY CAME THROUGH,
386
00:19:17,033 --> 00:19:19,800
IT WAS LIKE
NOBODY WAS SAYING NOTHING.
387
00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:21,533
I WANTED TO GO
TOWARD 'EM.
388
00:19:21,533 --> 00:19:25,333
LIKE HIS GUYS MADE SURE
THAT HE DIDN'T SAY NOTHING,
389
00:19:25,333 --> 00:19:27,333
AND THEN THEY KIND OF
STARTED SNICKERING.
390
00:19:27,333 --> 00:19:29,700
LIKE MICHIGAN STATE,
YOU IN TROUBLE.
391
00:19:29,700 --> 00:19:31,367
WE'RE GONNA KILL
YOU GUYS TOMORROW.
392
00:19:31,367 --> 00:19:32,834
I PROBABLY DID SNUB HIM.
393
00:19:32,834 --> 00:19:34,967
I DON'T REMEMBER IT,
BUT I'M SURE I DID.
394
00:19:34,967 --> 00:19:38,100
I DIDN'T...
395
00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:39,834
WANT ANY, YOU KNOW,
396
00:19:39,834 --> 00:19:41,834
LIKE I CALL IT
"LOVE FEST"--
397
00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:45,433
HUGGING AND SLAPPING
HIGH FIVES WITH OPPONENT.
398
00:19:45,433 --> 00:19:47,900
YOU WERE THERE FOR A REASON.
YOU'RE THERE TO WIN A GAME.
399
00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,300
THAT JUST SAID,
"IT'S ON NOW."
400
00:19:52,066 --> 00:19:54,900
IT IS INDIANA STATE
AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE.
401
00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:58,166
I'M BRYANT GUMBEL,
AND THE FANS HERE
ARE GOING BANANAS.
402
00:19:58,166 --> 00:20:02,266
LET'S FACE IT.
IF LARRY BIRD WERE BLACK
AND CAME FROM CHICAGO,
403
00:20:02,266 --> 00:20:04,266
IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
AS BIG A DEAL.
404
00:20:04,266 --> 00:20:06,133
THEY WERE POLAR OPPOSITES.
405
00:20:06,133 --> 00:20:09,233
ONE BLACK, ONE WHITE.
ONE OUTGOING, ONE SHY.
406
00:20:09,233 --> 00:20:11,800
THAT WAS THE CHARM
OF THE ATTRACTION.
407
00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,934
THE BIRD AGAINST MAGIC,
ALL OF THE SUPERLATIVES
HAVE BEEN USED
408
00:20:14,934 --> 00:20:17,000
AND BELIEVE ME, ALL OF
THEM HAVE BEEN WARRANTED.
409
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,734
HEADING INTO THE TOURNAMENT,
MAGIC WAS THE BIGGER STAR,
410
00:20:20,734 --> 00:20:23,133
BUT BY TIPOFF
IT WAS BIRD,
411
00:20:23,133 --> 00:20:25,400
HAVING HARDLY MISSED A SHOT
IN THE SEMIFINAL,
412
00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,800
WHO WOULD BECOME THE FOCUS
413
00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,266
OF FANS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
OF MICHIGAN STATE.
414
00:20:31,266 --> 00:20:34,367
WE ACTUALLY HAD TWO MEN
ON LARRY EVERYWHERE HE WENT.
415
00:20:34,367 --> 00:20:36,367
There he is, Dick.
416
00:20:36,367 --> 00:20:38,400
They have him sandwiched
in completely.
417
00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,300
I'M SURPRISED THEY
DIDN'T PLAY A BOX ON ONE--
FOUR GUYS ON LARRY,
418
00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:44,700
AND ONE ON THE OTHER FOUR,
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
A LOT OF TALENT.
419
00:20:44,700 --> 00:20:47,567
IF YOU STOP LARRY,
YOU PRETTY MUCH STOP THEM.
420
00:20:47,567 --> 00:20:49,767
Look at the pressure
around him-- two, three men.
421
00:20:49,767 --> 00:20:52,033
And he's short.
422
00:20:52,033 --> 00:20:55,166
I DIDN'T PLAY WELL AT ALL.
BIGGEST GAME OF MY LIFE,
I DIDN'T PLAY WELL.
423
00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:58,667
Way short.
424
00:20:58,667 --> 00:21:02,033
I THINK OUR LENGTH
AND OUR SIZE,
425
00:21:02,033 --> 00:21:04,133
OUR JUMPING ABILITY,
426
00:21:04,133 --> 00:21:06,266
WAS ABLE
TO BOTHER HIM.
427
00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:10,200
Turn, hanging,
can't score.
428
00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,166
I DIDN'T SHOOT WELL.
429
00:21:12,166 --> 00:21:14,600
MISSED
THREE FREE THROWS.
430
00:21:16,433 --> 00:21:20,100
Larry Bird has had
a cold shooting night.
431
00:21:21,367 --> 00:21:23,667
I BATTLED 'EM,
BUT I DIDN'T HAVE IT.
432
00:21:27,700 --> 00:21:29,767
Oh!
433
00:21:29,767 --> 00:21:32,200
Oh, there's a pass!
434
00:21:34,567 --> 00:21:36,033
It's all over.
435
00:21:36,033 --> 00:21:37,433
Michigan State
University--
436
00:21:37,433 --> 00:21:41,400
National Champions
1979.
437
00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,533
MAGIC, NOT ONLY WERE
YOU ONLY A LEADER
ON OFFENSE,
438
00:21:43,533 --> 00:21:46,900
I THOUGHT YOU DID A GREAT JOB
ON LARRY BIRD IN THE ZONE,
DENIED HIM THE BALL.
439
00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:49,266
YES, COACH GAVE US
440
00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:51,000
A GOOD GAME PLAN
441
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,000
TO GO AGAINST
LARRY BIRD.
442
00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,767
AND ALL WE HAD TO DO
WAS GO OUT AND DO IT.
443
00:21:54,767 --> 00:21:57,967
- THAT'S WHAT WE DONE.
- CONGRATULATIONS,
SUPER BALLGAME.
444
00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:07,533
- IT WAS OVER.
- THAT WAS MY FOUR YEARS.
445
00:22:07,533 --> 00:22:11,333
IT WAS DONE.
446
00:22:11,333 --> 00:22:13,233
IT STILL HURTS.
447
00:22:13,233 --> 00:22:17,100
WHEN YOU WIN 33 IN A ROW,
YOU WALK INTO A GAME,
448
00:22:17,100 --> 00:22:18,867
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT,
449
00:22:18,867 --> 00:22:21,467
BUT I EXPECT TO WIN.
450
00:22:21,467 --> 00:22:23,567
WE DIDN'T WIN.
451
00:22:26,533 --> 00:22:28,000
TOUGHEST LOSS
I EVER TOOK.
452
00:22:31,300 --> 00:22:33,367
I KNEW IT WAS
GONNA HAUNT HIM FOREVER.
453
00:22:33,367 --> 00:22:35,667
'CAUSE WE WERE GONNA
SEE EACH OTHER A LOT.
454
00:22:41,667 --> 00:22:44,934
THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL
ASSOCIATION IN ITS 33rd SEASON
455
00:22:44,934 --> 00:22:46,467
IS TROUBLED
BY DIMINISHING CROWDS
456
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:47,934
AND DECLINING TELEVISION
RATINGS,
457
00:22:47,934 --> 00:22:50,934
SIGNS THAT FAN INTEREST
MAY BE WANING.
458
00:22:50,934 --> 00:22:53,500
IF COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WAS FLOURISHING AT THE END
459
00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:57,500
OF THE 1970s,
THE PRO GAME WAS CRUMBLING.
460
00:22:57,500 --> 00:22:59,834
AFTER THE GOLDEN ERA
OF BILL RUSSELL
461
00:22:59,834 --> 00:23:01,800
AND JERRY WEST
IN THE 1960s,
462
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:05,400
A MERGER WITH THE A.B.A.
IN 1976 HAD LED NOT ONLY
463
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,300
TO NEW TEAMS,
BUT A NEW TEMPERAMENT.
464
00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:12,166
IT WAS A NEW LEAGUE WITH
NEW TIMES WITH RENEGADES,
465
00:23:12,166 --> 00:23:14,266
WITH INDIVIDUALS.
466
00:23:16,033 --> 00:23:19,567
THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT MADE,
PLAUSIBLY, I THINK,
467
00:23:19,567 --> 00:23:21,066
THAT IT
WAS TOO BLACK A LEAGUE
468
00:23:21,066 --> 00:23:23,100
FOR THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA IN THE LATE 1970s.
469
00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:26,934
YOU THINK ABOUT
THE KNICKERBOCKERS AT THE TIME,
470
00:23:26,934 --> 00:23:29,500
THE RUNNING JOKE WAS IT
WAS THE NIGGER-BOCKERS.
471
00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:33,200
THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
IT WAS THE "N" WORD.
472
00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,500
IT'S TURNING OFF A LOT
OF WHITE CUSTOMERS
473
00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:38,066
THAT ARE COMING
TO THE GAME.
474
00:23:38,066 --> 00:23:40,633
WHY?
475
00:23:40,633 --> 00:23:43,900
I THINK THERE'S
A CONFLICT BETWEEN
THE WHITE AND THE BLACK,
476
00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:45,633
AND I DON'T ENJOY
477
00:23:45,633 --> 00:23:48,066
GOING TO BASKETBALL
AND SEEING ALL BLACK PLAYERS.
478
00:23:48,066 --> 00:23:49,900
I MEAN,
WHEN THEY SAID TOO BLACK,
479
00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:52,433
THEY MEANT NOT JUST
IN TERMS OF COLOR,
480
00:23:52,433 --> 00:23:53,934
BUT IN TERMS OF STYLE--
481
00:23:53,934 --> 00:23:57,734
"LET ME GET MINE
AND THE HELL WITH YOURS."
482
00:23:57,734 --> 00:24:00,834
BASKETBALL FOR US WAS
ABOUT THE BEST MOVES.
483
00:24:00,834 --> 00:24:04,266
YOU WANT IT TO BE
THAT BIG PLAYER THAT
EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT.
484
00:24:04,266 --> 00:24:07,467
YOU WANTED TO BE THE ONE.
485
00:24:07,467 --> 00:24:09,800
YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT
WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
OR TEAM PLAY.
486
00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,333
AND THOSE WERE
JUST THE ISSUES
487
00:24:12,333 --> 00:24:13,934
ON THE COURT.
488
00:24:13,934 --> 00:24:17,867
THE NBA HAD THIS IMAGE
OF AN ALL-BLACK LEAGUE
489
00:24:17,867 --> 00:24:19,934
WITH A BUNCH OF GUYS
WHO DID DRUGS.
490
00:24:19,934 --> 00:24:22,166
THE TEAMS WERE LOSING MONEY,
AND THEY HAD NO SPONSORS.
491
00:24:22,166 --> 00:24:25,166
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
A DEATH KNELL RIGHT THERE.
492
00:24:25,166 --> 00:24:27,133
IT'S A KNOWN FACT THAT
493
00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:29,834
YOU NEED YOUR
WHITE SUPERSTARS.
494
00:24:29,834 --> 00:24:33,166
YOU JUST NEED MORE WHITE
BALLPLAYERS ON THE TEAM
FOR THE WHITE FANS
495
00:24:33,166 --> 00:24:35,033
TO IDENTIFY WITH.
496
00:24:35,033 --> 00:24:37,767
AND IN THE NEWEST MEMBER
OF THE BOSTON CELTICS,
497
00:24:37,767 --> 00:24:41,033
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE LEAGUE
APPEARED TO BE GETTING.
498
00:24:41,033 --> 00:24:44,433
THERE'S HOPE HE CAN
HELP SOLVE PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL'S DIFFICULTIES,
499
00:24:44,433 --> 00:24:48,400
WHICH SOME SAY ARE
COMPOUNDED BY A QUESTION
OF BLACK AND WHITE.
500
00:24:49,834 --> 00:24:52,500
- THE GREAT WHITE HOPE.
- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
501
00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:55,767
WELL, YOU KNOW,
IT'S VERY HARD TO SAY
502
00:24:55,767 --> 00:24:58,567
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
OF GREAT WHITE PLAYERS
AROUND,
503
00:24:58,567 --> 00:25:01,066
AND I JUST HOPE THAT
I CAN JUST FIT IN AS WELL
504
00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:02,834
AS SOME OF THEM
THAT HAVE FIT IN.
505
00:25:02,834 --> 00:25:06,066
HE RAN AWAY
FROM THAT DESIGNATION.
506
00:25:06,066 --> 00:25:08,066
HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR,
507
00:25:08,066 --> 00:25:10,233
ALMOST FROM DAY ONE,
508
00:25:10,233 --> 00:25:12,500
THAT HE WAS NOT
THE GREAT WHITE HOPE.
509
00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:15,667
THE GREAT PLAYERS
ARE THE BLACK PLAYERS,
AND THEY'RE THE BEST.
510
00:25:15,667 --> 00:25:18,500
SUCH DEFERENCE MEANT
LITTLE TO BLACK CELTICS
511
00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:21,100
LIKE CURTIS ROWE,
SIDNEY WICKS
512
00:25:21,100 --> 00:25:23,133
AND CEDRIC MAXWELL,
513
00:25:23,133 --> 00:25:25,533
WHO LOOKED AT BIRD AND SAW
NOT THE GREAT WHITE HOPE,
514
00:25:25,533 --> 00:25:27,867
BUT ANOTHER CASE
OF GREAT WHITE HYPE.
515
00:25:27,867 --> 00:25:30,333
HE DIDN'T IMPRESS ME
NO MORE THAN ANY OTHER
516
00:25:30,333 --> 00:25:32,433
WHITE GUY I'VE
EVER SEEN PLAY BEFORE.
517
00:25:32,433 --> 00:25:34,233
I THINK THAT YOU WOULD SAY
THAT MOST BLACK PLAYERS
518
00:25:34,233 --> 00:25:36,100
AT THE TIME
WERE RACIST,
519
00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:38,800
IN THE SENSE
THAT WE DID NOT THINK
520
00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,800
THAT YOU COULD
FIND A WHITE GUY
521
00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,300
WHO COULD PLAY BETTER
THAN ANY BLACK GUY.
522
00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:45,934
WHEN I WALK IN
THE FIRST DAY OF CAMP,
523
00:25:45,934 --> 00:25:48,233
THEM GUYS WERE
ON THE FLOOR STRETCHING,
524
00:25:48,233 --> 00:25:50,233
AND "HERE COMES
THE WHITE SAVIOR.
525
00:25:50,233 --> 00:25:52,433
HERE COMES THIS,
HERE COMES THAT."
526
00:25:52,433 --> 00:25:55,767
I SORT OF ENJOYED IT,
'CAUSE I KNEW I WAS GONNA
BATTLE 'EM ALL DAY.
527
00:25:55,767 --> 00:25:57,734
BUT CURTIS AND SIDNEY
DIDN'T LAST LONG.
528
00:25:57,734 --> 00:26:00,333
THEY DIDN'T EVEN
MAKE IT THROUGH
THE FIRST PRACTICE.
529
00:26:00,333 --> 00:26:02,600
THEY WERE CUT.
SO THEN IT WAS JUST CEDRIC.
530
00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,700
I'M THINKING,
"HE'S SLOW. HE CAN'T
GET OFF A SHOT.
531
00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:07,667
HE'S NOT THAT STRONG.
532
00:26:07,667 --> 00:26:10,467
THIS IS GONNA BE
A LAYUP."
533
00:26:10,467 --> 00:26:12,533
BAM!
KNOCKS DOWN A JUMP SHOT.
534
00:26:12,533 --> 00:26:15,767
IT'S OKAY.
MAYBE THAT WAS LUCK.
535
00:26:15,767 --> 00:26:19,467
GETS THE BALL AGAIN.
536
00:26:19,467 --> 00:26:21,200
BAM! KNOCKS DOWN
ANOTHER JUMP SHOT.
537
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,266
NOW I'M THINKING LIKE,
"OKAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
538
00:26:24,266 --> 00:26:27,133
I'M GONNA 'D' THIS GUY UP.
I'M GONNA SHOW HIM
WHAT IT'S LIKE."
539
00:26:27,133 --> 00:26:28,767
20 FEET AWAY.
540
00:26:28,767 --> 00:26:30,800
BAM! 25 FEET AWAY.
BAM!
541
00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,266
MY MIND JUST--
542
00:26:33,266 --> 00:26:35,266
"DAMN, THIS WHITE
GUY CAN PLAY."
543
00:26:35,266 --> 00:26:38,433
IT WAS A GOOD THING TOO.
544
00:26:38,433 --> 00:26:42,200
THE STORIED CELTICS MIGHT
HAVE BEEN THE WINNINGEST
TEAM IN NBA HISTORY,
545
00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,133
BUT THEY WERE FRESH OFF
THEIR WORSE SEASON
546
00:26:44,133 --> 00:26:46,533
IN 30 YEARS.
547
00:26:46,533 --> 00:26:48,533
AND IN BIRD,
THEY HAD A PLAYER
548
00:26:48,533 --> 00:26:51,266
WHO WAS NOT ONLY
SUPREMELY TALENTED,
549
00:26:51,266 --> 00:26:53,700
BUT TOUGH ENOUGH
TO TAKE ON ANY CHALLENGE.
550
00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:56,900
I ALWAYS PLAYED LIKE EVERYBODY
IN THE WORLD WAS AGAINST ME.
551
00:26:56,900 --> 00:26:58,834
THOUGHT EVERYBODY
WAS AGAINST ME,
552
00:26:58,834 --> 00:27:02,767
USED TO THINK UP THINGS
TO GET ME RATTLED
BEFORE A GAME.
553
00:27:02,767 --> 00:27:05,800
HE KNEW HOW TO FIGHT.
I KNOW THAT FROM
OFF THE FLOOR.
554
00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,734
ONE NIGHT SOMEBODY
WAS GIVING ONE
555
00:27:08,734 --> 00:27:10,567
OF HIS BUDDIES
A HARD TIME,
556
00:27:10,567 --> 00:27:13,600
AND LARRY
WENT OVER AND SAID,
"HEY, THIS IS MY FRIEND."
557
00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,467
THIS GUY WAS A PRETTY
GOOD SIZED GUY.
558
00:27:16,467 --> 00:27:19,467
THEY GO OUT BACK
AND THE GUY TURNS AND
SAYS SOMETHING TO LARRY,
559
00:27:19,467 --> 00:27:22,900
AND I MEAN, LARRY HIT
THIS GUY AND I CAUGHT HIM.
560
00:27:22,900 --> 00:27:26,500
HIT HIM SO HARD,
I GO, "WHOA!"
561
00:27:26,500 --> 00:27:29,734
HE WAS
FROM THE OLD SCHOOL.
THAT'S HOW HE PLAYED.
562
00:27:29,734 --> 00:27:32,834
Larry Bird plays it
to the hilt, baby.
563
00:27:32,834 --> 00:27:36,667
I PLAYED THE GAME HARD,
PLAYED ROUGH.
564
00:27:36,667 --> 00:27:39,600
THERE WAS NO FRILLS
ABOUT HIM.
565
00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:41,800
HE CAME IN.
HE THREW ELBOWS.
566
00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,233
THERE WAS NOTHING SMOOTH
ABOUT LARRY.
567
00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:51,300
NEW ENGLANDERS LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE HARDWORKING PEOPLE.
568
00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:54,300
THEY LIKE THAT THAT'S
HOW PEOPLE VIEW THEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT LARRY WAS.
569
00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:57,300
Larry Bird--
follows his own shot.
570
00:27:57,300 --> 00:27:59,133
Oh, what a play!
571
00:27:59,133 --> 00:28:01,233
THEY ALSO LIKE WINNERS.
572
00:28:01,233 --> 00:28:03,900
WHEN BIRD LED THE CELTICS
TO THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
573
00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:05,967
IN JUST
HIS SECOND SEASON,
574
00:28:05,967 --> 00:28:08,800
HE WAS FINALLY ONE
OF THOSE TOO.
