You look at these 2 men Larry & Magic, you don't see a rivalry or color. Instead you see to real friends with a great amount of respect for each other. God we need more of this in the world today. Thank you Magic & thank you Larry legend.
2:40 My favorite part. When Larry's mom gives Magic a "son" hug, that speaks volumes about what kind of family values they had. And she raised their family after Larry's dad died. Classy woman, Mrs. Bird.
It's almost like they practiced this conversation. Their responses are golden and the amount of respect for each other as men and human beings is amazing.
@@bmd1825 Right? When you get past the color of one's skin, you can learn a lot about their character. These two are self-confident enough to NOT buy into the racial thing and judge people by their actions and character instead. I try to do that every day.
The true test of their relationship was when Magic convinced Larry to play on the Olympic team, letting him know that he wanted to share that experience with him. Larry’s back was a major issue but Magic told him do it for me and I’ll take care of you meaning he only played when necessary and Magic made sure Larry was on the team. He did it out of respect and love for Larry
Yeah, also be banned Isiah Thomas from that team, because he hated him, until a few years ago that they reconciled on TV, and Isaiah Thomas cried all over it.
I am a die hard Lakers fan, and the greatest compliment I can pay Larry is that I hated his guts when he played, because I know how good he was. I have nothing but respect for him.
Yep. That was what I called in my 20s hate...it was not until my 40s I reflected back and said "Bird was Baddass (Celtic team basketball too)"...and Thank You - You Tube. Larry brought the Shit (Best).
Google should ban spam accounts like this one above. No one here is interested in crap sports like soccer (I'm Spanish and know what I'm talking about). That's why we love classic NBA games.
I agree totally always said those two were the two who brought the NBA back to life. I don't care what anybody say the best basketball era of all-time way better than this garbage that we watch today.
@@degbry when two people are tied together as Magic and Bird are for everything they did for the NBA that's what makes them the GOATS and Jordan do nearly as much shitt for the NBA as they did
Obvious lie because of what Larry said about beating the Lakers, Larry was mad for the rest of the interview because Magic wouldn't tolerate the same thing from him
@@hugh1297 I believe Georgia Bird could said that, but as a courtesy statement. Magic was among her favorite players, but actually #1 and #2 were Isiah Thomas and... believe it or not... Bill Laimbeer (!).
@M Clearly, you don't get out often. But for a basketball interview, your post shows an incredible fear that what you're saying isn't true at all. For why bother to make such a post if its as true as you say. For sure, soccer is in the decline the world over and for many good reasons starting with the organizing body, FIFA, which is all about getting a nice payoff from whichever country holds the next world cup. I mean, who holds the cup in Qatar in the middle of Summer? That's the beginning of the end.
Yes, and unfortunately, you don't see that anymore. Now, instead of competing, they just join each other on a "super team". It really is a reflection on our society. It's no longer about individuality, all that matters now is "rings". Championships were a byproduct of competition, now they are the only measure of a team, of players, and of fans. You're not great unless you have a ring. Sorry Dan Marino, Trent Dilfer is the better QB. Sorry Charles Barkley, your career was a failure.
I have always love Larry's ' dry humor ' since he's retired and open up the funny side of him...His delivery and timing is great, especially if you don't know it's coming..He would sound like he's serious then he'd throw in a funny liners here and there.. And Magic seems the same...Magic always have a sunny disposition about him, and I love how he tells or share stories...So fun to listen to them both..Two great legends that have become fast friends..Btw, I have watched them since their days in college..
As a born LA Laker fan, I used to take Magic and the team for granted. But years later I watched some highlights of Magic, and realized just how much 'magic' there was in his talent. As for Bird, ever since I was a kid there was something important about a Lakers/Celtics game. Maybe because the Celts were always a threat. So same for Bird....I admit I was in serious denial of his talent for years.
Magic is my all time favorite player. I used to hate Larry because he was so damn good. (Maybe even better than Magic) When Magic showed nothing but respect for Larry, I couldn't hate the guy anymore and I started to appreciate his greatness. Magic is still my all time favorite BUT I think Larry is the greatest of all time.
