When The Game Was OursHarperCollins, 4 nov. 2009 - 369 pages The New York Times bestseller from Hall of Fame basketball legends Larry Bird and Earvin Magic Johnson. From the moment these two players took the court on opposing sides, they engaged in a fierce physical and psychological battle. Their uncommonly competitive relationship came to symbolize the most compelling rivalry in the NBA. In Celtic green was Larry Bird, the hick from French Lick, with laser-beam focus, relentless determination, and a deadly jump shot, a player who demanded excellence from everyone and whose caustic wit left opponents quaking in their high-tops. Magic Johnson was Mr. Showtime, a magnetic personality with all the right moves. Young, indomitable, he was a pied piper in purple and gold. And he burned with an inextinguishable desire to win. These were the basketball epics of the 1980s — Celtics vs Lakers, East vs West, physical vs finesse, Old School vs Showtime, even white vs black. Each pushed the other to greatness — together Bird and Johnson collected eight NBA Championships, six MVP awards and helped save the floundering NBA at its most critical time. When it started they were bitter rivals, but along the way they became lifelong friends. With intimate, fly-on-the-wall detail, When the Game Was Ours transports readers to this electric era of basketball and reveals for the first time the inner workings of two players dead set on besting one another. From the heady days of trading championships to the darker days of injury and illness, we come to understand Larry’s obsessive devotion to winning and how his demons drove him on the court. We hear him talk with candor about playing through chronic pain and its truly exacting toll. In Magic we see a young, invincible star struggle with the sting of defeat, not just as a player but as a team leader. We are there the moment he learns he’s contracted HIV and hear in his own words how that devastating news impacted his relationships in basketball and beyond. But always, in both cases, we see them prevail. A compelling, up-close-and-personal portrait of basketball’s most inimitable duo, When the Game Was Ours is a reevaluation of three decades in counterpoint. It is also a rollicking ride through professional basketball’s best times. |
Table des matières
1 | |
2 | 27 |
3 | 60 |
4 | 91 |
5 | 112 |
Photo Insert 1 | 144 |
6 | 145 |
7 | 169 |
9 | 226 |
10 | 255 |
11 | 281 |
12 | 296 |
Larry Bird | 325 |
Earvin Magic Johnson Jr | 328 |
Acknowledgments | 331 |
Index | 332 |
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Expressions et termes fréquents
Abdul-Jabbar Ainge All-Star Angeles Artest asked assists athletes Auerbach ball basket basketball beat bench Bird and Magic Bird’s Boston Boston Garden Buss Byron Scott C’mon called career Carr Celtics championship coach Cookie Cooper court Dennis Johnson didn’t Dream Team Earvin Johnson fans felt Finals floor forward franchise free throws Gavitt going grabbed guys Hall Heathcote Indiana Isiah Isiah Thomas Jerry Jerry Buss Jerry West Jordan jumper K. C. Jones Kareem Kelser kids knew Lakers Larry Bird Larry’s league locker room looked Magic and Larry Magic Johnson Maxwell McHale Michael Michigan minutes NCAA never Nicks night Olympic Pacers Parish Pat Riley Pistons play players playoffs point guard Rambis rebounds Riley rookie Rosen scored season shooting shot Spartans star State’s Stern talk team’s teammates There’s thing told tournament walked Walton wanted watching West young