575
00:28:10,767 --> 00:28:12,633
BOSTON LOVED LARRY BIRD.
576
00:28:12,633 --> 00:28:16,667
IT JUST WASN'T SO CLEAR
AT FIRST HOW MUCH BIRD
LOVED THE CITY BACK.
577
00:28:16,667 --> 00:28:19,867
THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE
I'D RATHER BE-- FRENCH LICK.
578
00:28:19,867 --> 00:28:21,533
THANK YOU.
579
00:28:21,533 --> 00:28:24,600
MAN, LARRY WAS ALMOST
AGORAPHOBIC IN HIS TREATMENT
580
00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,033
OF ANYTHING OUTSIDE
HIS HOMETOWN.
581
00:28:26,033 --> 00:28:28,266
HE WANTED TO BE
THE WIZARD OF OZ.
582
00:28:28,266 --> 00:28:30,066
HE WANTED
TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE
583
00:28:30,066 --> 00:28:32,333
AND KEEP THEM AT BAY.
584
00:28:32,333 --> 00:28:36,066
"THE FURTHER WE ARE
AWAY FROM EACH OTHER,
THE MORE I LIKE IT."
585
00:28:36,066 --> 00:28:39,500
I HAD A NICE LITTLE HOUSE.
586
00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:42,000
I HAD MY LITTLE YARD.
587
00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,600
I WANNA GO FROM THERE
TO PRACTICE, BACK.
588
00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,800
IF WE HAD A GAME COMING UP,
I WANNA GO THERE,
589
00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:48,934
TO THE GAME
AND BACK HOME.
590
00:28:48,934 --> 00:28:50,867
IT WAS ALL BASKETBALL.
591
00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:53,033
MY WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASKETBALL.
592
00:28:53,033 --> 00:28:55,834
IF HE WAS JUST SITTING
THERE, IT WAS JUST ME,
593
00:28:55,834 --> 00:28:57,834
YOU WERE LOOKING
AROUND MUMBLING,
594
00:28:57,834 --> 00:28:59,834
TRYING TO FIND THINGS
THAT WE HAD IN COMMON THAT
WE COULD TALK ABOUT.
595
00:28:59,834 --> 00:29:02,667
WE START TALKING
ABOUT BASKETBALL,
ABOUT PLAYERS,
596
00:29:02,667 --> 00:29:04,400
YOU KNOW, IT WAS GREAT.
597
00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,633
U.S. HISTORY? NO.
598
00:29:06,633 --> 00:29:09,033
WE FORCED PASSES.
WE MADE ERRORS DOWN
THE STRETCH.
599
00:29:09,033 --> 00:29:10,867
DAILY EVENTS? NO.
600
00:29:10,867 --> 00:29:13,166
I MADE THE SHOT
AND FROM THEN ON,
WE WAS UP BY TWO.
601
00:29:13,166 --> 00:29:15,433
AND THEY HAD
TO GET BACK IN THE GAME,
WHICH THEY DID.
602
00:29:15,433 --> 00:29:17,166
POLITICS? NO.
603
00:29:17,166 --> 00:29:20,233
TRY NOT TO DO ANYTHING
I CAN'T DO OR DO NO MORE
THAN WHAT I CAN DO.
604
00:29:20,233 --> 00:29:22,066
I JUST DO
MY BASIC GAME.
605
00:29:22,066 --> 00:29:25,967
HE PROUDLY DUBBED HIMSELF
"THE HICK FROM FRENCH LICK."
606
00:29:25,967 --> 00:29:28,166
AND HE LOOKED
EVERY BIT THE PART,
607
00:29:28,166 --> 00:29:30,233
BUT THOSE WHO PLAYED HIM
FOR SIMPLE
608
00:29:30,233 --> 00:29:32,233
DID SO
AT THEIR OWN PERIL.
609
00:29:32,233 --> 00:29:35,500
ONE OF THE GREAT WAYS
I THINK OF WINDING UP WITH
NO MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
610
00:29:35,500 --> 00:29:37,433
IS TO THINK LARRY BIRD
IS DUMB.
611
00:29:37,433 --> 00:29:39,800
SYNTAX IS NOT INTELLIGENCE.
612
00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:41,367
UNLETTERED IS NOT STUPID.
613
00:29:41,367 --> 00:29:43,367
HE'S GOT A GREAT SENSE
OF HUMOR.
614
00:29:43,367 --> 00:29:44,800
HE JUST DIDN'T SHOW THAT
TO PEOPLE.
615
00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,333
THAT DIDN'T MEAN
HE DIDN'T HAVE IT.
616
00:29:46,333 --> 00:29:48,300
HE DID, HOWEVER,
617
00:29:48,300 --> 00:29:50,800
ALLOW THE PUBLIC
ONE SMALL INDULGENCE.
618
00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,166
YOU COULD COME OUT
ON SATURDAY AND WATCH
HIM MOW HIS LAWN.
619
00:29:54,166 --> 00:29:56,367
HUGE CROWDS STOOD
AND STOPPED.
620
00:29:56,367 --> 00:29:59,467
LARRY BIRD'S CUTTING GRASS
IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE.
621
00:29:59,467 --> 00:30:02,467
HE'S MOWING HIS LAWN
622
00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:04,400
IN THE SPRINGTIME.
623
00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:06,967
LARRY IS ABOUT
DOING THINGS HIMSELF.
624
00:30:06,967 --> 00:30:09,734
I THINK IT'S ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT MADE
HIM SO BELOVED IN BOSTON.
625
00:30:09,734 --> 00:30:13,066
BUT AS BIRD NAVIGATED
THROUGH HIS NEW WORLD,
626
00:30:13,066 --> 00:30:16,300
HE STILL HAD ONE EYE FIXED
ON A FAMILIAR FOE
627
00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:18,800
IN A FARAWAY LAND.
628
00:30:23,066 --> 00:30:25,867
WHAT TRIPPED ME OUT WAS,
I'M RIDING, RIGHT?
629
00:30:25,867 --> 00:30:28,700
I'M RIDING
IN THE LIMO.
630
00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:32,367
I'M SEEING ORANGE TREES
AND LEMON TREES
631
00:30:32,367 --> 00:30:33,867
IN PEOPLE'S
FRONT YARDS.
632
00:30:33,867 --> 00:30:37,734
SAID, "STOP.
I GOTTA GO PICK AN ORANGE."
633
00:30:37,734 --> 00:30:40,967
"ARE YOU CRAZY?"
I SAID, "NO, I GOTTA DO THIS."
634
00:30:40,967 --> 00:30:45,233
AND SO I RAN UP
LIKE A SCARED LITTLE KID,
635
00:30:45,233 --> 00:30:47,734
GRABBED IT
AND RAN BACK TO THE LIMO.
636
00:30:47,734 --> 00:30:50,200
I NEVER SEEN
AN ORANGE TREE.
637
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,867
I HAD NEVER
SEEN A LEMON TREE.
638
00:30:52,867 --> 00:30:54,266
I WAS FASCINATED.
639
00:30:54,266 --> 00:30:56,467
WHEN 20-YEAR-OLD
EARVIN JOHNSON
640
00:30:56,467 --> 00:30:59,433
ARRIVED IN LOS ANGELES
IN THE FALL OF 1979,
641
00:30:59,433 --> 00:31:01,467
HE WAS A WORLD
AWAY FROM LANSING,
642
00:31:01,467 --> 00:31:04,467
THE ONLY HOME
HE'D EVER KNOWN.
643
00:31:04,467 --> 00:31:06,500
HE WAS THE NUMBER-ONE PICK
OF THE L.A. LAKERS--
644
00:31:06,500 --> 00:31:10,000
A ONCE DOMINANT FRANCHISE
STUCK IN MEDIOCRITY.
645
00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,233
IN THE STOIC
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR,
646
00:31:12,233 --> 00:31:14,233
THE LAKERS HAD TALENT.
647
00:31:14,233 --> 00:31:16,467
WHAT THEY LACKED
WAS ENERGY.
648
00:31:16,467 --> 00:31:20,367
EARVIN MAGIC JOHNSON
WAS ONLY TOO HAPPY
TO PROVIDE IT.
649
00:31:25,367 --> 00:31:28,600
LIT THE PLACE UP.
CHANGED THE FRANCHISE.
650
00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,233
CHANGED THE TEMPERAMENT.
CHANGED HER FROM
THE VERY FIRST GAME.
651
00:31:31,233 --> 00:31:35,066
Sky-hook, up and good!
652
00:31:35,066 --> 00:31:36,433
Lakers win!
653
00:31:36,433 --> 00:31:39,934
HERE IT WAS THE FIRST GAME
OF A LONG SEASON
654
00:31:39,934 --> 00:31:42,900
AGAINST THE LOWLY CLIPPERS
655
00:31:42,900 --> 00:31:46,700
AND MAGIC WAS EMBRACING
KAREEM AS IF...
656
00:31:46,700 --> 00:31:48,867
THEY'D JUST WON THEIR
10th STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.
657
00:31:48,867 --> 00:31:52,767
IT WAS LIKE, "MAN,
THIS IS A DIFFERENT
KIND OF DUDE."
658
00:31:56,867 --> 00:31:59,233
FROM THE DAY HE ARRIVED,
659
00:31:59,233 --> 00:32:01,100
HE BECAME THE PRINCE
OF THE CITY.
660
00:32:01,100 --> 00:32:03,834
HE REMINDED ME
OF A GUY WHO WAKES UP
WITHOUT AN ALARM CLOCK,
661
00:32:03,834 --> 00:32:05,300
AND THAT'S WHAT I USED
TO ALWAYS SAY.
662
00:32:05,300 --> 00:32:07,633
I WANNA BE HAPPY ENOUGH
TO WAKE UP WITHOUT
AN ALARM CLOCK,
663
00:32:07,633 --> 00:32:10,200
'CAUSE I WANT TO GO
INTO MY WORLD.
664
00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:18,333
- HE HAD "IT"--
- WHAT "IT" IS.
665
00:32:18,333 --> 00:32:21,567
AS FAR AS I WAS
CONCERNED, THE IT
WAS NOT HIS ABILITY,
666
00:32:21,567 --> 00:32:23,233
OR HIS SIZE.
667
00:32:23,233 --> 00:32:26,133
THE IT WAS HIS ATTITUDE,
WAS HIS LEADERSHIP,
WAS HIS MIND.
668
00:32:26,133 --> 00:32:28,133
I MEAN,
I DON'T HAVE TO TALK
669
00:32:28,133 --> 00:32:30,500
ABOUT GAME 6
AT PHILADELPHIA.
670
00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:33,400
IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON,
671
00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:35,400
MAGIC HAD HELPED LEAD
THE LAKERS TO THE NBA FINALS
672
00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,200
AGAINST
THE PHILADELPHIA 76ers.
673
00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:42,100
IN GAME 6, WITH AN INJURED
ABDUL-JABBAR BACK HOME IN L.A.,
674
00:32:42,100 --> 00:32:44,667
MAGIC PLAYED
ALL FIVE POSITIONS,
675
00:32:44,667 --> 00:32:47,333
SCORED 42 POINTS,
GRABBED 15 REBOUNDS
676
00:32:47,333 --> 00:32:49,667
AND DISHED OUT
SEVEN ASSISTS,
677
00:32:49,667 --> 00:32:51,767
LEADING THE LAKERS
TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
678
00:32:51,767 --> 00:32:55,000
IN JUST FOUR YEARS,
HE HAD WON TITLES
IN HIGH SCHOOL,
679
00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:57,500
COLLEGE
AND THE PROS.
680
00:32:57,500 --> 00:33:00,467
MAGIC, WHAT DO YOU
HAVE THAT MAKES YOU
PERFORM LIKE THIS
681
00:33:00,467 --> 00:33:02,033
IN THESE
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES?
682
00:33:02,033 --> 00:33:05,300
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
JUST, I LOVE TO WIN.
683
00:33:05,300 --> 00:33:08,066
ACROSS THE MASTHEAD
OF "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES"
684
00:33:08,066 --> 00:33:10,867
THE NEXT DAY, IT SAID,
"IT'S MAGIC!"
685
00:33:10,867 --> 00:33:13,400
HE WAS A STAR
WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED HERE,
686
00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:15,767
COMING OFF THE NCAA GAME.
687
00:33:15,767 --> 00:33:17,433
AND QUICKLY DURING
THAT FIRST SEASON,
688
00:33:17,433 --> 00:33:19,834
HE BECAME ONE
OF THE STARS IN TOWN,
689
00:33:19,834 --> 00:33:22,567
BUT THAT GAME PUT HIM
ON ANOTHER LEVEL.
690
00:33:22,567 --> 00:33:24,667
THAT MADE HIM
THE STAR IN TOWN.
691
00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,767
IT'S FUNNY HOW I WANTED
TO MEET THE CELEBRITIES,
692
00:33:31,767 --> 00:33:34,867
BUT THEY WANTED TO MEET ME.
I WAS, LIKE, SHOCKED.
693
00:33:37,333 --> 00:33:38,934
LIKE,
"WOW, YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
694
00:33:38,934 --> 00:33:41,333
HE WAS YOUNG, FAMOUS,
695
00:33:41,333 --> 00:33:43,433
AND AFTER LAKERS' OWNER
JERRY BUSS SIGNED HIM
696
00:33:43,433 --> 00:33:47,066
TO A 25-YEAR
$25 MILLION CONTRACT,
697
00:33:47,066 --> 00:33:48,500
VERY RICH.
698
00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:50,500
THE KID FROM LANSING
WAS READY
699
00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:52,367
TO SAMPLE A DIFFERENT
KIND OF FRUIT.
700
00:33:52,367 --> 00:33:56,200
HIS PLAYBOY BOSS
KNEW ALL THE RIPEST TREES.
701
00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:57,900
I SAID,
"OH, I'M HANGING WITH HIM."
702
00:33:57,900 --> 00:33:59,500
WHEN THEY WERE COMING
INTO THE BOX,
703
00:33:59,500 --> 00:34:01,567
AND HE HAD 10, 20
OF 'EM,
704
00:34:01,567 --> 00:34:03,667
AND "LOOK, EARVIN,
WHICH ONE YOU WANT?"
705
00:34:03,667 --> 00:34:06,667
I WAS LIKE,
"OH, OKAY, IT'S LIKE THAT?"
706
00:34:06,667 --> 00:34:10,600
AND THEN HE SAID,
"I'M GONNA TAKE YOU
TO THE PLAYBOY MANSION."
707
00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,133
"WHAT--
THE MANSION?!
708
00:34:13,133 --> 00:34:16,033
NO, YOU'RE KIDDING."
HE SAID, "YEP."
709
00:34:16,033 --> 00:34:18,100
SO I WENT THERE.
710
00:34:18,100 --> 00:34:20,934
MY FIRST TIME
I'M BACKING UP LIKE,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M IN."
711
00:34:20,934 --> 00:34:24,633
BUT I'M BACKING UP AWAY,
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE
I'M SCARED TO DEATH.
712
00:34:24,633 --> 00:34:27,934
PROBABLY 10 GUYS TO 100 WOMEN,
YOU KNOW?
713
00:34:27,934 --> 00:34:31,266
EVERYBODY THINK
IT'S SEX-DRIVEN,
BUT IT'S REALLY NOT.
714
00:34:31,266 --> 00:34:35,266
YOU HAVE DINNER,
THEN YOU WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE.
715
00:34:35,266 --> 00:34:38,767
AND THEN OF COURSE,
I DON'T WANNA EVER SAY
THAT SEX WASN'T INVOLVED.
716
00:34:38,767 --> 00:34:42,300
IF YOU MEET SOMEBODY,
THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW,
YOU WANTED TO DO.
717
00:34:42,300 --> 00:34:43,767
AND YOU DID THAT,
718
00:34:43,767 --> 00:34:46,600
BUT IT'S REALLY
A GREAT EXPERIENCE
719
00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:48,633
TO GO UP THERE.
720
00:34:48,633 --> 00:34:50,900
SO, YEAH,
I HAD FUN THERE.
721
00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:53,433
HE CAME TO L.A.
LIKE THE PIED PIPER.
722
00:34:53,433 --> 00:34:55,900
PEOPLE WERE GIVING HIM THIS
AND GIVING HIM THAT,
723
00:34:55,900 --> 00:34:59,400
BUT HE STAYED
PRETTY GROUNDED TO THE GAME.
724
00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,166
EVERYBODY WAS
GETTING HIGH THEN,
725
00:35:01,166 --> 00:35:03,133
BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN
726
00:35:03,133 --> 00:35:05,767
SMOKE A JOINT
AROUND MAGIC.
727
00:35:05,767 --> 00:35:07,934
HE HAD REAL OLD SCHOOL,
728
00:35:07,934 --> 00:35:10,500
DOWN-IN-THE-TRENCHES
WORK ETHIC,
729
00:35:10,500 --> 00:35:12,734
AND THAT WAS HONED
IN HIM
730
00:35:12,734 --> 00:35:15,667
BY HIS DAD,
EARVIN JOHNSON SENIOR.
731
00:35:15,667 --> 00:35:18,333
MAGIC WAS ALWAYS
THIS GUY.
732
00:35:18,333 --> 00:35:20,467
YOU KNOW?
HE NEVER DID NONE OF THAT,
733
00:35:20,467 --> 00:35:22,367
SO I DID
EVERYTHING FOR HIM.
734
00:35:22,367 --> 00:35:26,100
MAGIC JOHNSON WAS LIVING
ON A NATURAL HIGH.
735
00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:29,066
HE WAS STARRING
IN THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME--
736
00:35:29,066 --> 00:35:31,433
POINT GUARD
OF A HOLLYWOOD TEAM
737
00:35:31,433 --> 00:35:33,300
WITH AN OFFENSE
CALLED "SHOW TIME."
738
00:35:33,300 --> 00:35:37,300
HE EVEN HAD THE ALTER EGO
PERFECT FOR THE PRODUCTION.
739
00:35:37,300 --> 00:35:39,834
"MAGIC" WAS HIS
STAGE NAME.
740
00:35:39,834 --> 00:35:42,233
EVEN HE WOULD LAUGH
ABOUT IT.
741
00:35:45,734 --> 00:35:47,734
HE ALWAYS SAYS
THERE'S TWO PEOPLE.
742
00:35:47,734 --> 00:35:49,734
THERE'S EARVIN JOHNSON
FROM EAST LANSING
743
00:35:49,734 --> 00:35:51,200
AND THERE'S MAGIC JOHNSON
FROM HOLLYWOOD.
744
00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:53,967
EARVIN JOHNSON
IS ANOTHER GUY.
745
00:35:53,967 --> 00:35:56,567
YOU KNOW,
HERE'S MAGIC OVER HERE,
746
00:35:56,567 --> 00:35:58,233
AND HERE'S EARVIN
OVER HERE.
747
00:35:58,233 --> 00:36:00,567
EARVIN'S
THIS FUN-LOVING GUY.
748
00:36:00,567 --> 00:36:03,000
GERONIMO!
749
00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,767
OH!
750
00:36:05,767 --> 00:36:09,133
MAGIC WAS SO SERIOUS
751
00:36:09,133 --> 00:36:11,333
AND DEDICATED
TO HIS GAME.
752
00:36:11,333 --> 00:36:15,166
AND HE WAS A CRAZY,
CRAZY COMPETITOR
753
00:36:15,166 --> 00:36:16,734
AND A CRAZY MAN.
754
00:36:16,734 --> 00:36:18,700
EARVIN, I THINK,
755
00:36:18,700 --> 00:36:21,433
IS THE SMILING KID
FROM LANSING.
756
00:36:21,433 --> 00:36:25,100
I THINK EARVIN DIED
ABOUT 25 MINUTES
757
00:36:25,100 --> 00:36:27,033
AFTER THE NCAA
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
758
00:36:27,033 --> 00:36:29,900
EARVIN DOESN'T HAVE
THE EGO THAT MAGIC HAS.
759
00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:32,200
MAGIC GOT A CRAZY EGO
760
00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,333
AND WINNING
IS EVERYTHING.
