Just to point out...this is BOSTON GARDEN giving MAGIC JOHNSON a 3-minute standing ovation/love-fest. And at Magic's retirement ceremony at the Forum, the crowd there did the same for Larry. To see the fans demonstrate that much class and love to the leader of the most hated, reviled competition that was out there at the time is a level of respect and appreciation that I don't think we'll ever see again in professional sports from the fans.
Absolutely. This was NBA basketball at its zenith. Now these clowns try to team up to take shortcuts to championships. Can you imagine these 2 guys in their prime in this soft, cupcake league now?
Yeah I'm 3 years late but you guys should watch Dirk's last game in San Antonio and the video they made for him. Obviously not the same type of rivalry but the fact it was the spurs doing it for Dirk in San Antonio was special
In 1974 Larry Bird was my P.E assistant when I was in the 8th grade and he was a senior at Springs Valley High School. At the beginning of each P.E. class we always ran 10 warmup laps around the gym. One day, a trampoline was set up on the basketball court and there was Larry Bird bouncing on it. As the whistle blew and we reluctantly lined up to run our laps, our teacher (who was also Larry's basketball coach) blew his whistle, and said "Larry is going to take 10 shots while jumping on the trampoline. If Larry makes any shots, each one made will delete a lap that you must run." Coach threw the ball to Larry and right there in front of me and the entire boys Jr. High P.E. class, Larry proceeded to hit 7 out of 10 shots while bouncing up and down on the trampoline, 40 feet away from the goal. Larry set an incredible example for me as a young boy in French Lick, Indiana that helped me through my entire adult career. If you are willing to work very hard and never give up, your dreams can and will come true. Thank you Larry.
Wow!! A Laker getting a standing ovation in Boston!! When this rivalry was going on, I hated Bird, McHale, Parrish, etc. But now that it's over, I have nothing but respect for them. Great players, great team.
Larry Legend and Magic made me love basketball 2🐐🐐 I feel bad for today's fans because the excitement and the feeling back when both of these 2 🐐🐐played they will never know that feeling these 2men are very special people and I want to Thank Larry Legend and Magic for giving us the time of our lives,life was real good back then Thank you Larry Legend and Magic 2 🐐🐐👍☘️ 33🏀💙🐐👍☘️32🐐💙🏀👍☘️
Larry one of my alltime favs. But being great a b-ball didnt necessarily mean he was a great person off the court. Do a little digging. Youll see what i mean.
Lukas Tanner he who is without sin cast the first stone. When you’re perfect then come back to us. We ALL have skeletons in our closet. Take the plank out of your own eye before you try to remove someone else’s.
A rivalry fueled not out of hate but respect and competitiveness. Two of the greatest to ever play the game. As a Celtics fan I loathed the Lakers and Magic. At the same time I knew how great Magic was.
When magic hit the running baby hook to win 87 finals game 4 in Boston, Bird was desolate in the locker room. He said that Magic is just so damn good. Ultimate respect.
Bird and Magic became friends while making a Converse sneaker commercial in 1984. During that time, they realized that they had so much in common....cut from the same mold! What a great moment! To go from rivals to great friends is a beautiful and amazing thing. The world needs more of this! These 2 changed the NBA!
Larry was the 1 that called Magic when he was diagnosed HiV. All class respect friends just do that. Scary unknown but Larry didnt care that was his friend, 1st to rally .
I was a freshman at Marist College in Poughkeepsie NY in 1979.I was watching the championship game Michigan state vs Indiana State on a TV in the train station .I got so caught up in the game that I missed my train go in back to school.
When Legend holds out his hand to Magic and you can see all the misshapen bones in his hands from all the broken fingers over the years... this is why we say, “Legend.”
The 1980's Showtime Los Angeles Lakers, 1980's Boston Celtics, and the 1990's Chicago Bulls, are the three best teams ever to take the hardwood. Let me say that again 3 best teams ever.
David Ribeiro lol... I was thinking the same thing, but remember he said he took the "all nighter" to get there on time.. I give him credit for just remembering to pack the warm-up suit.. lol
This moment is gold, it’s magnificent and unbelievable. Tow men reached the peak of humanity together and receiving this amount of love and respect by the fans, no wonder people including me got tears in their eyes. Also i want to point out the music was legendary. Good times.
Why the hell would they cut away to the crowd right when Bird and Magic meet on stage? I mean, wait three seconds to let us see the two embrace before cutting away. Not like you're going to miss the crowd cheering.
So eloquently put! Love em both! However! There only a few players who would give back to their Sport & play for the Love of their Sport for nothing! Magic is One, Another would be Jimmy Connors in Tennis
I've been a Lakers fan since 1985, but I love hearing Johnny Most's commentary. He and Chick are among the greatest commentators in all of sports history.
Una gran rivalidad deportiva, pero un gran tespeto mutuo, se podían destrozar en la Duela pero son grandes amigos, yo digo hermanos. La época donde creció a nivel mundial La NBA Gracias a estos 2 grandes seres humanos. Me gustaría saber algo de LARRY BIRD en la ACTUALIDAD. Saludos cordiales.
Jordan never had a peer like Magic vs. Bird. That's why it's unfair to crown Jordan as the best. If there was no Bird, how many championships would Magic win? If there was no Magic, how many more championships would Bird have won? Think about that.
MJ could never join the 50 40 90 club he couldn't win 3 straight MVPs he didn't know what trash talking was until he ran into Bird and also Jordan had a losing record against Bird in the regular season and a goose egg in the W column in the playoffs
@@JET1970 Larry Bird never won a scoring title, never won dpoty, never won 3 straight Finals mvps etc. When Larry Bird and the Celtics were beating Jordan he was young and didn't even have close to the team Larry Bird had. Jordan in 86 was in his 2nd year playing against 5 HOF 😆
Whatever number in the top 10, in history, you put these 2, they need to be A and B. You couldn't have one without the other. Larry wouldn't have been as good and Magic, likewise. These 2 were the reasons for standing room only crowds. Each lifted their team to levels that they never knew they could get to. There will never be a rivalry anywhere close to this. It's great to see the love and respect they share for each other.
I was watching all the games during this era, loved Larry, now I respect magic so, so much. This really brings tears to my eyes. The people who saw this in person and watched the teams play are really blessed. I live in n.c. And would have to travel a long way to see any team play, I hate I missed it!!!
Has anyone else even seen any retirement ceremonies like Larry and Magics? For two ICONS of basketball to be there for each other shows it was more than just basketball to these two great men.
Living in LA I hated Larry Bird, He never missed! he never missed, he never missed. Man i hated this guy Now l see , I’m a Hugh fan of Larry Bird. What a great BB player he was……
People who understand the relationship between Larry and Magic both on and off the court also understand what it took for a "die-hard Laker forever" like Magic to put them on that Celtics t-shirt. They had the greatest player vs player rivalry in sports history and the respect they have for each other is one of those special things that makes sports what it is.
My two favorite basketball players of all time, but my favorite team is the Lakers! LA native and proud fan, but I always had the hate and respect for the Boston Celtics!
Hace tanto tiempo de esta ceremonia pero cada vez que la veo es la repera que ovación a Magic así tenía que ser todas las rivalidades TREMENDA CEREMONIA