You used the perfect word: Megastar. Larry is my favorite player ever. And Magic is my all-time 'hated him, respected him' player. He's the only player in any sport that made me, literally, cry. When he hit that swooping hook shot coming across the lane to ice the Finals against the Celtics, I freeking just broke down and cried. That was no gut-punch, it was soul shattering.
What an evolution of 2 HOF friendships.From rivalries growing up on the court to 2 guys who really care about one another. A perfect match and exactly what the NBA needed.
It's almost like they practiced this conversation. Their responses are golden and the amount of respect for each other as men and human beings is amazing.
I think it's an indicator of the nature of their relationship. There's no bullshit. Whatever they say can be said without fear of contradicting something in the past because of the honesty between them.
Dave is as good an interviewer as I remember. Well read, gracious, provocatively humorous and warm. He really made them drop their guard. Young people ,understandably, have a hard time understanding how much impact Johnson and Bird had on the game and pro sports as a whole. Their level of determination, unselfish play, and competitiveness brought great things to all involved.
What was funny to me was when 'Magic' SAID that Larry's Mom told him that 'Magic' was her favorite player-!!! LoL. Then, Larry talked about how they got cheated in the Playoffs-!!! LMAO-!!!!!!! Ya know, people talked about how Larry would 'talk trash' on the Court (sometimes), But- he could DEFINITELY 'Back it up' and being as PHENOMINAL as he was during his 'Hey-Day'; I think he is a very modest and humble person... Larry, will ALWAYS be my favorite Basketball Player of ALL TIMES-!!! J/S 🙂😁👍✌
You are saying Magic can't shoot as great as Bird? If you really new anything about the two, their shooting stats were about the same. There is no way in hell Bird could guard Magic. Wouldn't be able to stop him not once. Magic chose not to take to many shots because, he had a better offensive team. Bird had to do a lot more because, he had lesser offense than Lakers. Best center of all times and the best point guard of all times, Celtics got lucky to win 3 titles. Should have only been two. Lakers beat themselves and it really looked liked the Lakers lost that game on purpose. Since when did Magic start fumbling a basketball? It was rigged. The following year the Lakers beat the Celtics easily in 5 games. What changed? That time it wasn't rigged. The Celtics were great. But if anyone thinks they were as good as the Lakers, you're crazy. They had no answer for Magic, Kareem or Worthy. Magic is the greatest player ever and not Jordan. Every expert knows it.
I lived just a bit outside of Boston all through the 80's and got to see these guys play live. It was amazing basketball and I think it was a special time that won't ever be repeated. What makes it so great was yeah, you have MJ, Kobe, Lebron or whoever but none of them had what these two guys had, the rivalry. Whether you were a Magic fan or a Larry fan, you had the other as your nemesis. Like Magic said, the thorn in each other's side. They truly did resurrect basketball and saved a dying sport.
Your last sentence is SO TRUE. People who grew up watching Kobe, LeBron, etc. have no idea. Without Magic and Bird, Jordan would not have had the success he did. As great as Magic and Bird were individually, it was the RIVALRY - and what a rivalry - that saved the NBA.
I grew up in Terre Haute when Bird was at ISU. I was a big fan of his. My mother did some alterations on clothes that he bought at the store where she worked. When he went to the NBA everyone in Haute became Celtic fans. Being an obstinate teenager I started rooting for Magic and the Lakers just to be different than everyone around me. When I got into my 20's I just started appreciating the great basketball that both of them played. Man, what a great time to be a hoops fan. Especially in Indiana. IU was rolling in college. NBA you had Bird, Magic, then Hakeem, Jordan, Isiah came along... awesome memories. Wish I could go back and experience it all again. Damn, I miss my teens and twenties!
I am so thankful I lived to see these tremendous men play. I lived in Boston and watched in awe at Larry at the old Garden even when he could barely walk. Can't imagine how it would have been for him if he wasn't injured.....
you think these two guys cared about the color of the other one's skin? they look at the heart of man...when magic was told about his HIV virus...it broke bird down...but, they are forever friends...and, that is too cool!