761
00:36:35,333 --> 00:36:38,433
AND EARVIN WANTED TO,
ALONG WITH MAGIC,
762
00:36:38,433 --> 00:36:39,734
CONQUER L.A.
763
00:36:39,734 --> 00:36:41,900
AFTER HAVING
LED THE LAKERS
764
00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:45,166
TO TWO NBA TITLES
IN THEIR FIRST FOUR
YEARS IN TOWN,
765
00:36:45,166 --> 00:36:48,734
MAGIC AND EARVIN
WERE WELL ON THEIR WAY.
766
00:36:50,767 --> 00:36:52,867
I THINK MAGIC WANTED
TO BE FRIENDS WITH LARRY BIRD.
767
00:36:52,867 --> 00:36:55,834
HE WANTED TO BE FRIENDS
WITH HIM ON THE WORLD
INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
768
00:36:55,834 --> 00:36:57,800
AND LARRY JUST WASN'T
VERY RECEPTIVE.
769
00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:00,000
I THINK HE WANTED
TO BE FRIENDS WITH HIM
DURING THE FINAL FOUR.
770
00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,033
LARRY WOULDN'T EVEN GO OVER
AND SHAKE HIS HAND.
771
00:37:02,033 --> 00:37:04,500
SO NOW MAGIC'S SAYING,
"WELL, WHAT'S WITH THIS GUY?
772
00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:06,667
EVERYBODY LOVES ME.
HOW COME YOU DON'T LOVE ME?"
773
00:37:06,667 --> 00:37:09,166
THEN THEIR ROOKIE YEAR,
THE FIRST TIME THEY
PLAY EACH OTHER,
774
00:37:09,166 --> 00:37:11,233
THEY HAVE
A VERY HARD FOUL...
775
00:37:13,266 --> 00:37:14,934
...AND THEY HAVE TO
BE SEPARATED A LITTLE BIT.
776
00:37:14,934 --> 00:37:16,967
AND MAGIC'S LIKE,
"THE HECK WITH THIS GUY.
777
00:37:16,967 --> 00:37:20,500
YOU DON'T LIKE ME?
FINE. ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
I DON'T LIKE YOU EITHER."
778
00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:24,400
HE'S A VERY COMPETITIVE
PLAYER, AND I'M A VERY
COMPETITIVE PLAYER,
779
00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:29,000
AND WE GO HEAD TO HEAD
AND WE GO FOR BLOOD ALMOST.
780
00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:31,367
THE VIBE, IT WAS NASTY.
IT WAS UGLY.
781
00:37:31,367 --> 00:37:33,233
WE DIDN'T LIKE EACH OTHER.
782
00:37:33,233 --> 00:37:36,300
I'M THE ONE
THAT DID ALL THAT,
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
783
00:37:38,834 --> 00:37:41,967
I JUST DIDN'T WANT
TO BE HANGING AROUND HIM.
THAT WAS MY MAIN COMPETITION.
784
00:37:41,967 --> 00:37:44,834
AND HE COULDN'T ESCAPE
THE MEMORY OF LOSING TO HIM
785
00:37:44,834 --> 00:37:47,100
IN 1979.
786
00:37:47,100 --> 00:37:49,166
IT ATE AT HIM BAD
THAT HE DIDN'T WIN
787
00:37:49,166 --> 00:37:51,367
THAT NATIONAL TITLE
AGAINST MAGIC.
788
00:37:51,367 --> 00:37:54,567
THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT JUST BURNED HIM.
789
00:37:54,567 --> 00:37:57,734
IT WAS ONE THING FOR THEM
TO BE IN THE '79 CHAMPIONSHIP.
790
00:37:57,734 --> 00:38:00,133
MAGIC HAD THE BETTER TEAM.
EVERYBODY AGREED WITH THAT.
791
00:38:00,133 --> 00:38:02,133
MAGIC HAD THE BETTER
GAME, FINE.
792
00:38:02,133 --> 00:38:04,066
NOW YOU GET TO
THE PROS-- LARRY HAS
THIS INCREDIBLE YEAR...
793
00:38:04,066 --> 00:38:07,400
Bird, a runner,
it's good!
794
00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:09,700
...BUT THERE HE IS
WATCHING IN A CLUB
795
00:38:09,700 --> 00:38:12,066
WHILE MAGIC JOHNSON
WINS A CHAMPIONSHIP.
796
00:38:12,066 --> 00:38:14,600
HE'S THINKING,
"ALL RIGHT, I'M BEHIND
TWO TO NOTHING NOW."
797
00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:16,834
I WATCHED THAT GAME,
798
00:38:16,834 --> 00:38:19,133
AND I COULDN'T
BELIEVE IT.
799
00:38:21,133 --> 00:38:22,633
I ALWAYS WANTED
TO PLAY AT THAT LEVEL.
800
00:38:22,633 --> 00:38:24,867
BUT WHAT BIRD COULDN'T
POSSIBLY HAVE KNOWN
801
00:38:24,867 --> 00:38:27,867
WAS THAT HE HAD INSPIRED
MAGIC'S PERFORMANCE
802
00:38:27,867 --> 00:38:31,600
WHEN HE WAS NAMED
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
EARLIER THAT SAME DAY.
803
00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:33,567
THE P.R. PERSON
FROM THE LAKERS SAYS,
804
00:38:33,567 --> 00:38:36,367
"EARVIN, THE ROOKIE
OF THE YEAR VOTING
HAS COME OUT."
805
00:38:36,367 --> 00:38:38,667
MAGIC SAYS, "OKAY,
WHO WON?" HE SAID,
"WELL, LARRY BIRD WON."
806
00:38:38,667 --> 00:38:42,433
AND MAGIC SAYS,
"WELL, WAS IT CLOSE?"
AND HE SAID, "OH, NO."
807
00:38:44,100 --> 00:38:45,767
HE WENT OUT THAT DAY,
808
00:38:45,767 --> 00:38:47,367
YES, TO TRY TO WIN
THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP,
809
00:38:47,367 --> 00:38:50,166
BUT ALSO TO PROVE IT
TO ONE LARRY BIRD--
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
810
00:38:50,166 --> 00:38:51,834
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR."
811
00:38:51,834 --> 00:38:53,333
EVEN THOUGH I WON
THE CHAMPIONSHIP,
812
00:38:53,333 --> 00:38:55,500
I STILL WANTED TO WIN
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TOO.
813
00:38:55,500 --> 00:38:58,233
WHEN HE WON THAT CHAMPIONSHIP,
I WAS PISSED.
814
00:38:58,233 --> 00:38:59,800
I WANTED ONE.
815
00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,367
BUT EVEN AFTER HE
HAD WON ONE THE NEXT YEAR,
816
00:39:02,367 --> 00:39:05,667
HIS OBSESSION
ONLY GREW DEEPER.
817
00:39:05,667 --> 00:39:07,900
I'D GET UP IN THE MORNINGS
AND SEE WHAT HE DID,
818
00:39:07,900 --> 00:39:11,500
'CAUSE THEIR GAMES CAME
ON LATE. THEN YOU LOOK
AT THE BOX SCORE.
819
00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:13,967
I HAD TO HAVE HIM THERE
FOR SOME REASON.
820
00:39:13,967 --> 00:39:17,600
IT WAS LIKE A CRUTCH,
SOMEBODY I CAN COMPARE
MYSELF TO.
821
00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,233
I HATED WHAT
WAS BEING SAID,
822
00:39:20,233 --> 00:39:22,166
THAT LARRY
WAS BETTER THAN ME.
823
00:39:22,166 --> 00:39:24,934
I'M JUST A GUY
WHO CAN CONTROL THE GAME.
824
00:39:24,934 --> 00:39:28,567
MY FIRST FOUR,
FIVE YEARS THAT
BOTHERED ME A LOT.
825
00:39:28,567 --> 00:39:31,367
I DIDN'T TELL NOBODY
IT BOTHERED ME,
BUT IT DID.
826
00:39:31,367 --> 00:39:33,967
THEIR COMPETITIVE
DISLIKE EMERGED
827
00:39:33,967 --> 00:39:36,767
FROM A GREATER TRUTH--
THAT ON THE COURT
828
00:39:36,767 --> 00:39:38,533
THEY WERE DOPPELGANGERS,
829
00:39:38,533 --> 00:39:41,200
TEAM-ORIENTED STARS
830
00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:43,900
WHO CARED ABOUT WINNING
ABOVE ALL ELSE,
831
00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:46,066
BASKETBALL SAVANTS
832
00:39:46,066 --> 00:39:50,133
WHO FUSED THE SUBSTANCE
OF THE '60s WITH THE
STYLE OF THE '70s
833
00:39:50,133 --> 00:39:52,133
TO CREATE A NEW
AND EXCITING,
834
00:39:52,133 --> 00:39:55,000
YET SELFLESS WAY TO PLAY
THE GAME IN THE 1980s.
835
00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,800
YEAH, I'M GONNA PASS,
836
00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:01,166
BUT I'M GONNA PASS
IN A WAY TO MAKE YOU
LOOK LIKE A JACKASS.
837
00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,567
THEY WERE SO SIMILAR
IN THE WAY THEY COMPETED.
838
00:40:05,567 --> 00:40:08,867
THEY WERE TWO HALVES
OF THE SAME BRAIN--
839
00:40:08,867 --> 00:40:12,000
THE SAME CRAZINESS
TO EXCEL.
840
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,734
I SEEN THAT
THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS
I WAS WITH HIM.
841
00:40:15,734 --> 00:40:19,467
- BASKETBALL I.Q.
- OFF THE CHART.
842
00:40:19,467 --> 00:40:22,000
SEEING THE GAME A LITTLE
DIFFERENT THAN MOST PLAYERS.
843
00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:25,133
PLAYING THE GAME
THE RIGHT WAY WAS EVERYTHING.
844
00:40:25,133 --> 00:40:28,033
A LOT OF GUYS CAN
JUST SCORE, JUST REBOUND.
845
00:40:28,033 --> 00:40:30,667
A LOT OF GUYS
CAN JUST MAKE PLAYS.
WE COULD DO IT ALL.
846
00:40:30,667 --> 00:40:32,800
LARRY AND MAGIC
COULD CONTROL THE GAME
WITH 12 SHOTS.
847
00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:36,433
IT WAS AMAZING.
THEY'D BE 7 FOR 12.
THEY'D HAVE 20 POINTS,
848
00:40:36,433 --> 00:40:38,600
15 REBOUNDS
AND 12 ASSISTS.
849
00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:40,667
AND YOU'D GO, "THE GUY
SHOT THE BALL 12 TIMES
850
00:40:40,667 --> 00:40:43,934
AND WAS THE BEST PLAYER
ON THE COURT BY FAR."
851
00:40:43,934 --> 00:40:46,133
I THINK IT WAS TOUGH AT
FIRST. I DON'T THINK
EITHER ONE OF THEM
852
00:40:46,133 --> 00:40:49,100
WANTED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THEY HAD ANY EQUAL
ANYWHERE IN WHAT THEY DID,
853
00:40:49,100 --> 00:40:51,100
BUT THEY SURE AS HELL
DIDN'T WANNA RECOGNIZE
854
00:40:51,100 --> 00:40:53,600
THAT THEIR EQUAL HAPPENED
TO BE THAT OTHER GUY.
855
00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:57,066
THAT'S WHY WE HATED EACH OTHER.
WE KNEW WE WERE MIRRORS
OF EACH OTHER.
856
00:40:57,066 --> 00:40:59,200
I THINK FOR A WHILE
THE TWO OF THEM HAD
857
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:01,233
TO COME TO GRIPS
WITH THAT.
858
00:41:01,233 --> 00:41:03,333
THEY HAD BEGUN
CHANGING THE GAME,
859
00:41:03,333 --> 00:41:06,000
BUT WITH CONTINUED
LOW TELEVISION RATINGS,
860
00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:07,934
AND TAPE-DELAYED FINALS,
861
00:41:07,934 --> 00:41:10,000
THE LEAGUE WAS STRUGGLING
TO GET THE WORD OUT.
862
00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:13,533
WHEN THE NBA AND CBS
SIGNED A NEW TV DEAL,
863
00:41:13,533 --> 00:41:15,934
BEFORE THE 82-83 SEASON,
864
00:41:15,934 --> 00:41:18,433
THE RESCUE PLAN
WAS SIMPLE--
865
00:41:18,433 --> 00:41:20,300
SELL MORE BIRD
AND MAGIC.
866
00:41:20,300 --> 00:41:23,367
AND SELL THEM NOT JUST
AS BALLPLAYERS,
867
00:41:23,367 --> 00:41:25,367
BUT AS ARCH-RIVAL
CHARACTERS
868
00:41:25,367 --> 00:41:28,133
IN THEIR
OWN DRAMATIC SAGA.
869
00:41:28,133 --> 00:41:31,900
YOU GOT THIS SLICK SHOW TIME
AFRICAN-AMERICAN GUY OUT WEST,
870
00:41:31,900 --> 00:41:35,033
AND YOU GOT
THE LUNCH BUCKET
FLOPPY-HAIRED WHITE GUY
871
00:41:35,033 --> 00:41:37,200
WITH THE BRUISES
ALL OVER HIS BODY.
872
00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:38,333
IT'S CENTRAL CASTING.
IT'S PERFECT.
873
00:41:38,333 --> 00:41:40,400
I MEAN, THIS WAS,
LIKE, MADE IN HEAVEN.
874
00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:44,500
IN 1979,
THIS IDEA OF MAGIC
AND BIRD WAS CREATED.
875
00:41:44,500 --> 00:41:47,433
AND SO THAT WAS
SORT OF A NO-BRAINER.
876
00:41:47,433 --> 00:41:50,633
WE'D HAVE A DOUBLE-HEADER.
IT WOULD BE THE CELTICS
PLAYING FIRST.
877
00:41:50,633 --> 00:41:53,200
AND THE LAKERS PLAYING SECOND.
THAT'S THE WAY WE DID IT.
878
00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:56,333
AND WHEN THE CELTICS AND LAKERS
BOTH REACHED THE FINALS
879
00:41:56,333 --> 00:41:59,033
JUST A YEAR INTO THE NEW
TV DEAL IN 1984,
880
00:41:59,033 --> 00:42:02,100
IT APPEARED
THE SUPERSTAR INVESTMENT
881
00:42:02,100 --> 00:42:04,000
WAS ABOUT TO PAY OFF.
882
00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:05,633
IT WAS HUGE. IT WAS PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST MOMENT
883
00:42:05,633 --> 00:42:07,200
THE NBA HAD
UP TO THAT POINT.
884
00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,133
YOU HAD BOSTON AND L.A.,
EAST AGAINST WEST.
885
00:42:10,133 --> 00:42:12,033
IT HAD ALL THE ELEMENTS
OF A CLASSIC SHOWDOWN.
886
00:42:12,033 --> 00:42:14,400
INCLUDING WHAT
WAS BECOMING
887
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:16,867
THE MOST INESCAPABLE
ELEMENT OF ALL.
888
00:42:16,867 --> 00:42:20,800
DID WE KNOW THAT BLACKS
AND WHITES WERE LINING UP,
THE WHITES WITH THE CELTICS,
889
00:42:20,800 --> 00:42:22,767
THE BLACKS WITH
OF COURSE WE KNEW THAT.
890
00:42:22,767 --> 00:42:26,633
EVEN IN THE CELTICS'
OWN BACKYARD.
891
00:42:26,633 --> 00:42:28,800
THEY LAND AT LOGAN AIRPORT
AT THE '84 FINALS,
892
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:30,800
AND HE'S GETTING
ACCOSTED BY VARIOUS PEOPLE
893
00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:32,900
WHO WERE TELLING HIM
LARRY'S GONNA TAKE HIM DOWN.
894
00:42:32,900 --> 00:42:35,700
BUT THIS ONE OLDER
AFRICAN-AMERICAN GENTLEMAN
COMES UP TO HIM,
895
00:42:35,700 --> 00:42:38,567
HE GOES, "MAGIC, I WANNA
WISH YOU WELL. GOOD LUCK.
CRUSH THE CELTICS."
896
00:42:38,567 --> 00:42:40,600
AND HE SAID,
"OH, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?"
897
00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:42,567
HE SAID,
"WELL, I'M FROM BOSTON."
898
00:42:42,567 --> 00:42:44,600
AND HE SAID,
"YOU'RE FROM BOSTON AND YOU'RE
ROOTING FOR THE LAKERS?
899
00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:47,033
I THOUGHT EVERYBODY HERE
WAS CRAZY ABOUT THE CELTICS."
900
00:42:47,033 --> 00:42:50,367
AND HE LOOKED RIGHT AT HIM.
HE SAID, "NOW WHY WOULD I ROOT
FOR THOSE WHITE BOYS?"
901
00:42:51,767 --> 00:42:53,734
NIGGER, GO HOME!
902
00:42:53,734 --> 00:42:56,734
BOSTON AFTER ALL WAS
A TOWN STILL SCARRED
903
00:42:56,734 --> 00:42:59,667
BY THE UGLY BUSSING
CRISIS OF THE MID '70s,
904
00:42:59,667 --> 00:43:02,800
A VIOLENT PERIOD OF
URBAN UNREST DURING
WHICH WHITE
905
00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:04,967
HAD BEEN PITTED
AGAINST BLACK.
906
00:43:04,967 --> 00:43:06,967
THE RESULTING TAINT
ON THE CITY NATIONALLY
907
00:43:06,967 --> 00:43:10,533
COUPLED WITH A BOSTON
ROSTER LITTERED WITH
WHITE PLAYERS
908
00:43:10,533 --> 00:43:12,633
AFFIRMED
TO MANY BLACK AMERICANS
909
00:43:12,633 --> 00:43:14,967
THAT THE CELTICS
WERE NOT THE TEAM FOR THEM.
910
00:43:14,967 --> 00:43:18,500
EVEN TODAY, PEOPLE SAY,
"YOU PLAYED WITH THE CELTICS.
911
00:43:18,500 --> 00:43:20,400
I HATED YOU
AT THAT TIME.
912
00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:23,033
I WANTED MAGIC TO WIN.
913
00:43:23,033 --> 00:43:25,066
I DIDN'T WANT
THAT DAMN LARRY BIRD TO WIN."
914
00:43:25,066 --> 00:43:27,500
WE HAD ALL THESE
BLACK PLAYERS,
915
00:43:27,500 --> 00:43:30,166
BUT THEY LOOKED AT US,
BECAUSE WE HAD LARRY BIRD
LEADING US,
916
00:43:30,166 --> 00:43:32,367
AS A TEAM
THAT WAS WHITE.
917
00:43:32,367 --> 00:43:35,400
THEY WERE PERFECT ARCHETYPES
FOR WHAT WAS BECOMING
918
00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:37,667
THE BIGGEST STORY
IN SPORTS
919
00:43:37,667 --> 00:43:39,633
BUT FOR
THE REAL LIFE PLAYERS
920
00:43:39,633 --> 00:43:41,667
THE NARRATIVE
WAS MUCH SIMPLER.
921
00:43:41,667 --> 00:43:43,567
IT'S FINALLY GONNA HAPPEN.
922
00:43:43,567 --> 00:43:46,500
WE GET TO GO
HEAD TO HEAD AGAIN.
923
00:43:46,500 --> 00:43:50,333
IT'S JUST A MATTER
OF ROLLING THAT BALL
OUT THERE AND LET'S GET IT ON.
924
00:43:50,333 --> 00:43:53,000
Welcome to the Boston Garden
925
00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:55,834
and the start of the NBA
World Championship Series.
926
00:43:55,834 --> 00:43:58,834
I'm Brent Musburger.
927
00:43:58,834 --> 00:44:01,700
IN EACH OF THE LAST FOUR
NBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
928
00:44:01,700 --> 00:44:04,633
EITHER MAGIC OR BIRD
HAS COMPETED,
929
00:44:04,633 --> 00:44:07,000
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THAT THE TWO HAVE GONE
930
00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:08,767
HEAD TO HEAD
FOR THE TITLE.
931
00:44:08,767 --> 00:44:12,133
BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A.!
BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A...
932
00:44:14,667 --> 00:44:16,700
MAN, WE JUMPED OUT ON 'EM
THAT FIRST GAME.
933
00:44:16,700 --> 00:44:20,100
AND WE WON IN BOSTON.
934
00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:24,633
AND WITH LESS THAN
A MINUTE TO GO IN GAME 2,
935
00:44:24,633 --> 00:44:27,033
THE LAKERS
WERE CLOSING IN
936
00:44:27,033 --> 00:44:29,100
ON A COMMANDING
SERIES LEAD.
937
00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:33,166
- And it's picked off.
- And he lays it up and in.
938
00:44:33,166 --> 00:44:35,000
It's all tied up...
939
00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:40,300
FROM THAT POINT ON,
THINGS BEGAN TO CRUMBLE.
940
00:44:40,300 --> 00:44:43,433
Down to nine seconds.
Magic holds the ball.
941
00:44:43,433 --> 00:44:46,000
Magic trying
to work on Maxwell.
942
00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:49,300
Magic has still got it.
It's down to two seconds,
one second.
943
00:44:49,300 --> 00:44:51,333
He's gonna have to shoot it.
He doesn't get it off.
944
00:44:51,333 --> 00:44:53,967
He doesn't
get it off!
945
00:44:53,967 --> 00:44:57,133
JOHNSON DRIBBLING
THE TIME OUT.
946
00:44:57,133 --> 00:44:59,567
COME ON,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
947
00:45:01,033 --> 00:45:03,633
THE LAKERS REGAINED
THEIR STRIDE
948
00:45:03,633 --> 00:45:05,467
IN GAME 3,
949
00:45:05,467 --> 00:45:09,000
ONLY TO BE RUDELY
KNOCKED OFF IT AGAIN
IN GAME 4.
950
00:45:09,000 --> 00:45:12,600
- And now let's watch it.
951
00:45:12,600 --> 00:45:16,367
Cooper and the Celtics
and now the bench is empty.
952
00:45:16,367 --> 00:45:18,567
WHEN KURT RAMBIS
GOT TAKEN OUT...
953
00:45:21,700 --> 00:45:23,834
WE STARTED FIGHTING
INSTEAD OF PLAYING.
954
00:45:23,834 --> 00:45:26,166
Kareem--
swings the elbow
955
00:45:26,166 --> 00:45:29,100
and now is yelling
at Larry Bird
956
00:45:29,100 --> 00:45:30,800
jaw to jaw.
957
00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:32,667
AND IT MADE US REALIZE
958
00:45:32,667 --> 00:45:35,300
WE WERE NOT MENTALLY TOUGHER
THAN THE CELTICS.
959
00:45:35,300 --> 00:45:36,800
MAGIC'S JUST NOT HIMSELF.
960
00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:38,900
They'll be sure they
won't let the time run out
961
00:45:38,900 --> 00:45:40,633
as they did
in game 2.
962
00:45:40,633 --> 00:45:44,400
Parish steals the ball
and the Celtics call a timeout.
963
00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:47,600
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PLACES
WHERE EARVIN DIDN'T DO
964
00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:49,734
WHAT PEOPLE EXPECTED
HIM TO DO.
965
00:45:51,233 --> 00:45:54,600
Tied at 123.
966
00:45:55,900 --> 00:45:59,166
- He misses the first.
967
00:46:02,367 --> 00:46:05,333
Johnson misses them both.
Celtics want a timeout.
968
00:46:05,333 --> 00:46:08,500
Despondent Magic Johnson
goes to the bench.
969
00:46:08,500 --> 00:46:12,266
Bird-- turnaround,
hits.
970
00:46:17,500 --> 00:46:20,433
GAME 5 WENT TO THE CELTICS.
971
00:46:20,433 --> 00:46:22,467
GAME 6 TO THE LAKERS.
972
00:46:23,934 --> 00:46:26,767
IT WAS LIKE 1979
ALL OVER AGAIN.
973
00:46:26,767 --> 00:46:29,633
DOWN TO ONE GAME
FOR BIRD AND MAGIC.
974
00:46:29,633 --> 00:46:31,300
IF EVERYBODY HAD
TO LOOK AT IT,
975
00:46:31,300 --> 00:46:33,567
PROBABLY WOULD HAVE
SAID THIS IS GONNA BE
A SEVEN-GAME SERIES.
976
00:46:33,567 --> 00:46:35,600
I THOUGHT WE'D
SWEEP 'EM IN FOUR,
977
00:46:35,600 --> 00:46:37,567
BUT THIS WENT
A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
978
00:46:37,567 --> 00:46:41,367
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO
DO IT IN SEVEN.
979
00:46:41,367 --> 00:46:42,867
THAT'S THE ONLY TIME
I EVER FELT THAT
980
00:46:42,867 --> 00:46:44,767
AIN'T NO WAY THEY'RE WALKING
OUT OF HERE WITH A WIN.
981
00:46:44,767 --> 00:46:48,433
- Magic Johnson...
- NO WAY.
982
00:46:48,433 --> 00:46:51,066
Lakers had
several chances,
983
00:46:51,066 --> 00:46:54,333
and here's Larry Bird
shucking down the court.
984
00:46:57,633 --> 00:47:01,133
Bird.
How does he do it?
985
00:47:02,433 --> 00:47:04,633
Now Johnson
with the ball.
986
00:47:04,633 --> 00:47:06,834
The Lakers trying
to cut it to one.
987
00:47:09,200 --> 00:47:10,900
And he loses it.
988
00:47:22,967 --> 00:47:28,800
The Boston Celtics
are the NBA World
Champions!
989
00:47:34,367 --> 00:47:36,834
I PRIDE MYSELF
IN BEING THE GUY
990
00:47:36,834 --> 00:47:39,467
WHO'S GOING
TO WIN IT FOR US
991
00:47:39,467 --> 00:47:43,066
AND DELIVER
UNDER PRESSURE.
992
00:47:43,066 --> 00:47:46,667
AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
993
00:47:46,667 --> 00:47:48,633
I HOPE HE WAS HURT.
I HOPE IT KILLED HIM.
994
00:47:48,633 --> 00:47:50,667
HE MADE SOME BAD PLAYS
DOWN THE STRETCH
995
00:47:50,667 --> 00:47:52,767
AND NOBODY IN THERE
WAS HAPPIER THAN ME.
996
00:47:52,767 --> 00:47:54,600
NOT ONLY WINNING THE GAME
MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD,
997
00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:56,000
BUT JUST KNOWING
THE OTHER GUY'S SUFFERING,
998
00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:57,400
AND YOU KNOW HE WAS.
999
00:47:57,400 --> 00:48:00,166
I REMEMBER AFTER THE GAME
THAT BOTH HE AND I WERE
1000
00:48:00,166 --> 00:48:01,667
IN THE SHOWERS CRYING
1001
00:48:01,667 --> 00:48:05,133
AND STAYED IN THERE
FOR ABOUT 35, 40 MINUTES.
1002
00:48:05,133 --> 00:48:09,567
IT WAS HARD,
BECAUSE NOT ONLY HAD WE LOST
TO THE BOSTON CELTICS,
1003
00:48:09,567 --> 00:48:11,567
HE HAD LOST TO HIS
NEMESIS LARRY BIRD.
1004
00:48:14,734 --> 00:48:17,467
I THINK HE JUST MADE ME
JUST LIKE HIM MORE,
1005
00:48:17,467 --> 00:48:19,600
BECAUSE HE WAS
THAT GOOD.
1006
00:48:19,600 --> 00:48:21,800
AND I THINK
YOU'D BE JEALOUS.
1007
00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:23,467
YOU'RE JEALOUS
A LITTLE BIT.
1008
00:48:23,467 --> 00:48:26,700
LARRY, DOES THIS GET
YOU EVEN WITH MAGIC
1009
00:48:26,700 --> 00:48:29,433
FOR WHAT HAPPENED
BETWEEN MICHIGAN STATE
AND INDIANA STATE
1010
00:48:29,433 --> 00:48:31,433
- WE'RE PROFESSIONALS NOW,
1011
00:48:31,433 --> 00:48:34,033
BUT I WON THIS ONE
FOR TERRE HAUTE.
1012
00:48:34,033 --> 00:48:35,500
WELL, IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
1013
00:48:35,500 --> 00:48:36,834
I REMEMBER ASKING QUINN BUCKNER
ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.
1014
00:48:36,834 --> 00:48:38,667
THEY HAD A CELEBRATION
IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON
1015
00:48:38,667 --> 00:48:40,767
AFTER THEY WON
THE CHAMPIONSHIP,
AND YOU KNOW,
1016
00:48:40,767 --> 00:48:43,400
IT WAS UNUSUAL
FOR LARRY TO HAVE
THESE LITTLE OUTBURSTS
1017
00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:44,967
AS QUINN WOULD
CALL THEM.
1018
00:48:44,967 --> 00:48:47,800
ABOUT 11:30 AT NIGHT,
FINALLY, HE TURNED TO QUINN,
1019
00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:50,633
HE GOES, "I GOT HIM.
I FINALLY GOT HIM."
1020
00:48:50,633 --> 00:48:53,133
AND HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT MAGIC.
1021
00:48:57,133 --> 00:48:59,800
THE LEAGUE WAS
REJOICING, TOO.
1022
00:48:59,800 --> 00:49:01,767
GAME 7 OF THE '84
SERIES WAS ONE
1023
00:49:01,767 --> 00:49:05,333
OF CBS' HIGHEST-RATED
TELECASTS OF THE YEAR.
1024
00:49:05,333 --> 00:49:08,967
AND THE HIGHEST-RATED GAME
THE NBA HAD EVER PRODUCED.
1025
00:49:08,967 --> 00:49:12,000
ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WHETHER IT WAS AT CBS
1026
00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:13,400
OR MADISON AVENUE,
1027
00:49:13,400 --> 00:49:15,400
THE SPORTSWRITERS
AROUND THE COUNTRY
1028
00:49:15,400 --> 00:49:19,033
BECAME THE PHENOMENON.
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?
1029
00:49:19,033 --> 00:49:20,767
THE ABSOLUTE FOUNDATION
OF THIS RESURGENCE WAS
1030
00:49:20,767 --> 00:49:22,867
THE CELTICS
AND THE LAKERS--
1031
00:49:22,867 --> 00:49:25,100
LARRY BIRD
AND MAGIC JOHNSON.
1032
00:49:25,100 --> 00:49:27,600
BUT MAGIC WAS IN NO MOOD
1033
00:49:27,600 --> 00:49:29,700
TO BASK
IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
1034
00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:31,567
I TOOK A MEDIA BEATING.
1035
00:49:31,567 --> 00:49:34,166
"TRAGIC MAGIC,"
1036
00:49:34,166 --> 00:49:37,100
"THIS IS WHY WE SAY
LARRY BIRD IS BETTER."
1037
00:49:37,100 --> 00:49:39,400
IT'S PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME
EVER IN MY LIFE
1038
00:49:39,400 --> 00:49:41,000
I WAS DEPRESSED.
1039
00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:43,600
AND I DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE
TO SEE ME.
1040
00:49:43,600 --> 00:49:45,266
IT WAS SOMETHING I NEVER
DEALT WITH IN MY LIFE.
1041
00:49:45,266 --> 00:49:49,166
THAT PARTICULAR SERIES,
THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES,
1042
00:49:49,166 --> 00:49:52,500
REDEFINED HIS WHOLE CAREER
BECAUSE HE NEVER STOPPED
WORKING AFTER THAT.
1043
00:49:52,500 --> 00:49:54,633
MAGIC WAS ON A MISSION
1044
00:49:54,633 --> 00:49:56,900
TO PROVE TO HIMSELF
AND THE WORLD
1045
00:49:56,900 --> 00:50:00,934
THAT WITH THE BALL
IN HIS HANDS, HE WAS
STILL THE ONE IN CONTROL.
1046
00:50:00,934 --> 00:50:04,133
AND AFTER HIS LAKERS
RAN THROUGH THE '85 SEASON,
1047
00:50:04,133 --> 00:50:06,600
HE QUICKLY GOT
WHAT HE WANTED--
1048
00:50:06,600 --> 00:50:08,867
ANOTHER SHOT AT BIRD
AND THE CELTICS.
1049
00:50:08,867 --> 00:50:10,900
THEY WON THE EAST.
WE WON THE WEST.
1050
00:50:10,900 --> 00:50:12,900
SO IT'S LIKE,
EVERYBODY JUST GET READY,
1051
00:50:12,900 --> 00:50:16,633
SIT BACK
AND LET'S ENJOY IT.
1052
00:50:16,633 --> 00:50:19,133
BUT THAT SMILE BELIED
THE INTENSITY
1053
00:50:19,133 --> 00:50:21,867
OF THE CLASH
THAT AWAITED.
1054
00:50:21,867 --> 00:50:24,333
IF I HAD A GLASS
OF WATER,
1055
00:50:24,333 --> 00:50:27,033
AND ANY OF THOSE GUYS
HAD BEEN ON FIRE,
1056
00:50:27,033 --> 00:50:30,567
I WOULD HAVE DRANK THE WATER
AND WATCHED THEM.
1057
00:50:30,567 --> 00:50:34,433
THEY CALLED US CHOKERS
AND SISSIES.
1058
00:50:34,433 --> 00:50:37,834
WE DIDN'T LIKE THAT,
AND THEY THOUGHT LESS OF US.
1059
00:50:37,834 --> 00:50:40,000
I KNEW THEY DID.
1060
00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:42,600
IN '85,
WE PLAYED 'EM FOUR
TIMES IN EXHIBITION SEASON
1061
00:50:42,600 --> 00:50:44,600
FOR SOME REASON.
I DON'T KNOW WHY
THEY SCHEDULED THAT.
1062
00:50:44,600 --> 00:50:47,700
BY THE FOURTH GAME,
THERE WAS AN ALL-OUT BRAWL.
1063
00:50:49,367 --> 00:50:51,300
They call this one
of the greatest rivalries
1064
00:50:51,300 --> 00:50:55,133
in all of sports--
the Celtics and the Lakers.
And if that is true,
1065
00:50:55,133 --> 00:50:58,633
IT IS THE MOST
ONE-SIDED RIVALRY
IN ALL OF SPORTS.
1066
00:50:58,633 --> 00:51:01,400
Eight times these
two have met for the
NBA Championship,
1067
00:51:01,400 --> 00:51:03,700
and eight times
the Celtics have won.
1068
00:51:03,700 --> 00:51:05,867
At guard, in his sixth year,
1069
00:51:05,867 --> 00:51:09,700
from Michigan State,
number 32-- Magic Johnson.
1070
00:51:09,700 --> 00:51:13,767
BUT IN THE '85 FINALS,
MAGIC CHANGED THE SCRIPT.
1071
00:51:13,767 --> 00:51:16,200
OVER SIX GRUELING GAMES,
1072
00:51:16,200 --> 00:51:19,567
HE MASTERFULLY CONTROLLED
THE PACE WITH ALL AROUND
BRILLIANCE.
1073
00:51:19,567 --> 00:51:23,266
He has a triple-double
again.
1074
00:51:23,266 --> 00:51:24,734
BEHIND THEIR POINT GUARD,
1075
00:51:24,734 --> 00:51:28,000
THE LAKERS FINALLY
KNOCKED OUT THE CELTICS,
1076
00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:30,500
WINNING THE CLINCHING GAME
IN THE BOSTON GARDEN.
1077
00:51:30,500 --> 00:51:33,800
Three in six years.
L.A. comes to Boston
1078
00:51:33,800 --> 00:51:35,800
and wins
the world title!
1079
00:51:38,934 --> 00:51:41,633
REDEMPTION
FOR ONE MAGIC JOHNSON.
1080
00:51:41,633 --> 00:51:45,033
IT'S A LONG YEAR
LAST YEAR TO WAIT
FOR THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
1081
00:51:45,033 --> 00:51:47,100
MAGIC HAD EVENED
THE SCORE
1082
00:51:47,100 --> 00:51:49,367
WITH BIRD
ON THE NBA FLOOR.
1083
00:51:49,367 --> 00:51:51,767
BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THEIR RIVALRY
1084
00:51:51,767 --> 00:51:55,533
AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP
WAS STILL JUST TAKING HOLD.
1085
00:51:57,734 --> 00:51:59,934
"YOU'RE CRAZY."
1086
00:52:01,834 --> 00:52:03,467
I SAID, "YOU'RE CRAZY.
1087
00:52:03,467 --> 00:52:06,600
I'M NOT SHOOTING
NO COMMERCIAL WITH LARRY."
1088
00:52:06,600 --> 00:52:09,867
SO I SAID,
"OKAY, WHAT, WE'RE
GONNA SHOOT IT IN L.A.?"
1089
00:52:11,834 --> 00:52:14,467
- I WOULD NEVER HAVE
WENT TO L.A. TO FILM IT.
1090
00:52:19,233 --> 00:52:21,800
IF YOU WANT
TO SHOOT A COMMERCIAL,
COME TO MY HOUSE.
1091
00:52:24,800 --> 00:52:26,834
I WAS LIKE,
"OH, NO!"
1092
00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:33,000
ONE STOPLIGHT.
1093
00:52:33,000 --> 00:52:34,834
AND I THOUGHT LANSING
WAS SMALL.
1094
00:52:34,834 --> 00:52:37,400
I THINK THE PLAN WAS,
"I'M GONNA GO HERE,
1095
00:52:37,400 --> 00:52:39,367
I'M GONNA DO
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO,
1096
00:52:39,367 --> 00:52:42,467
AND I'M TRYING
TO GET UP OUT OF HERE."
MY PLAN WAS THAT.
1097
00:52:42,467 --> 00:52:46,200
EVEN AFTER CONVERSE
HAD CONVINCED MAGIC AND BIRD
1098
00:52:46,200 --> 00:52:49,200
TO FILM A SNEAKER AD TOGETHER
IN THE SUMMER OF '85,
1099
00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:51,900
A QUESTION REMAINED.
1100
00:52:51,900 --> 00:52:53,967
HOW WOULD THE TWO HATED
RIVALS ON THE COURT
1101
00:52:53,967 --> 00:52:56,266
GET ALONG OFF OF IT?
1102
00:52:56,266 --> 00:52:59,367
I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GONNA
REACT. I DON'T KNOW HOW
I'M GONNA REACT.
1103
00:52:59,367 --> 00:53:03,266
WE DIDN'T EVEN SHAKE HANDS,
SO HOW ARE WE GONNA DO
A COMMERCIAL TOGETHER?
1104
00:53:03,266 --> 00:53:06,834
THE AD WAS TO BE FILMED AT THE
HOME BIRD BUILT FOR HIS MOM.
1105
00:53:06,834 --> 00:53:09,467
IT FEATURED A FULL-LENGTH
BASKETBALL COURT,
1106
00:53:09,467 --> 00:53:11,333
THE DAY'S
FIRST LOCATION.
1107
00:53:11,333 --> 00:53:14,500
SO THEY SAY, OKAY,
YOU'RE PLAYING ONE ON ONE.
1108
00:53:14,500 --> 00:53:18,600
AND I'M LOOKING AT LARRY.
HE'S LOOKING AT ME LIKE,
"IS THIS REAL?
1109
00:53:18,600 --> 00:53:20,400
ARE WE PLAYING PLAYING?"
1110
00:53:20,400 --> 00:53:24,033
'CAUSE YOU KNOW,
THIS IS MAGIC AND BIRD.
1111
00:53:24,033 --> 00:53:26,967
I COULD JUST HEAR
LARRY STARTING IN ON,
1112
00:53:26,967 --> 00:53:30,400
"WELL, YOU BRING IT
TO THE BASKET, I'M GONNA
SEND IT 30 ROWS UP."
1113
00:53:30,400 --> 00:53:33,166
SO THE GUY WAS LIKE,
"NO, NOT LIKE THAT.
A FUN GAME."