That's subjective..... look at where the NBA was in 1976..... then look what Julius Erving did to revitalize the Association when he entered. Bird and Magic were great for the game because of their rivalry and who they played for....but DOC single handedly saved the NBA when it was at an all time low for TV ratings and attendance when he went from the Nets in the ABA, to the 76ers in the NBA.
GREAT INTERVIEW 😉😃😁😎 I enjoyed hearing Magic & Bird talking FRANKLY and COMPLIMENTARY about each other and to know they are GOOD FRIENDS and do things TOGETHER. 😄😃😎😁
Thank you for posting this interview. I think it was Lettermen's best interview ever. Of course I am biased as Bird and Magic are my favorite players because of their team first approach to the game. Love the respect for each other, just great chemistry and it comes from the heart.
What is less widely known was that Portland had beaten the Celtics in the Boston Garden in their last meeting. The left-handed stunt was so he wouldn't have to answer questions regarding their only home loss at that point in the season and to show the Blazers he still considered his team to be the better of the two.
The league could go on a thousand more years, and I can guarantee that there will never, never ever be a rivalry/friendship like the one between these two.
Lance LaBauve.... it’s not the same, because these two started in college.... in the ncaa finals.... both the same age coming in together. Co-rookies of the year. It was a perfect storm of greatness! They got the league popular... a few years later Jordan took over and took it to outer space in popularity. The 80’s especially had SOOO MANY great players! The league got really competitive!
That and they don't get enough credit for SAVING pro basketball and growing college basketball. The second they got to their teams they made everyone else on the(ir) team better.
Larry, Thanks for all of those Funny stories but more importantly listening to those interviews on your opponents speak so highly of You. You are The Best ever & I Love You. Thanks for The Memories. What a Guy.
Being from Brazil living in L A during the 80 `s and no soccer to watch , became a Basketball fanatic . Sure pick The Lakers as my team , often went to see them at The Forum . Magic , Kareem , N Nixon , Jamaal Wilkens , M Cooper , Worthy great bunch of players . Anyway was fortunate enough to see Lakers playing The Celtics few times , hated Larry because he was so damn good . Now even back than had Bird as one of my favorite player .
💯...He was the biggest shit talker, too, but backed every bit of it up. What kind of monster plays an entire game, with the opposite hand, just bc he wants too!!??? #LarryLegend
Arael4, he FEARED! no one because in his documentary he talked about how he and his brothers would have to fight and I think he said his brothers made him fight and if he didnt win when ge got home.he had problems with his dad. Also, in 6th grade he went to play with older black kids or men and I'm sure they also told him not to take stuff off of nobody!! Although I hated him back in the day I did recognize that Larry Bird was/and still is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Also Magic is one of the greatest to ever play the game. LeBron James has the same style of play as magic. Both of them do UNBELIEVABLE UNEXPLAINED, INCREDIBLE passes!! I'm still amazed and can't figure out how they do it. Those passes are PREEEEEEETY AND PRECISE! OH. MY. GOOOOOODNESS.
Magic mentioned that when he came into the league the games were taped delayed. I still remember having to wait until 11:30 p.m. to watch the tape delayed playoff games in 1980 and '81. It wasn't until 82 or 83 that they started to show the games live on weeknights.
"If I had to pick a player to make the shot and win the game, I'd pick Michael Jordan. If I had to pick a player to make the shot and save my life, I'd pick Larry Bird." --- Pat Riley
These guys were incredible players. I met Magic once in Windsor when he was still with Michigan and he was the greatest guy. And Bird? Amazing. He constantly performed magic. Fantastic talent that only comes with hard work and dedication.
So you are critical of a person who wishes death on you because you say he never met you, yet you doubt the other guy's sense of humor because you never met him?? That makes sense--NOT!
Magic became a successful businessman after basketball, but struggled to find success within basketball as a coach & executive. Bird became a coach & reached the Finals & was a good executive for the Pacers.
They were together on the gold medal-winning 1992 USA Olympic basketball team, which included Michael Jordan, the GOAT. It doesn't get much greater than the original "The Dream Team".