1114
00:53:33,166 --> 00:53:36,133
WE WERE BOTH LIKE,
"OH, OKAY."
1115
00:53:36,133 --> 00:53:39,900
LIKE YOU COULD SEE
THIS RELIEF COMING OVER
BOTH OF OUR FACES.
1116
00:53:39,900 --> 00:53:42,667
THAT BRIEF DETENTE LED
1117
00:53:42,667 --> 00:53:45,367
TO THE NEXT STAGE--
DIALOGUE.
1118
00:53:45,367 --> 00:53:47,800
WE SAT DOWN NEXT
TO EACH OTHER.
1119
00:53:47,800 --> 00:53:51,367
"HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER?"
"IT'S GOING GOOD.
HOW WAS YOURS?"
1120
00:53:51,367 --> 00:53:52,900
"IT'S GOING GREAT."
1121
00:53:52,900 --> 00:53:56,100
I SAID, "MAN, THIS IS
A NICE SPREAD YOU GOT."
1122
00:53:56,100 --> 00:53:58,800
HE'S ASKING ME,
"IS THIS WHERE YOU PLAY?"
1123
00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:01,533
I SAID, "YEAH, I PLAY HERE
IF IT'S NOT WINDY.
1124
00:54:01,533 --> 00:54:03,533
IF IT'S RAINY OR WINDY,
I GO TO THE GYM,
1125
00:54:03,533 --> 00:54:05,166
BUT THIS IS WHERE
I DO ALL MY WORK."
1126
00:54:05,166 --> 00:54:08,333
"I SEE THAT TRACTOR,
YOU WORK ON THE TRACTOR?"
1127
00:54:08,333 --> 00:54:11,100
HE SAID, "MAN, I WORK
ON THIS TRACTOR EVERY DAY."
1128
00:54:11,100 --> 00:54:14,533
"LARRY BIRD
WORKS ON A TRACTOR?"
HE SAID, "YEAH."
1129
00:54:14,533 --> 00:54:16,667
IT'S JUST THEM TWO
WALKING AND TALKING.
1130
00:54:16,667 --> 00:54:20,066
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
THEY'D STOP AND ONE OF THEM
WOULD SAY SOMETHING,
1131
00:54:20,066 --> 00:54:22,800
AND THEN
THEY'D START LAUGHING.
1132
00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:25,867
THEN THEY SAID, "OKAY, BREAK.
IT'S LUNCH BREAK TIME."
1133
00:54:25,867 --> 00:54:28,400
I WAS GOING TO
MY TRAILER.
1134
00:54:28,400 --> 00:54:31,633
HE SAID, "NO, MY MOTHER HAS
PREPARED LUNCH FOR US
1135
00:54:31,633 --> 00:54:33,166
UP AT THE HOUSE."
1136
00:54:33,166 --> 00:54:35,166
WE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE,
AND WE SIT DOWN THERE
1137
00:54:35,166 --> 00:54:38,066
AND WE TALKED,
AND MY MOM, MY BROTHERS,
1138
00:54:38,066 --> 00:54:39,467
THOUGHT THE WORLD OF HIM.
1139
00:54:39,467 --> 00:54:41,533
HIS MOTHER WAS SO NICE,
1140
00:54:41,533 --> 00:54:44,266
MAKING SURE I HAD
ENOUGH TO EAT.
1141
00:54:44,266 --> 00:54:47,166
I JUST SAW MY MOTHER.
IT WAS CRAZY.
1142
00:54:47,166 --> 00:54:50,767
- HE CHARMED HER.
- YOU COULD SEE IT.
1143
00:54:50,767 --> 00:54:54,233
BUT THAT'S MAGIC.
HE MAKES EVERYBODY
FEEL WELCOME AND WARM,
1144
00:54:54,233 --> 00:54:57,233
AND HE'S A CON MAN.
1145
00:54:59,533 --> 00:55:02,266
AND WHILE MAGIC
CHARMED GEORGIA BIRD,
1146
00:55:02,266 --> 00:55:05,934
IT WAS SOMEONE ELSE
WHO INTRIGUED HER SON.
1147
00:55:05,934 --> 00:55:08,133
HE MET EARVIN AT LUNCH.
1148
00:55:08,133 --> 00:55:10,867
EARVIN IS A GOOD DUDE.
1149
00:55:10,867 --> 00:55:13,567
I LIKE EARVIN
A LOT BETTER THAN MAGIC.
1150
00:55:13,567 --> 00:55:16,633
I WAS JUST SO HAPPY
TO FINALLY BE EARVIN WITH HIM
1151
00:55:16,633 --> 00:55:18,667
BECAUSE MAGIC WAS LIKE,
1152
00:55:18,667 --> 00:55:20,734
"I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT
TO GET TO KNOW THIS GUY."
1153
00:55:20,734 --> 00:55:23,900
BUT EARVIN GOT A CHANCE
TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY,
1154
00:55:23,900 --> 00:55:25,967
HOW HE GREW UP.
1155
00:55:25,967 --> 00:55:28,300
WE JUST
WE JUST BECAME
1156
00:55:28,300 --> 00:55:31,300
TWO RELAXED GUYS
JUST TALKING.
1157
00:55:31,300 --> 00:55:34,767
THAT DAY WAS GREAT.
IT WAS A GREAT DAY.
BEAUTIFUL DAY.
1158
00:55:34,767 --> 00:55:37,734
STILL FOR BIRD,
EVER THE COMPETITOR,
1159
00:55:37,734 --> 00:55:41,400
THAT'S ALL IT WAS--
JUST ONE DAY.
1160
00:55:41,400 --> 00:55:43,867
MAGIC THINKS THE NEXT YEAR,
"OKAY, WELL, NOW WE'RE
GREAT FRIENDS.
1161
00:55:43,867 --> 00:55:47,166
SO AFTER THE GAME,
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BEER."
1162
00:55:47,166 --> 00:55:49,734
AND LARRY'S LIKE,
"NO, YOU'RE RIGHT.
1163
00:55:49,734 --> 00:55:51,967
I KNOW YOU BETTER.
YOU'RE A GOOD GUY,
1164
00:55:51,967 --> 00:55:53,734
BUT I STILL DON'T WANT
ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU."
1165
00:55:53,734 --> 00:55:55,367
HE'S A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY GUY.
1166
00:55:55,367 --> 00:55:58,200
IF ME AND HIM GOT TO BE
REALLY GOOD FRIENDS,
1167
00:55:58,200 --> 00:56:01,233
GO OUT ON THE COURT,
HE COULD STILL PLAY
THE SAME GAME. I COULDN'T.
1168
00:56:01,233 --> 00:56:02,767
THAT'S JUST THE WAY
IT IS.
1169
00:56:02,767 --> 00:56:06,233
BUT WHEN THE AD
HIT THE AIRWAVES,
1170
00:56:06,233 --> 00:56:08,967
FOR OTHERS
THE PERCEPTION CHANGED.
1171
00:56:08,967 --> 00:56:12,166
I SAW THOSE LIMOUSINES
GOING THROUGH THE CORNFIELDS
1172
00:56:12,166 --> 00:56:16,066
AND I SAID,
"NO, THEY DIDN'T
SELL THEMSELVES OUT."
1173
00:56:16,066 --> 00:56:19,767
I HEARD CONVERSE
MADE A PAIR OF BIRD SHOES
1174
00:56:19,767 --> 00:56:22,834
- FOR LAST YEAR'S MVP.
- YEAH.
1175
00:56:22,834 --> 00:56:26,033
WELL, THEY MADE A PAIR
OF MAGIC SHOES FOR
THIS YEAR'S MVP.
1176
00:56:26,033 --> 00:56:27,700
OKAY, MAGIC,
SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.
1177
00:56:27,700 --> 00:56:30,166
THIS IS REALLY
A BUSINESS THING.
1178
00:56:33,033 --> 00:56:35,166
AND MAYBE THAT'S
WHERE THE BUSINESS THING
STARTED TO GET BIGGER
1179
00:56:35,166 --> 00:56:39,066
AND BEGAN TO TRUMP
WHO THEY BOTH REALLY WERE.
1180
00:56:39,066 --> 00:56:42,000
IT POLARIZED
THE WHOLE IDEA
1181
00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:44,734
OF LUNCH BUCKET
VERSUS HOLLYWOOD,
1182
00:56:44,734 --> 00:56:48,100
WHITE VERSUS BLACK.
1183
00:56:48,100 --> 00:56:50,567
JUST CEMENTED ALL
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM.
1184
00:56:50,567 --> 00:56:52,367
KIDS WEREN'T WEARING
BLACK GYM SHOES
1185
00:56:52,367 --> 00:56:55,734
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH
THE LARRY BIRD CAMP.
1186
00:56:55,734 --> 00:56:57,800
YOU WORE
YOUR WHITE CONVERSE.
1187
00:56:57,800 --> 00:57:01,600
THE BASKETBALL RIVALS HAD
MORPHED INTO CULTURAL WARRIORS,
1188
00:57:01,600 --> 00:57:03,834
AND RACE MORE THAN EVER
1189
00:57:03,834 --> 00:57:06,734
HAD BECOME AN UNAVOIDABLE
PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
1190
00:57:06,734 --> 00:57:08,500
YO!
1191
00:57:08,500 --> 00:57:11,066
BUT NOTHING ABOUT BIRD
AND MAGIC HAD EVER BEEN
1192
00:57:11,066 --> 00:57:12,800
AS SIMPLE
AS BLACK AND WHITE.
1193
00:57:12,800 --> 00:57:15,900
ONE OF THE BIG REASONS
THIS RIVALRY BECAME
SO EMBLEMATIC
1194
00:57:15,900 --> 00:57:19,700
OF SO MANY THINGS IS BECAUSE
IT WAS AN EASY DICHOTOMY FOR
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
1195
00:57:19,700 --> 00:57:23,533
BUT IT'S CRAZY
TO SIMPLIFY IT AS SAYING,
1196
00:57:23,533 --> 00:57:25,100
"WHITE PEOPLE LIKE BIRD
AND BLACK PEOPLE LIKE MAGIC,"
1197
00:57:25,100 --> 00:57:27,233
BECAUSE 13%
OF THE COUNTRY IS BLACK.
1198
00:57:27,233 --> 00:57:30,333
IT WASN'T LIKE 87%
OF BASKETBALL FANS
PREFERRED THE CELTICS.
1199
00:57:30,333 --> 00:57:34,333
- WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE
BASKETBALL PLAYER?
- MAGIC JOHNSON.
1200
00:57:34,333 --> 00:57:37,033
- WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE
MOVIE STAR?
- EDDIE MURPHY.
1201
00:57:37,033 --> 00:57:39,433
ALL YOU EVER TALK
ABOUT IS "NIGGER THIS"
AND "NIGGER THAT."
1202
00:57:39,433 --> 00:57:42,033
AND ALL YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE
ARE SO-CALLED NIGGERS.
1203
00:57:42,033 --> 00:57:44,767
IT'S DIFFERENT.
MAGIC, EDDIE, PRINCE
1204
00:57:44,767 --> 00:57:47,700
ARE NOT NIGGERS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT BLACK.
1205
00:57:47,700 --> 00:57:50,433
I MEAN--
LET ME EXPLAIN MYSELF.
1206
00:57:50,433 --> 00:57:52,834
HAS THE "N" WORD
EVER BEEN USED
1207
00:57:52,834 --> 00:57:55,734
BY A WHITE PERSON
TO DESCRIBE EARVIN?
I DOUBT IT.
1208
00:57:55,734 --> 00:57:58,700
BUT AS MAGIC ENJOYED
HIS IMAGE
1209
00:57:58,700 --> 00:58:01,800
AS A CROSSOVER STAR,
IT WAS BIRD,
1210
00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:04,834
THE ONE-TIME GREAT WHITE HOPE,
WHO HAD FURTHER EMERGED
1211
00:58:04,834 --> 00:58:07,100
AS THE POLARIZING
RACIAL FIGURE
1212
00:58:07,100 --> 00:58:11,233
DUE IN PART TO THAT ERA'S
INCREASINGLY CONSERVATIVE
POLITICAL CLIMATE.
1213
00:58:11,233 --> 00:58:13,834
ROLLING BACK INSTITUTIONALLY,
IT'S LIKE THE ACHIEVEMENTS
1214
00:58:13,834 --> 00:58:17,834
OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
WERE GOING ON APACE
FROM ABOUT 1975 ON,
1215
00:58:17,834 --> 00:58:20,300
BUT THE TRIUMPH
OF THE MOVEMENT THAT
ROLLED THEM BACK
1216
00:58:20,300 --> 00:58:22,166
TOOK PLACE
IN THE 1980s.
1217
00:58:22,166 --> 00:58:24,667
AND I THINK THERE WAS
PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY AWARE
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
1218
00:58:24,667 --> 00:58:27,967
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON,
AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT
OF SUBLIMATED FRUSTRATION.
1219
00:58:27,967 --> 00:58:30,467
AND I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS
IT GOT SUBLIMATED WAS
INTO BASKETBALL.
1220
00:58:30,467 --> 00:58:33,133
AND I THINK LARRY,
THROUGH NO FAULT OF HIS OWN,
1221
00:58:33,133 --> 00:58:35,233
WAS THE RECEPTACLE
1222
00:58:35,233 --> 00:58:38,367
WITHIN WHICH THE LINGERING
RESENTMENTS SOMEHOW FLOATED.
1223
00:58:38,367 --> 00:58:41,400
AND AFTER BIRD
LED THE CELTICS
1224
00:58:41,400 --> 00:58:43,433
TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
IN 1986,
1225
00:58:43,433 --> 00:58:46,700
HIS THIRD IN THE PROS,
WINNING HIS THIRD
STRAIGHT MVP AWARD,
1226
00:58:46,700 --> 00:58:49,500
IN THE PROCESS,
THE RESENTMENT GREW.
1227
00:58:49,500 --> 00:58:53,233
I ALWAYS FELT THAT
THE PRESS
1228
00:58:53,233 --> 00:58:57,066
WAS BIASED
IN FAVOR OF LARRY BIRD.
1229
00:58:57,066 --> 00:58:59,633
IT ALWAYS FELT
TO ME LIKE
1230
00:58:59,633 --> 00:59:01,867
THEY WERE GONNA MAKE
LARRY THE HERO.
1231
00:59:01,867 --> 00:59:04,100
YOU'D SEE
SOMEBODY SCORE,
1232
00:59:04,100 --> 00:59:06,233
AND LARRY WOULD BE IN A CAST
IN A SUIT ON THE BENCH,
1233
00:59:06,233 --> 00:59:08,500
AND THEY'D SAY "LARRY BIRD
MADE THAT POSSIBLE
1234
00:59:08,500 --> 00:59:11,300
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
WHEN HE TOLD THAT GUY
HE COULD DO IT,
1235
00:59:11,300 --> 00:59:13,066
AND HE JUST DID IT."
1236
00:59:13,066 --> 00:59:15,834
"THEY GONNA GIVE THIS
MOTHERFUCKER THE ASSIST,
AND HE'S NOT IN THE GAME?!"
1237
00:59:15,834 --> 00:59:18,734
NOT TO BE RACIST,
BUT WE HAVE A WHITE GUY
WHO'S THE BEST IN THE WORLD,
1238
00:59:18,734 --> 00:59:20,633
AND IT'S PREDOMINANTLY
A BLACK SPORT NOW.
1239
00:59:20,633 --> 00:59:23,500
AND YOU GOT A GUY LIKE
LARRY BIRD, WHO CAN'T RUN,
WHO CAN'T JUMP,
1240
00:59:23,500 --> 00:59:25,367
BUT CAN DO
EVERYTHING OUT THERE.
1241
00:59:25,367 --> 00:59:26,967
THAT DON'T MEAN
NOTHING TO ME.
1242
00:59:26,967 --> 00:59:29,000
IT DON'T MEAN
ANYTHING TO ME.
1243
00:59:29,000 --> 00:59:32,500
IT NEVER HAS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY.
1244
00:59:32,500 --> 00:59:35,066
I MEAN, AM I DOING
SOMETHING WRONG HERE?
1245
00:59:35,066 --> 00:59:37,033
BIRD MAY HAVE SOUGHT
1246
00:59:37,033 --> 00:59:39,633
TO AVOID
THE CONVERSATION ENTIRELY,
1247
00:59:39,633 --> 00:59:42,633
BUT THE MORE HE WON,
THE LESS HE COULD ESCAPE IT.
1248
00:59:42,633 --> 00:59:45,133
Now there's a steal
by Bird,
1249
00:59:45,133 --> 00:59:48,200
underneath to DJ,
and he lays it in.
1250
00:59:48,200 --> 00:59:50,200
What a play by Bird!
1251
00:59:50,200 --> 00:59:53,667
IN 1987, AFTER BOSTON
BEAT THE DETROIT PISTONS
1252
00:59:53,667 --> 00:59:56,133
TO ADVANCE TO THE FINALS
FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR,
1253
00:59:56,133 --> 00:59:59,867
PISTONS ROOKIE DENNIS RODMAN
CALLED BIRD OVERRATED
1254
00:59:59,867 --> 01:00:01,200
BECAUSE HE WAS WHITE.
1255
01:00:01,200 --> 01:00:04,133
HIS TEAMMATE ISAIAH THOMAS
THEN CHIMED IN
1256
01:00:04,133 --> 01:00:06,266
WITH SOME THOUGHTS
OF HIS OWN...
1257
01:00:24,600 --> 01:00:26,967
I CAN REMEMBER
1258
01:00:26,967 --> 01:00:28,767
IN THE LOCKER ROOM,
1259
01:00:28,767 --> 01:00:30,633
I THINK IT WAS JACKIE MacMULLAN
COME UP TO ME
1260
01:00:30,633 --> 01:00:33,266
AND SAID ISAIAH JUST SAID
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
1261
01:00:33,266 --> 01:00:35,600
AND I GO, "SO?"
1262
01:00:35,600 --> 01:00:37,633
HE DIDN'T CARE.
HE DIDN'T CARE.
1263
01:00:37,633 --> 01:00:40,667
EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND HIM
CARED VERY DEEPLY
1264
01:00:40,667 --> 01:00:43,166
IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS,
AS IT TURNED OUT, AHEAD.
1265
01:00:45,467 --> 01:00:48,133
I MEAN, THE MEDIA MADE OUT
LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING.
1266
01:00:48,133 --> 01:00:50,400
BUT IT DIDN'T
MATTER TO ME
1267
01:00:50,400 --> 01:00:52,567
WHAT ISAIAH
OR DENNIS RODMAN SAID,
1268
01:00:52,567 --> 01:00:54,800
AND IT STILL DON'T.
1269
01:00:54,800 --> 01:00:56,900
HAS NO BEARING
ON WHAT I DO IN MY LIFE.
1270
01:00:56,900 --> 01:01:00,066
HE DOESN'T SEE RACE.
HE REALLY DOESN'T.
1271
01:01:00,066 --> 01:01:03,166
AND HE COULD HAVE.
1272
01:01:03,166 --> 01:01:06,734
THIS GUY
GREW UP POOR, WHITE
1273
01:01:06,734 --> 01:01:08,567
IN SOUTHERN INDIANA.
1274
01:01:08,567 --> 01:01:11,567
SOUTHERN INDIANA,
THE HOME, BY THE WAY,
1275
01:01:11,567 --> 01:01:13,066
OF THE MODERN
KU KLUX KLAN.
1276
01:01:13,066 --> 01:01:15,567
HOW HE MANAGED
NOT TO BE AFFECTED
1277
01:01:15,567 --> 01:01:17,633
BY THE CULTURAL MILIEU
THAT HE GREW UP IN
1278
01:01:17,633 --> 01:01:20,533
IS, I THINK, A MIRACLE.
TO ME IT'S INEXPLICABLE.
1279
01:01:20,533 --> 01:01:22,867
WHEN I WAS IN ABOUT
SIXTH OR SEVENTH GRADE,
1280
01:01:22,867 --> 01:01:24,767
I COULDN'T WAIT
TILL SCHOOL WOULD BE OVER.
1281
01:01:24,767 --> 01:01:27,066
'CAUSE I KNEW
OVER ON THE COURTS
1282
01:01:27,066 --> 01:01:29,767
THE WAITERS FROM THE HOTEL
WOULD BE OVER THERE.
1283
01:01:29,767 --> 01:01:31,800
THEY WERE BLACK, OLDER,
1284
01:01:31,800 --> 01:01:34,266
AND THEY LET ME PLAY.
1285
01:01:34,266 --> 01:01:38,033
I ALWAYS LOOKED AT THAT
AS I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PLAY AGAINST A BLACK MAN,
1286
01:01:38,033 --> 01:01:39,767
AND THEY TREATED ME GOOD.
1287
01:01:39,767 --> 01:01:41,767
I COULDN'T WAIT TO PLAY
AGAINST THE BEST.
1288
01:01:41,767 --> 01:01:43,567
AND AT THAT TIME,
THEY WERE THE BEST.
1289
01:01:43,567 --> 01:01:46,734
AND IN 1987,
1290
01:01:46,734 --> 01:01:49,400
AS BIRD VIED WITH MAGIC
TO BE THE BEST,
1291
01:01:49,400 --> 01:01:52,266
THE FLAP OVER ISAIAH THOMAS'S
RACIALLY FUELED REMARKS
1292
01:01:52,266 --> 01:01:55,266
FORCED BIRD TO ADDRESS
HIS LEAST FAVORITE TOPIC
1293
01:01:55,266 --> 01:01:57,266
AT THE WORST
POSSIBLE TIME.
1294
01:01:57,266 --> 01:01:59,266
I HAD TO GO
TO A PRESS CONFERENCE
1295
01:01:59,266 --> 01:02:02,734
WHEN WE WERE IN L.A.
TRYING TO GET READY
TO PLAY THE LAKERS,
1296
01:02:02,734 --> 01:02:06,667
AND TELL PEOPLE I DIDN'T CARE.
THIS DON'T BOTHER ME.
1297
01:02:06,667 --> 01:02:10,033
THE MAIN THING IS
IF THE STATEMENTS
OR WHATEVER WAS SAID
1298
01:02:10,033 --> 01:02:12,533
DOESN'T BOTHER ME,
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD
BOTHER ANY OF US.
1299
01:02:12,533 --> 01:02:14,667
FROM PLAYING ALL YEAR,
TRYING TO GET BACK
TO THE FINALS,
1300
01:02:14,667 --> 01:02:17,633
TO PLAY AGAINST MAGIC,
THIS WAS A DISTRACTION.
1301
01:02:17,633 --> 01:02:20,066
BIRD WAS FACING OFF
AGAINST MAGIC
1302
01:02:20,066 --> 01:02:21,800
FOR THE THIRD TIME
IN FOUR YEARS.
1303
01:02:21,800 --> 01:02:24,367
AND IF THEIR RELATIONSHIP
HAD SOFTENED,
1304
01:02:24,367 --> 01:02:26,967
THE DETERMINATION
TO BEAT EACH OTHER HAD NOT.
1305
01:02:30,166 --> 01:02:32,166
AS GAME 4 PROVED,
1306
01:02:32,166 --> 01:02:35,600
THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION
BETWEEN THEM WAS HIGHER
THAN EVER.
1307
01:02:37,166 --> 01:02:39,100
BIRD PLAYED AWESOME
DOWN THE STRETCH
OF THAT GAME.
1308
01:02:39,100 --> 01:02:41,200
TRAILING 2-1 IN THE SERIES,
1309
01:02:41,200 --> 01:02:44,667
THE CELTICS WERE DOWN
BY ONE POINT IN THE FINAL
MINUTE OF THE GAME,
1310
01:02:44,667 --> 01:02:47,834
BUT LARRY BIRD WOULDN'T
BE EASILY VANQUISHED.
1311
01:02:47,834 --> 01:02:50,033
Open is Ainge.
1312
01:02:50,033 --> 01:02:52,200
Bird goes for three!
1313
01:02:56,700 --> 01:02:59,900
LARRY! LARRY!
LARRY! LARRY!
1314
01:02:59,900 --> 01:03:01,633
WITH SEVEN SECONDS LEFT,
THOUGH,
1315
01:03:01,633 --> 01:03:03,667
THE LAKERS
STILL HAD LIFE.
1316
01:03:03,667 --> 01:03:06,600
THREE YEARS EARLIER
IN THE '84 FINALS,
1317
01:03:06,600 --> 01:03:09,266
MAGIC HAD FLUBBED
A SIMILAR SITUATION.
1318
01:03:09,266 --> 01:03:11,100
BUT THIS WAS
A DIFFERENT MAGIC,
1319
01:03:11,100 --> 01:03:14,266
ONE WITH A WHOLE
NEW BAG OF TRICKS.
1320
01:03:14,266 --> 01:03:16,333
MY MAN SWITCHED
TO KAREEM
1321
01:03:16,333 --> 01:03:18,633
AND KEVIN McHALE
JUMPED OUT TO ME.
1322
01:03:18,633 --> 01:03:21,367
AS SOON AS I SAW KEVIN,
I SAID, "OH, I'M TAKING HIM."
1323
01:03:21,367 --> 01:03:23,934
MAGIC PUTS IT
ON THE FLOOR.
1324
01:03:23,934 --> 01:03:25,867
A COUPLE HEAD
AND SHOULDER FAKES
1325
01:03:25,867 --> 01:03:27,900
AND HE RAISED UP
IN THE AIR
1326
01:03:27,900 --> 01:03:30,633
AND THERE WAS NOBODY THAT
WAS GONNA GET THAT SHOT.
1327
01:03:30,633 --> 01:03:34,533
Magic with a hook shot,
scores with :02.
1328
01:03:41,166 --> 01:03:44,700
I REMEMBER AFTER THEY
CALLED TIMEOUT, THINKING,
1329
01:03:44,700 --> 01:03:48,633
THERE'S STILL A SHOT HERE.
THE CELTICS MAY STILL
WIN THIS GAME.
1330
01:03:48,633 --> 01:03:50,667
THEY SET UP A GREAT PLAY.
1331
01:03:50,667 --> 01:03:53,200
BIRD WALKED WORTHY
ALL THE WAY UP,
1332
01:03:53,200 --> 01:03:56,200
FORCED A DENIAL
ALL THE WAY UP.
1333
01:03:57,667 --> 01:04:01,033
WE DONE IT BEFORE.
CLEAR EVERYBODY OUT,
1334
01:04:01,033 --> 01:04:03,500
GO TO THE BALL
AND BREAK THE CORNER.
1335
01:04:04,834 --> 01:04:07,066
HE CAUGHT IT HERE
AND AS HE CAUGHT IT,
1336
01:04:07,066 --> 01:04:09,667
ALL HE HAD TO DO
WAS TURN AND JUST TURN,
1337
01:04:09,667 --> 01:04:11,967
AND HE JUST LET
THIS THING GO.
1338
01:04:11,967 --> 01:04:14,000
Bird fires it.
1339
01:04:14,000 --> 01:04:16,333
HAD A WIDE OPEN LOOK.
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
1340
01:04:16,333 --> 01:04:18,767
AND I'M STANDING RIGHT THERE,
IT IS STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW.
1341
01:04:19,900 --> 01:04:22,533
- DEAD ON.
1342
01:04:22,533 --> 01:04:25,233
And the Lakers
have won...
1343
01:04:25,233 --> 01:04:28,700
THEY WERE LUCKY
BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT
ON A LINE.
1344
01:04:28,700 --> 01:04:30,667
HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE,
1345
01:04:30,667 --> 01:04:33,400
"HOW DID YOU EVER LEAVE ME
THAT WIDE OPEN?"
1346
01:04:33,400 --> 01:04:35,100
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.
1347
01:04:40,266 --> 01:04:42,100
CHANGED THE WHOLE SERIES.
1348
01:04:42,100 --> 01:04:45,000
THE LAKERS WON
THE SERIES IN SIX.
1349
01:04:45,000 --> 01:04:48,066
AND IN THE AFTERMATH
OF A YEAR IN WHICH MAGIC
HAD WON HIS FIRST MVP,
1350
01:04:48,066 --> 01:04:51,033
THE RIVALRY SUDDENLY
TOOK ON A NEW TONE.
1351
01:04:51,033 --> 01:04:53,333
MAGIC'S JUST
A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER.
1352
01:04:53,333 --> 01:04:56,033
HE'S THE BEST
I'VE EVER SEEN.
1353
01:04:58,800 --> 01:05:01,266
UNBELIEVABLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
1354
01:05:01,266 --> 01:05:04,633
I WAS SHOCKED
THAT HE SAID IT,
'CAUSE I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
1355
01:05:04,633 --> 01:05:08,100
"MAYBE THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF A NEW ERA THAT'S NOT
GONNA INCLUDE HIM."
1356
01:05:08,100 --> 01:05:10,934
IT WAS THE PASSING
OF THE TORCH A LITTLE BIT.
1357
01:05:12,934 --> 01:05:15,000
AFTER VANQUISHING BIRD
IN '87,
1358
01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:16,900
MAGIC WASN'T
DONE WINNING.
1359
01:05:16,900 --> 01:05:18,934
THE FOLLOWING YEAR
HE SQUARED OFF IN THE FINALS
1360
01:05:18,934 --> 01:05:22,100
AGAINST HIS GOOD
FRIEND ISAIAH THOMAS
AND THE PISTONS.
1361
01:05:24,667 --> 01:05:27,233
BEATING THEM TO BECOME THE
NBA's FIRST REPEAT CHAMPIONS
1362
01:05:27,233 --> 01:05:29,867
IN TWO DECADES.
1363
01:05:29,867 --> 01:05:32,900
BY THE DAWN OF THE '90s,
HE'D WON FIVE TITLES,
1364
01:05:32,900 --> 01:05:34,467
PLAYED IN EIGHT FINALS
1365
01:05:34,467 --> 01:05:37,800
AND EQUALED BIRD'S
MVP TALLY OF THREE.
1366
01:05:37,800 --> 01:05:40,300
BUT THE MORE MAGIC WON,
1367
01:05:40,300 --> 01:05:43,767
THE LESS EARVIN SEEMED
TO BE AROUND TO REAP
THE SPOILS.
1368
01:05:43,767 --> 01:05:46,200
ONCE I TASTED
THE CHAMPAGNE
1369
01:05:46,200 --> 01:05:49,400
AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP,
I WANTED MORE OF THAT
1370
01:05:49,400 --> 01:05:50,967
AND MORE OF THAT.
1371
01:05:50,967 --> 01:05:54,700
SO MAGIC KEPT GROWING
BECAUSE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
1372
01:05:54,700 --> 01:05:57,834
AND THE PERSONA
AND ALL THAT
1373
01:05:57,834 --> 01:05:59,400
CAME WITH THAT.
1374
01:06:02,467 --> 01:06:05,300
- THE PRINCE OF L.A.
- WAS NOW THE KING...
1375
01:06:05,300 --> 01:06:07,767
AND IN HOLLYWOOD,
1376
01:06:07,767 --> 01:06:10,467
BEING ROYALTY
HAD ITS PERKS.
1377
01:06:10,467 --> 01:06:12,367
WOW!
1378
01:06:12,367 --> 01:06:14,834
WHAT WAS EARVIN
JOHNSON'S VICE?
1379
01:06:14,834 --> 01:06:18,133
NOW YOU KNOW MY PUBLICIST
WANTS ME TO SAY WINNING.
1380
01:06:20,133 --> 01:06:23,300
BUT WOMEN LOVED EARVIN.
1381
01:06:23,300 --> 01:06:26,066
BACK THEN BEFORE VOICEMAIL,
THEY USED TO HAVE
THESE MAIL SLOTS
1382
01:06:26,066 --> 01:06:27,967
IN THE HOTELS WHERE
YOU'D LEAVE YOUR KEY.
1383
01:06:27,967 --> 01:06:31,834
WHEN WE'D GET INTO A TOWN,
EARVIN'S MAIL SLOT WOULD
BE SO PACKED.
1384
01:06:31,834 --> 01:06:34,367
AND IT WOULD BE JUST SUSAN
AND A PHONE NUMBER,
1385
01:06:34,367 --> 01:06:36,533
LINDA AND A PHONE NUMBER,
JOYCE AND A PHONE NUMBER.
1386
01:06:36,533 --> 01:06:39,033
THAT WAS EVERY CITY,
EVERY TIME.
1387
01:06:40,500 --> 01:06:43,467
I WAS ON TOP
OF MY GAME AS MAGIC,
1388
01:06:43,467 --> 01:06:46,700
SO I NEEDED ALL THAT
AROUND ME AT THAT TIME--
1389
01:06:46,700 --> 01:06:50,033
THE WOMEN, THE THIS,
THE THAT-- HOLLYWOOD.
1390
01:06:54,533 --> 01:06:58,500
MAGIC WAS LIVING IN A CONTEXT
OF SYBARITIC EXCESS
1391
01:06:58,500 --> 01:07:00,033
FROM THE MINUTE
HE WALKED IN THE DOOR.
1392
01:07:00,033 --> 01:07:02,333
AND HE DEVELOPED
A SWEET TOOTH FOR IT.
1393
01:07:04,834 --> 01:07:07,100
SEX WITH SEVERAL WOMEN
AT THE SAME TIME?
1394
01:07:07,100 --> 01:07:08,900
YEAH.
1395
01:07:08,900 --> 01:07:11,100
LIKE I SAID,
WOMEN HAVE DIFFERENT FANTASIES.
1396
01:07:11,100 --> 01:07:13,934
SOME WANNA BE WITH TWO,
THREE AT A TIME.
1397
01:07:13,934 --> 01:07:17,033
ONE TIME I HAD SIX
AT ONE TIME.
1398
01:07:17,033 --> 01:07:19,400
I REALLY DO BELIEVE
HE LOOKS UPON MAGIC JOHNSON
1399
01:07:19,400 --> 01:07:21,400
AS A MOVIE CHARACTER
HE PLAYED.
1400
01:07:21,400 --> 01:07:24,266
I THINK EARVIN
GOT OVERWHELMED IN L.A.
1401
01:07:24,266 --> 01:07:28,133
BY WHAT IT MEANT
TO BE A STAR.
1402
01:07:28,133 --> 01:07:31,800
THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE--
THAT THE MAGIC EGO
1403
01:07:31,800 --> 01:07:33,533
SWALLOWED EARVIN
A LITTLE BIT.
1404
01:07:33,533 --> 01:07:36,967
BUT THAT'S OKAY
BECAUSE I COULDN'T
1405
01:07:36,967 --> 01:07:40,033
WIN FIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS
WITHOUT THAT.
1406
01:07:40,033 --> 01:07:43,166
THROUGH ALL OF THIS HAZE
OF WOMEN AND MONEY
1407
01:07:43,166 --> 01:07:45,734
AND FAME AND FORTUNE,
HE STILL KEPT BASKETBALL
AT NUMBER ONE.
1408
01:07:45,734 --> 01:07:49,000
HE NEVER SEEMED
TO LOSE THAT FOCUS.
1409
01:07:50,800 --> 01:07:52,967
LARRY HAD TWO JOBS HIS LAST
SEVEN YEARS OF PLAYING.
1410
01:07:52,967 --> 01:07:56,300
IT WAS PLAYING BASKETBALL
AND THEN IT WAS HIM
BEING COMMITTED
1411
01:07:56,300 --> 01:07:58,033
TO TAKING CARE
OF HIS BACK.
1412
01:07:58,033 --> 01:08:01,166
HE HAD FIRST
HURT IT IN 1985,
1413
01:08:01,166 --> 01:08:04,600
BUILDING THE DRIVEWAY
AT HIS MOM'S HOUSE BACK
IN FRENCH LICK.
1414
01:08:04,600 --> 01:08:06,700
LARRY DECIDED
TO DO IT HIMSELF.
1415
01:08:06,700 --> 01:08:09,433
THIS IS LARRY BIRD,
THE SUPERSTAR, OUT THERE,
1416
01:08:09,433 --> 01:08:13,066
BREAKING HIS BACK LITERALLY
SHOVELING GRAVEL.
1417
01:08:13,066 --> 01:08:15,567
AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF A PROCESS.
1418
01:08:15,567 --> 01:08:19,433
I WOULD SEE HIM
ON TV LAYING DOWN
1419
01:08:19,433 --> 01:08:21,834
AND THEN THEY TOLD ME
HE HAD TO LAY DOWN ON PLANES,
1420
01:08:21,834 --> 01:08:24,834
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND I WAS LIKE, "WOW."
1421
01:08:24,834 --> 01:08:28,934
AS MAGIC SOARED THROUGH
THE PRIME OF HIS CAREER,
1422
01:08:28,934 --> 01:08:31,200
BIRD WAS BREAKING DOWN.
1423
01:08:31,200 --> 01:08:34,934
HIS DETERIORATING BACK
AND PUNISHING STYLE OF PLAY
1424
01:08:34,934 --> 01:08:37,367
PROVING
AN EXCRUCIATING MIX.
1425
01:08:37,367 --> 01:08:40,300
FROM '88 TO '92,
1426
01:08:40,300 --> 01:08:42,800
IT WAS PAINFUL TO WATCH.
IT WAS PAINFUL TO COVER.
1427
01:08:42,800 --> 01:08:45,667
LARRY IS QUITE ORNERY
WHEN HE'S NOT FEELING WELL,
1428
01:08:45,667 --> 01:08:48,600
WHICH MEANS HE WAS ORNERY
FOR THOSE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
1429
01:08:48,600 --> 01:08:50,934
HE COULD MANAGE
THE PAIN IN A WAY
1430
01:08:50,934 --> 01:08:53,533
THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN DO.
1431
01:08:53,533 --> 01:08:56,500
THERE'D BE DAYS HE'D
COME IN THE OFFICE AND
HE COULDN'T STAND UP STRAIGHT.
1432
01:08:56,500 --> 01:09:00,333
BUT EVEN AFTER TWO
RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDONS
1433
01:09:00,333 --> 01:09:03,066
AND SURGERY ON HIS BACK
IN 1991,
1434
01:09:03,066 --> 01:09:04,500
BIRD KEPT GOING TO WORK,
1435
01:09:04,500 --> 01:09:07,066
PRODUCT OF A LESSON
LEARNED MANY YEARS BEFORE
1436
01:09:07,066 --> 01:09:11,066
SEEING THE SWOLLEN ANKLE
OF A MAN LONG SINCE GONE.
1437
01:09:11,066 --> 01:09:14,300
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT BROKE
OR NOT, BUT IT LOOKED
BROKE TO ME.
1438
01:09:14,300 --> 01:09:16,300
HAD TO GO TO WORK,
AND HE HAD TO GET
HIS BOOT ON IT.
1439
01:09:16,300 --> 01:09:19,100
AND IT TOOK EVERYTHING
I HAD TO HELP HIM GET
THAT BOOT ON HIS FOOT.
1440
01:09:19,100 --> 01:09:22,133
HE STOOD UP LIMPING
AND HE SAYS, "I'LL SEE
YOU THIS WEEKEND,"
1441
01:09:22,133 --> 01:09:24,233
'CAUSE HE WAS WORKING
CONSTRUCTION AT THE TIME.
1442
01:09:24,233 --> 01:09:26,900
AND I WAS PRETTY AMAZED
HE COULD FIGHT THROUGH
THAT ALL WEEK
1443
01:09:26,900 --> 01:09:30,133
AND COME HOME
ON THE WEEKEND AND IT
WAS BLACK AND SWOLLEN,
1444
01:09:30,133 --> 01:09:32,800
AND HE'D SIT AROUND
ON THE WEEKEND,
1445
01:09:32,800 --> 01:09:35,867
THEN PUT THAT BOOT ON
AND GO AGAIN.
1446
01:09:35,867 --> 01:09:38,567
IF YOU GET PAID
TO GO TO WORK,
YOU GOTTA GO TO WORK.
1447
01:09:38,567 --> 01:09:41,734
IT WAS A SITUATION
HE WAS SEEING ALMOST DAILY.
1448
01:09:41,734 --> 01:09:44,700
HE HAD LOST THE STRUCTURAL
STABILITY IN HIS SPINE.
1449
01:09:44,700 --> 01:09:47,500
SO IT WOULD SLIP
INTO ABNORMAL POSITIONS
1450
01:09:47,500 --> 01:09:50,867
TO TRY AND LOCK ITSELF
TO GET ARTIFICIAL STABILITY.
1451
01:09:50,867 --> 01:09:53,333
THAT'S LIKE GETTING
YOUR FINGER STUCK IN A DOOR
1452
01:09:53,333 --> 01:09:56,233
AND SOMEBODY'S STILL PUSHING
ON THE DOOR.
1453
01:09:56,233 --> 01:09:59,500
SO WHAT WE HAD TO DO
WAS UNLOCK HIS SPINE,
1454
01:09:59,500 --> 01:10:01,200
REALIGN IT,
1455
01:10:01,200 --> 01:10:04,367
DO TECHNIQUES THAT WOULD HOLD
THAT FOR FOUR HOURS,
1456
01:10:04,367 --> 01:10:07,734
SIX HOURS, THAT TYPE
OF THING. AND THEN HE'D
GO PLAY BASKETBALL.
1457
01:10:11,200 --> 01:10:14,166
EVERY TIME I WOULD PLAY,
1458
01:10:14,166 --> 01:10:16,800
I WAS WONDERING IF I WAS
GONNA BE IN A WHEELCHAIR.
1459
01:10:16,800 --> 01:10:19,400
WAS I EVER GONNA
BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
1460
01:10:19,400 --> 01:10:22,033
WALK ON THE BEACH
OR HOLD MY KIDS?
1461
01:10:25,834 --> 01:10:28,166
HIS PAIN AND HIS QUEST
FOR BASKETBALL BECAME
ALL ENCOMPASSING.
1462
01:10:28,166 --> 01:10:30,166
VERY FEW PEOPLE
REALLY KNEW
1463
01:10:30,166 --> 01:10:32,700
WHAT LARRY
WAS LIVING WITH.
1464
01:10:32,700 --> 01:10:35,300
'CAUSE THIS WAS
LARRY'S ISSUE.
1465
01:10:35,300 --> 01:10:37,166
AND THERE WAS NO SHARING
OF HIS PAIN.
1466
01:10:37,166 --> 01:10:40,266
YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY
SHOULD HAVE RETIRED
1467
01:10:40,266 --> 01:10:42,700
IN '88, 89,
1468
01:10:42,700 --> 01:10:46,266
BUT IT'S THAT COMPETITION.
1469
01:10:46,266 --> 01:10:48,800
MAYBE ONE MORE CHANCE
ME AND MAGIC GET TOGETHER
1470
01:10:48,800 --> 01:10:52,433
IN THE FINALS,
BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED.
1471
01:10:56,000 --> 01:10:58,033
I'M SLEEPING REALLY,
LAYING DOWN,
1472
01:10:58,033 --> 01:11:02,900
JUST WAITING ON THE GAME
AND THE PHONE RINGS
1473
01:11:02,900 --> 01:11:05,033
AND...
1474
01:11:07,033 --> 01:11:10,133
THE VOICE SAYS, "HEY,
YOU GOTTA COME BACK TO L.A."
1475
01:11:10,133 --> 01:11:13,500
AND I SAY,
"OKAY, WHY?"
1476
01:11:13,500 --> 01:11:16,166
"WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU
TILL YOU GET TO L.A."
1477
01:11:19,400 --> 01:11:22,834
SO I SAID, "OKAY."
1478
01:11:22,834 --> 01:11:25,567
TWO HOURS LATER,
1479
01:11:25,567 --> 01:11:29,233
HE WAS IN THE OFFICE
OF LAKERS' TEAM PHYSICIAN
MICHAEL MELLMAN.
1480
01:11:29,233 --> 01:11:32,300
DR. MELLMAN STARTS TO
1481
01:11:32,300 --> 01:11:37,500
TELL ME THAT THROUGH
THE PHYSICAL THAT I TOOK
1482
01:11:37,500 --> 01:11:40,266
THAT THEY DISCOVERED
1483
01:11:40,266 --> 01:11:42,367
THAT I HAD H.I.V.
1484
01:11:48,800 --> 01:11:50,900
FIRST TIME EVER
IN MY LIFE--
1485
01:11:50,900 --> 01:11:53,567
I'M SUCH A CONTROL FREAK,
RIGHT, AND DO THINGS
THE RIGHT WAY--
1486
01:11:53,567 --> 01:11:55,734
I'M OUT OF CONTROL.
1487
01:11:58,200 --> 01:12:01,266
IT WAS EVERYTHING.
"HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?
1488
01:12:01,266 --> 01:12:03,066
WHAT HAPPENED?
1489
01:12:03,066 --> 01:12:04,700
HOW DID IT HAPPEN
TO ME?"
1490
01:12:04,700 --> 01:12:06,967
AND MY MIND IS RACING,
1491
01:12:06,967 --> 01:12:09,900
YOU KNOW, AND...
1492
01:12:09,900 --> 01:12:12,633
AND THEN YOU'RE
JUST DEVASTATED.
1493
01:12:12,633 --> 01:12:15,266
FURTHER COMPLICATING THINGS,
1494
01:12:15,266 --> 01:12:18,333
MAGIC HAD GOTTEN MARRIED
JUST TWO MONTHS EARLIER.
1495
01:12:18,333 --> 01:12:21,100
AND HE FEARED THE WORST
FOR HIS NEW BRIDE COOKIE,
1496
01:12:21,100 --> 01:12:24,066
WHO WAS PREGNANT
WITH THEIR FIRST CHILD.
1497
01:12:24,066 --> 01:12:26,433
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN WITH MY WIFE
1498
01:12:26,433 --> 01:12:29,500
AND MY BABY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN TO ME.
1499
01:12:29,500 --> 01:12:31,500
I DON'T HAVE CONTROL
OF THE SITUATION
1500
01:12:31,500 --> 01:12:34,400
AND I WAS LOST
JUST FOR THAT NEXT TWO
1501
01:12:34,400 --> 01:12:35,767
OR THREE WEEKS.
1502
01:12:35,767 --> 01:12:38,300
AND AFTER MAGIC LEARNED
NEITHER HIS WIFE
1503
01:12:38,300 --> 01:12:40,600
NOR HIS UNBORN CHILD
WERE INFECTED,
1504
01:12:40,600 --> 01:12:43,600
HE BEGAN REVEALING THE NEWS
TO HIS INNER CIRCLE.
1505
01:12:43,600 --> 01:12:45,567
THE PHONE RANG,
1506
01:12:45,567 --> 01:12:47,767
AND IT WAS MAGIC'S AGENT
LON ROSEN.
1507
01:12:47,767 --> 01:12:49,600
AND HE SAID,
"EARVIN'S LOOKING
FOR YOU. CALL HIM."
1508
01:12:49,600 --> 01:12:51,633
AND I SAID,
"I'LL CALL HIM
WHEN I GET TO PARAMOUNT."
1509
01:12:51,633 --> 01:12:53,633
AND HE SAYS,
"CALL HIM NOW."
1510
01:12:53,633 --> 01:12:56,233
I SAID,
"LON, I'LL CALL HIM
WHEN I GET TO PARAMOUNT.
1511
01:12:56,233 --> 01:12:59,400
I'LL BE THERE
IN 20 MINUTES."
1512
01:12:59,400 --> 01:13:02,333
AND HE SAID,
1513
01:13:02,333 --> 01:13:05,834
"YOU GOTTA CALL HIM NOW.
EARVIN'S H.I.V. POSITIVE."
1514
01:13:09,233 --> 01:13:11,500
I WAS SITTING ON THE BED.
1515
01:13:11,500 --> 01:13:13,500
I REMEMBER STANDING UP
1516
01:13:13,500 --> 01:13:16,767
AT THAT POINT,
1517
01:13:16,767 --> 01:13:19,200
AND I SAID,
"HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?"
1518
01:13:22,300 --> 01:13:25,700
I'M THINKING EARVIN'S
GONNA GET SKINNY AND DIE.
1519
01:13:25,700 --> 01:13:28,066
I MEAN, LITERALLY,
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT--
1520
01:13:28,066 --> 01:13:30,867
"EARVIN'S GONNA
GET SKINNY AND DIE."
1521
01:13:33,367 --> 01:13:35,533
THE FIRST PERSON
I THOUGHT OF WAS LARRY--
1522
01:13:36,700 --> 01:13:38,166
"I WONDER
WHAT LARRY THINKS."
1523
01:13:40,333 --> 01:13:43,000
THE DAY THAT I HEARD
ABOUT MAGIC,
1524
01:13:43,000 --> 01:13:45,800
IT JUST SORT OF CHANGED
MY LOVE FOR BASKETBALL.
1525
01:13:45,800 --> 01:13:47,834
IT SHOOK ME UP.
1526
01:13:47,834 --> 01:13:50,834
YOU GET THAT FEELING,
1527
01:13:50,834 --> 01:13:53,400
PROBABLY THE SAME
TYPE OF FEELING I HAD
WHEN MY FATHER DIED.
1528
01:13:53,400 --> 01:13:56,667
HE WANTS
TO UNDERSTAND WHY.
"HOW CAN I TALK TO HIM?
1529
01:13:56,667 --> 01:13:59,834
I NEED TO SPEAK TO HIM."
IT WAS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR LARRY TO TALK TO HIM.
1530
01:13:59,834 --> 01:14:02,433
YOU KNOW...
1531
01:14:02,433 --> 01:14:04,867
YOU KNOW, SORT OF--
1532
01:14:04,867 --> 01:14:07,400
I DON'T KNOW.
1533
01:14:07,400 --> 01:14:10,300
I WANTED TO HEAR IT
FROM HIM. I PROBABLY
DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
1534
01:14:12,533 --> 01:14:14,900
CALLS ME, WE'RE TALKING.
1535
01:14:14,900 --> 01:14:16,633
IT'S JUST,
"HOW YOU DOING?
1536
01:14:16,633 --> 01:14:19,000
I HEARD ABOUT IT."
1537
01:14:19,000 --> 01:14:21,166
YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR
BOTH OF US
1538
01:14:21,166 --> 01:14:25,200
WITH SOME TEARS
IN OUR EYES.
1539
01:14:25,200 --> 01:14:27,133
AND I'M CHOKED UP
1540
01:14:27,133 --> 01:14:29,233
BECAUSE HE DID CALL ME.
1541
01:14:33,266 --> 01:14:35,367
YOU KNOW...
1542
01:14:37,533 --> 01:14:40,066
WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS...
1543
01:14:46,934 --> 01:14:49,033
TO YOU...
1544
01:14:55,633 --> 01:14:57,600
AND THEN YOU FIND OUT
1545
01:14:57,600 --> 01:15:00,633
WHO REALLY YOUR
FRIENDS ARE
1546
01:15:00,633 --> 01:15:03,934
AND PEOPLE
WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU.
1547
01:15:08,600 --> 01:15:11,467
YOU FIGURE
ALL THOSE BATTLES,
1548
01:15:11,467 --> 01:15:14,867
ALL THOSE THINGS
WE HAD TO GO THROUGH
1549
01:15:14,867 --> 01:15:17,834
AS WARRIORS,
AS COMPETITORS
1550
01:15:17,834 --> 01:15:19,967
AND AS MEN.
1551
01:15:19,967 --> 01:15:23,834
AND HERE THIS MAN SAYS,
1552
01:15:23,834 --> 01:15:26,166
"HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, MAN?
YOU'RE OKAY."
1553
01:15:26,166 --> 01:15:29,567
AND SO...
1554
01:15:29,567 --> 01:15:32,734
THAT WAS THE GREATEST MOMENT
FOR ME TOO,
1555
01:15:32,734 --> 01:15:35,533
YOU KNOW, TO HAVE HIM
CHECK ON ME
1556
01:15:35,533 --> 01:15:39,233
AND TO MAKE SURE
1557
01:15:39,233 --> 01:15:41,734
I WAS OKAY.
1558
01:15:44,967 --> 01:15:46,900
FIRST OF ALL,
LET ME SAY,
1559
01:15:46,900 --> 01:15:49,767
- GOOD LATE AFTERNOON.
1560
01:15:49,767 --> 01:15:52,066
BECAUSE OF...
1561
01:15:53,633 --> 01:15:57,667
THE H.I.V. VIRUS
THAT I HAVE ATTAINED,
1562
01:15:57,667 --> 01:16:01,633
I WILL HAVE TO RETIRE
FROM THE LAKERS TODAY.
1563
01:16:01,633 --> 01:16:03,633
IT'S THE ONLY PRESS CONFERENCE
I'VE EVER BEEN IN
1564
01:16:03,633 --> 01:16:05,600
WHERE I'VE
SEEN REPORTERS CRY.
1565
01:16:05,600 --> 01:16:07,934
I MEAN, WE THOUGHT
THIS GUY WAS IN
TOTAL DENIAL.
1566
01:16:07,934 --> 01:16:11,166
I PLAN ON GOING ON LIVING
FOR A LONG TIME,
1567
01:16:11,166 --> 01:16:14,000
BUGGING YOU GUYS
LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE.
1568
01:16:14,000 --> 01:16:16,767
WE THOUGHT THE SMILE
WAS GONNA BE WIPED OFF
HIS FACE FOREVER,
1569
01:16:16,767 --> 01:16:19,166
AND HE WAS GONNA DIE,
AND WE'RE GONNA WATCH
HIM DIE IN PUBLIC.
1570
01:16:19,166 --> 01:16:22,867
I JUST REMEMBER IN THE ROOM.
HE WAS JOKING AND I'M SITTING
THERE LOOKING AT HIM CRYING,
1571
01:16:22,867 --> 01:16:26,433
AND HE'S LIKE, "COOP,
MAN, I'M GONNA BE OKAY.
IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT."
1572
01:16:26,433 --> 01:16:29,767
I AM GONNA GO ON.
I'M GONNA BEAT IT,
AND I'M GONNA HAVE FUN.
1573
01:16:29,767 --> 01:16:31,800
- SURE, COME ON.
- YOU'RE GONNA BEAT THIS?
1574
01:16:31,800 --> 01:16:33,266
TO HIM,
IT WAS A CONTEST.
1575
01:16:33,266 --> 01:16:35,266
LARRY BIRD
AND MAGIC JOHNSON--
1576
01:16:35,266 --> 01:16:37,467
AIDS AND MAGIC JOHNSON,
SAME THING.
1577
01:16:37,467 --> 01:16:39,433
"IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT GAME,
DIFFERENT RULES,
1578
01:16:39,433 --> 01:16:40,800
BUT I'M STILL GONNA WIN."
1579
01:16:40,800 --> 01:16:42,333
HE WASN'T PLANNING
ON GOING NOWHERE.
1580
01:16:42,333 --> 01:16:45,100
EARVIN WAS PLANNING
THAT DAY
1581
01:16:45,100 --> 01:16:47,133
TO FIND
THE RIGHT MEDICINE,
1582
01:16:47,133 --> 01:16:50,333
TO EAT RIGHT, GET REST
AND LIVE FOREVER.
1583
01:16:50,333 --> 01:16:52,333
THAT'S WHAT
HE WAS PLANNING.
1584
01:16:52,333 --> 01:16:55,200
THANK YOU AGAIN
AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
1585
01:16:55,200 --> 01:16:58,734
BUT AS MAGIC PUT UP
A POSITIVE PUBLIC FACE,
1586
01:16:58,734 --> 01:17:00,700
HIS NEMESIS,
STILL OUT OF SORTS,
1587
01:17:00,700 --> 01:17:04,834
SHED THE MASK HE HAD
HIDDEN BEHIND FOR YEARS.
1588
01:17:04,834 --> 01:17:08,066
HE WAS VISIBLY LIKE,
"WOW! HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?"
1589
01:17:08,066 --> 01:17:11,600
IT REALLY SET HIM BACK.
1590
01:17:11,600 --> 01:17:14,967
PROBABLY THE TWO TOUGHEST DAYS
I'VE HAD SINCE MY FATHER
PASSED AWAY.
1591
01:17:14,967 --> 01:17:18,433
I'VE BEEN VERY DEPRESSED
AND IN SORT OF DENIAL OF IT.
1592
01:17:18,433 --> 01:17:20,500
I LISTENED TO HIM TALK
IN THIS PRESS CONFERENCE
1593
01:17:20,500 --> 01:17:24,200
ABOUT HOW DEVASTATED
HE WAS, AND I REMEMBER
THINKING TO MYSELF,
1594
01:17:24,200 --> 01:17:27,967
"GOD DAMN,
LARRY FOUND EARVIN."
1595
01:17:27,967 --> 01:17:30,400
OUT OF THE BLUE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING,
1596
01:17:30,400 --> 01:17:32,200
IT'S JUST--
1597
01:17:32,200 --> 01:17:34,400
I'VE NEVER HAD OTHER THAN
ONE OTHER INSTANCE,
1598
01:17:34,400 --> 01:17:36,400
AND I WAS HOPING
I WOULD NEVER SEE THAT AGAIN
1599
01:17:36,400 --> 01:17:40,266
BECAUSE I REMEMBER HOW
I FELT WEEKS AFTER THAT,
1600
01:17:40,266 --> 01:17:44,233
AND YESTERDAY
WAS JUST A SAD DAY.
1601
01:17:44,233 --> 01:17:46,600
AND AT HIS GAME THAT NIGHT,
1602
01:17:46,600 --> 01:17:48,934
BIRD WAS FORCED
TO CONFRONT PAIN
1603
01:17:48,934 --> 01:17:51,433
HE COULDN'T SO EASILY
PLAY THROUGH.
1604
01:17:52,834 --> 01:17:55,133
I DIDN'T WANNA
BE THERE THAT NIGHT.
1605
01:17:55,133 --> 01:17:57,600
FIRST TIME EVER
1606
01:17:57,600 --> 01:17:59,533
AND REALLY THE LAST.
1607
01:17:59,533 --> 01:18:01,600
I REMEMBER
WE PLAYED ATLANTA.
1608
01:18:01,600 --> 01:18:05,200
HAD NO FEEL FOR THE GAME,
YOU KNOW?
1609
01:18:05,200 --> 01:18:08,967
JUST WASN'T A GOOD TIME
TO BE OUT THERE.
1610
01:18:08,967 --> 01:18:10,900
NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE.
1611
01:18:10,900 --> 01:18:12,400
THAT NIGHT
HE THREW A PASS.
1612
01:18:12,400 --> 01:18:14,700
I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.
HE THREW A HALF-COURT PASS
1613
01:18:14,700 --> 01:18:18,166
BEHIND HIS BACK
FOR A LAYUP,
1614
01:18:18,166 --> 01:18:21,433
AND IF YOU BLURRED YOUR EYES,
YOU SQUINTED YOUR EYES,
IT LOOKED LIKE MAGIC.
1615
01:18:21,433 --> 01:18:24,233
AND IT WAS LARRY
SAYING GOODBYE.
1616
01:18:28,567 --> 01:18:32,033
I MEAN, THIS COMPETITION
THING IS AMAZING,
1617
01:18:32,033 --> 01:18:35,066
WHAT IT DOES TO YOU.
1618
01:18:35,066 --> 01:18:37,200
WHAT YOU PUT
YOUR BODY THROUGH
AND WHAT YOU DO
1619
01:18:37,200 --> 01:18:39,734
AND WHAT YOU SAY
AND HOW YOU FEEL,
1620
01:18:39,734 --> 01:18:42,066
AND KNOWING
THAT HE'S NOT THERE
1621
01:18:42,066 --> 01:18:44,066
WOULDN'T FEEL RIGHT,
1622
01:18:44,066 --> 01:18:46,667
BUT I THINK IT'S ALL
THEM YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW,
1623
01:18:46,667 --> 01:18:49,467
"WHAT'S HE DOING?
I WONDER IF HE'S
PRACTICING AS HARD."
1624
01:18:49,467 --> 01:18:53,033
I BET HE SHOT 500 SHOTS TODAY,
AND I DIDN'T GET 500 IN.
1625
01:18:54,000 --> 01:18:56,767
THERE'S ALWAYS
MIND-GAMES.
1626
01:18:56,767 --> 01:19:00,500
BIRD PLAYED THROUGH
THE '91-'92 SEASON,
1627
01:19:00,500 --> 01:19:03,033
HIS LAST IN THE NBA,
1628
01:19:03,033 --> 01:19:06,633
BUT A PART OF HIM
WAS ALREADY GONE.
1629
01:19:06,633 --> 01:19:08,066
I DIDN'T CHECK
THE PAPERS ANYMORE.
1630
01:19:08,066 --> 01:19:11,633
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
1631
01:19:11,633 --> 01:19:15,233
I STILL WANTED TO COMPETE,
YOU KNOW?
1632
01:19:15,233 --> 01:19:18,000
BUT IT WASN'T THE SAME.
1633
01:19:18,000 --> 01:19:19,700
IT REALLY WASN'T.
1634
01:19:22,400 --> 01:19:25,700
WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF THAT YEAR
1635
01:19:25,700 --> 01:19:27,700
WHEN HE WAS CALLED
"TRAGIC" JOHNSON,
1636
01:19:27,700 --> 01:19:31,033
'CAUSE ON THE BASKETBALL
COURT, THINGS DIDN'T
SHAKE DOWN PROPERLY,
1637
01:19:31,033 --> 01:19:35,033
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'M HEARING IGNORANCE,
1638
01:19:35,033 --> 01:19:37,367
HATRED,
1639
01:19:37,367 --> 01:19:39,233
VICIOUS, NASTY THINGS.
1640
01:19:39,233 --> 01:19:42,967
THERE WERE SOME
OF MY FORMER TEAMMATES
1641
01:19:42,967 --> 01:19:45,800
WHO HAD THEIR OWN
LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY
WERE TALKING ABOUT
1642
01:19:45,800 --> 01:19:47,934
AND WHY THIS HAPPENED
TO ME.
1643
01:19:47,934 --> 01:19:50,100
"YOU KNOW ANYBODY ELSE
THAT'S A HETEROSEXUAL
THAT GOT IT?
1644
01:19:50,100 --> 01:19:51,700
COME ON, MAN.
1645
01:19:51,700 --> 01:19:53,667
YOU'RE IN DENIAL."
1646
01:19:53,667 --> 01:19:57,500
I'VE BEEN CALLED GAY,
FAGGOT, EARVIN'S LOVER.
1647
01:19:57,500 --> 01:19:59,600
I'VE BEEN CALLED
ALL THAT SHIT.
1648
01:19:59,600 --> 01:20:02,667
LON ROSEN GOT A CALL
FROM ISAIAH THOMAS ASKING,
1649
01:20:02,667 --> 01:20:04,834
"YOU KNOW,
I KEEP HEARING MAGIC'S GAY."
1650
01:20:04,834 --> 01:20:07,667
AND LON SAID, "FOR CRYING
OUT LOUD, YOU KNOW BETTER
THAN ANYBODY HE ISN'T.
1651
01:20:07,667 --> 01:20:09,567
YOU'RE ONE OF HIS
BEST FRIENDS."
AND HE SAID,
1652
01:20:09,567 --> 01:20:11,567
"WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON
IN HOLLYWOOD."
1653
01:20:11,567 --> 01:20:14,734
AND THE FACT THAT ISAIAH
WAS QUESTIONING WHY
HE GOT THIS,
1654
01:20:14,734 --> 01:20:17,133
I THINK IT WAS REALLY
REALLY HURTFUL TO HIM.
1655
01:20:19,033 --> 01:20:21,400
HE USED TO SAY,
"I DON'T WANT PEOPLE
1656
01:20:21,400 --> 01:20:24,800
TO STOP SHAKING MY HAND
AND GIVING ME MY HUGS."
1657
01:20:27,000 --> 01:20:29,333
HE LOVES TO BE LOVED.
1658
01:20:29,333 --> 01:20:32,367
THAT'S WHAT BOTHERED
HIM THE MOST--
1659
01:20:32,367 --> 01:20:35,433
THAT PEOPLE WOULD CHANGE
1660
01:20:35,433 --> 01:20:37,567
IN RELATIONSHIP TO HIM.
1661
01:20:39,800 --> 01:20:42,500
HE WOULD SHOW UP AT THE LAKERS'
FACILITY TO WORK OUT
1662
01:20:42,500 --> 01:20:45,200
AND TO SHOOT SOME BASKETS.
AND HE'D TRY TO ENGAGE
HIS TEAMMATES,
1663
01:20:45,200 --> 01:20:47,700
AND SAY, "HEY, YOU WANNA
PLAY A LITTLE ONE-ON-ONE
BEFORE PRACTICE?"
1664
01:20:47,700 --> 01:20:50,000
"OH, JEEZ, NO, I CAN'T.
I GOTTA GO GET TAPED."
1665
01:20:50,000 --> 01:20:52,433
OR "OH, JEEZ,
I GOT WORK TO DO.
I GOTTA DO SOMETHING ELSE."
1666
01:20:54,000 --> 01:20:56,533
THE WORST THING
OF ALL OF THIS--
1667
01:20:56,533 --> 01:20:58,967
THAT I COULDN'T
PLAY BASKETBALL.
1668
01:20:58,967 --> 01:21:02,500
I DON'T EVEN THINK
DEALING WITH H.I.V.--
1669
01:21:02,500 --> 01:21:04,066
IT WAS I COULDN'T PLAY.
1670
01:21:04,066 --> 01:21:06,033
THE GAME,
1671
01:21:06,033 --> 01:21:08,433
THE SURROUNDINGS
WAS HIS WHOLE WORLD.
1672
01:21:08,433 --> 01:21:10,433
THAT'S HIS PERSONALITY.
1673
01:21:10,433 --> 01:21:13,133
WHEN YOU TAKE THAT AWAY,
1674
01:21:13,133 --> 01:21:15,100
YOU'RE HURTING HIM.
1675
01:21:15,100 --> 01:21:17,133
I KNEW HE WAS HURTING
IN A BIG WAY.
1676
01:21:17,133 --> 01:21:20,667
THE ONLY SEX IS SAFE SEX,
AND THAT'S NO SEX.
1677
01:21:20,667 --> 01:21:23,934
AS BASKETBALL
WENT ON WITHOUT HIM,
1678
01:21:23,934 --> 01:21:27,900
MAGIC PERFORMED ABLY
IN HIS NEW ROLE AS H.I.V.
EDUCATOR AND SPOKESMAN.
1679
01:21:29,767 --> 01:21:32,467
I'M GONNA HELP
IN EVERY WAY THAT I CAN.
1680
01:21:32,467 --> 01:21:34,734
BUT HE STILL PINED
FOR THE ARENA
1681
01:21:34,734 --> 01:21:36,600
WHICH HAD MADE HIM
A STAR.
1682
01:21:36,600 --> 01:21:38,100
SO WHEN HE WAS INVITED
TO PLAY
1683
01:21:38,100 --> 01:21:41,133
IN THE 1992
NBA ALL-STAR GAME...
1684
01:21:41,133 --> 01:21:44,467
Magic Johnson!
1685
01:21:44,467 --> 01:21:46,567
...HE'D JUMP
AT THE CHANCE,
1686
01:21:46,567 --> 01:21:49,700
PROMPTLY STEALING THE SHOW
AND WINNING MVP HONORS.
1687
01:21:51,500 --> 01:21:53,200
BUT THAT WAS
JUST A WARM-UP
1688
01:21:53,200 --> 01:21:56,500
FOR THE ENCORE
MAGIC HAD UP HIS SLEEVE.
1689
01:21:56,500 --> 01:21:59,800
HE'S NOT DONE YET.
WE'RE GONNA GO TO BARCELONA
AND BRING BACK THE GOLD
1690
01:21:59,800 --> 01:22:01,767
FOR EVERYONE HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
1691
01:22:01,767 --> 01:22:04,533
THANKS, LARRY.
1692
01:22:04,533 --> 01:22:07,934
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
NBA PLAYERS WOULD BE COMPETING
1693
01:22:07,934 --> 01:22:11,700
IN THE OLYMPICS, AND MAGIC,
ARMED WITH A MESSAGE,
1694
01:22:11,700 --> 01:22:13,667
WAS NOT ABOUT
TO MISS THE SHOW.
1695
01:22:13,667 --> 01:22:15,433
IT WAS TO PROVE
TO PEOPLE
1696
01:22:15,433 --> 01:22:19,500
THAT YOU WERE NOT
GONNA GET THE DISEASE
PLAYING AGAINST ME,
1697
01:22:19,500 --> 01:22:22,433
AND THEN ALSO FOR ME TOO,
PERSONALLY.
1698
01:22:22,433 --> 01:22:24,467
YOU KNOW,
IT WAS THERAPY.
1699
01:22:24,467 --> 01:22:25,967
IT WAS A WAY TO SAY,
1700
01:22:25,967 --> 01:22:29,600
"MAN, YOU GET TO DO
THIS ONE MORE TIME."
1701
01:22:29,600 --> 01:22:32,767
THERE WAS ALSO
ONE OTHER PERK.
1702
01:22:32,767 --> 01:22:35,633
I THINK PLAYING WITH LARRY
WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
1703
01:22:35,633 --> 01:22:38,800
THAT'S SOMETHING
THEY TALKED ABOUT. HE WAS
GONNA BE ON THE DREAM TEAM.
1704
01:22:38,800 --> 01:22:40,300
HE WAS GONNA BE
WITH MICHAEL, BARKLEY,
1705
01:22:40,300 --> 01:22:43,166
BUT HE WAS GONNA PLAY
WITH LARRY.
1706
01:22:43,166 --> 01:22:46,600
MAGIC KEPT SAYING TO HIM,
"I JUST WANNA GET YOU OUT
ON THAT COURT ONE MORE TIME.
1707
01:22:46,600 --> 01:22:48,600
LET'S JUST HAVE ONE MORE
SEQUENCE LIKE WE HAD
1708
01:22:48,600 --> 01:22:51,500
ALL THE WAY BACK
IN 1978."
1709
01:22:51,500 --> 01:22:55,033
BUT IT WAS INTERESTING
WITH MAGIC BEING THE ONE
THAT WAS H.I.V. POSITIVE,
1710
01:22:55,033 --> 01:22:57,600
HE FELT GREAT.
HE WAS IN THE BEST
SHAPE OF HIS LIFE.
1711
01:22:59,767 --> 01:23:01,800
HE HAD WORKED SO HARD
TO MAKE SURE HE DIDN'T GO THERE
1712
01:23:01,800 --> 01:23:04,433
AS A TOKEN PLAYER,
AND HERE WAS LARRY,
1713
01:23:04,433 --> 01:23:07,700
WHO COULDN'T EVEN PRACTICE.
WHO COULD BARELY MOVE.
1714
01:23:10,266 --> 01:23:12,266
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
1715
01:23:12,266 --> 01:23:14,400
WE WERE STILL TOGETHER.
1716
01:23:17,166 --> 01:23:18,433
YOU KNOW,
IT DIDN'T MATTER.
1717
01:23:34,667 --> 01:23:36,767
AND WHEN HE GOT
HIS OPPORTUNITIES,
1718
01:23:36,767 --> 01:23:38,500
HE SWISHED A FEW.
1719
01:23:38,500 --> 01:23:40,767
LARRY!
1720
01:23:42,767 --> 01:23:46,367
Larry Bird!
1721
01:23:46,367 --> 01:23:49,033
WHO'S TAKING THE LAST SHOT
WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE?
1722
01:23:49,033 --> 01:23:51,233
WHEN I GOT
MY OPPORTUNITY,
1723
01:23:51,233 --> 01:23:52,934
I STILL WAS MAGIC.
1724
01:23:55,800 --> 01:23:57,834
It's Magic!
1725
01:23:59,934 --> 01:24:02,867
14 YEARS AFTER THEY'D
FIRST CROSSED PATHS,
1726
01:24:02,867 --> 01:24:05,166
THE SMILING KID
FROM LANSING
1727
01:24:05,166 --> 01:24:06,934
AND THE SHY BOY
FROM FRENCH LICK
1728
01:24:06,934 --> 01:24:09,700
WERE HAPPILY BACK
TOGETHER IN BARCELONA.
1729
01:24:09,700 --> 01:24:12,000
BUT IT TOOK JUST
ONE GLANCE
1730
01:24:12,000 --> 01:24:15,033
OUTSIDE THEIR HOTEL'S
FRONT DOOR EACH MORNING
1731
01:24:15,033 --> 01:24:18,367
FOR THEM TO SEE THAT
AS FAR AS THEY HAD COME,
1732
01:24:18,367 --> 01:24:21,600
THEY WERE AS FAR APART
AS EVER.
1733
01:24:21,600 --> 01:24:24,166
THE ONLY WAY YOU WALK OUT THAT
DOOR IF YOU WANTED ATTENTION.
1734
01:24:24,166 --> 01:24:27,400
BUT I ASKED THIS GUY
I KNOW, "HOW CAN YOU
GET AROUND THIS?
1735
01:24:27,400 --> 01:24:29,300
THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY."
1736
01:24:29,300 --> 01:24:31,800
LO AND BEHOLD,
THERE WAS A SIDE DOOR.
1737
01:24:31,800 --> 01:24:34,700
YOU CAN GO
WHEREVER YOU WANT.
1738
01:24:34,700 --> 01:24:36,700
I WAS GONNA TELL HIM
ABOUT IT,
1739
01:24:36,700 --> 01:24:38,700
BUT SEEING THAT SMILE
ON HIS FACE
1740
01:24:38,700 --> 01:24:41,233
THE CLOSER HE GOT
TO THAT FRONT DOOR, COME ON.
1741
01:24:43,200 --> 01:24:45,467
HE DIDN'T WANT NO SIDE DOOR.
YOU KNOW EARVIN.
1742
01:24:49,200 --> 01:24:50,967
HE'D GO RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM.
1743
01:24:50,967 --> 01:24:54,200
TURN IT THE LONG WAY,
SWEETHEART. THERE YOU GO.
1744
01:24:54,200 --> 01:24:57,100
I'M GOING OUT THE FRONT
'CAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM.
1745
01:24:57,100 --> 01:24:59,166
I DON'T GO OUT THE BACK.
1746
01:24:59,166 --> 01:25:00,967
I DON'T GO OUT
THE SIDE.
1747
01:25:00,967 --> 01:25:02,467
THAT'S NOT ME.
1748
01:25:02,467 --> 01:25:05,166
IF YOU WANNA GO SOMEWHERE
IN A HURRY,
1749
01:25:05,166 --> 01:25:09,066
THERE'S A DOOR
THAT LEADS YOU THERE.
1750
01:25:09,066 --> 01:25:10,367
I FOUND IT.
1751
01:25:10,367 --> 01:25:11,867
I RESPECTED HIM FOR THAT.
1752
01:25:11,867 --> 01:25:15,967
AND SO, HELL, I WOULD TRY
TO FIND A SIDE DOOR FOR HIM.
1753
01:25:18,767 --> 01:25:22,333
AND WE NEVER TRIED
TO CHANGE EACH OTHER.
1754
01:25:22,333 --> 01:25:25,433
THAT'S WHAT MADE
THIS RELATIONSHIP GREAT.
1755
01:25:30,600 --> 01:25:33,767
ONE OF MY PET PEEVES
ALWAYS IS WHEN PEOPLE SAY,
"MICHAEL JORDAN SAVED THE NBA."
1756
01:25:33,767 --> 01:25:36,967
BULLSHIT!
BULLSHIT.
1757
01:25:36,967 --> 01:25:39,567
MAGIC AND LARRY
SAVED THE NBA.
1758
01:25:39,567 --> 01:25:41,867
THAT'S WHO SAVED
THE NBA--
1759
01:25:41,867 --> 01:25:43,800
MAGIC AND LARRY.
1760
01:25:43,800 --> 01:25:45,800
MAGIC AND LARRY.
1761
01:25:45,800 --> 01:25:47,834
BIRD AND MAGIC.
1762
01:25:47,834 --> 01:25:50,333
TO THE MILLIONS
WHO ONCE WATCHED THEM,
1763
01:25:50,333 --> 01:25:53,000
NOW MORE THAN EVER
THEY ARE INSEPARABLE,
1764
01:25:53,000 --> 01:25:55,133
A PAIR OF ATHLETES
THROWN TOGETHER
1765
01:25:55,133 --> 01:25:57,400
BY THE COSMOS
TO COMPETE;
1766
01:25:57,400 --> 01:26:00,066
A PAIR OF MEN
WHO DISCOVERED A BOND
1767
01:26:00,066 --> 01:26:02,633
IN THE MIDST
OF THAT COMPETITION.
1768
01:26:02,633 --> 01:26:06,133
DECADES REMOVED FROM
THE HEIGHT OF THEIR RIVALRY,
1769
01:26:06,133 --> 01:26:08,300
THEIR BOND ENDURES,
1770
01:26:08,300 --> 01:26:10,967
TWO IMPOSSIBLY
DIFFERENT MEN
1771
01:26:10,967 --> 01:26:14,166
WITH A CONNECTION
ONLY THEY CAN FULLY GRASP.
1772
01:26:14,166 --> 01:26:15,700
IT'S ALMOST LIKE
A PRIVATE LITTLE CLUB,
1773
01:26:15,700 --> 01:26:17,367
AND ONLY THE TWO OF THEM
ARE IN IT.
1774
01:26:17,367 --> 01:26:19,300
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
THEY NEED TO SHOW UP
1775
01:26:19,300 --> 01:26:21,300
TO HAVE A REUNION
AND PAY THEIR DUES
TO EACH OTHER,
1776
01:26:21,300 --> 01:26:23,400
BUT THEY DON'T NEED
THE DAY-TO-DAY CONTACT
THAT MOST FRIENDS NEED.
1777
01:26:23,400 --> 01:26:25,367
IT'S JUST NOT THAT KIND
OF RELATIONSHIP.
1778
01:26:25,367 --> 01:26:28,633
I ALWAYS GET THIS
GOOD FEELING WHEN I KNOW
I'M GONNA SEE HIM
1779
01:26:28,633 --> 01:26:32,066
BECAUSE HE MAKES
YOU FEEL GOOD.
1780
01:26:32,066 --> 01:26:33,734
HE REALLY DOES.
1781
01:26:33,734 --> 01:26:35,867
HE'S UNBELIEVABLE.
1782
01:26:35,867 --> 01:26:38,967
HE'S VERY PRIVATE,
BUT IF HE'S YOUR FRIEND,
1783
01:26:38,967 --> 01:26:42,767
MAN, YOU GOT A FRIEND
FOR LIFE.
1784
01:26:42,767 --> 01:26:45,867
AND LARRY BIRD
IS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER.
1785
01:26:45,867 --> 01:26:48,433
HE'LL TELL YOU
WHEN HE DON'T LIKE YOU.
1786
01:26:48,433 --> 01:26:50,433
THAT'S ONE THING
I WISH I COULD HAVE
1787
01:26:50,433 --> 01:26:53,000
THAT HE HAS
THAT I DON'T HAVE.
1788
01:26:53,000 --> 01:26:55,000
I WISH I HAD THAT.
1789
01:26:55,000 --> 01:26:57,400
IF HE WALKED IN HERE,
THIS WHOLE ROOM WOULD CHANGE.
1790
01:26:57,400 --> 01:27:00,066
AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE,
1791
01:27:00,066 --> 01:27:02,166
BUT I JUST COULDN'T.
1792
01:28:12,734 --> 01:28:15,000
THIS HAS BEEN
A PRESENTATION
1793
01:28:15,000 --> 01:28:17,533
OF "HBO SPORTS."
1793
01:28:18,305 --> 01:28:24,754
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