When the Game Was Ours

By: Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jackie MacMullan, Larry Bird

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 13 hrs

Publisher's summary

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. 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, and 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 listeners 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 and a rollicking ride through professional basketball's best times.

©2009 Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Very intriguing

As a child of the '80s and '90s I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the "story behind the story" of these two legends and the teams they played for.

Took me back to my youth

Missing basketball with the league shit down this was my answer. Great story about two of the greatest. It transported me to a great time in my life. I was lucky to be growing up when these two were on top.

Good but could have been a classic

Was such a wonderful piece of sports history. My only issue was it wasn’t done chronologically at times. Besides that, if you love sports history you’re going to love this book!

BIRD AND MAGIC

Wow, not just a sports book but a testament to friendship built through competition. What a great story about men who led by example. Highly recommended!

Great Book

Went down the rabbit hole on YouTube with the Larry Bird trash talking videos and this kid was talking about this book.

I immediately looked it up and saw that both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were involved with it, it wasn't just some writer writing about them so I had to pick it up.

I couldn't put it down. Every time I had a free moment I would put my headphones on and listen.

They had me googling images, games, interviews... almost anything, lol.

A book I'll definitely listen to again sooner than later.

the Best Book Ever

This is the best book You
can find about
these legends who
changed the game
of basketball in
the 80's, the Best
era of NBA

Wonderful Read

Any additional comments?

I was a bit skeptical as we pay our money and then find the author doesn't even KNOW the subjects, but this was a really excellent read no matter what the case. So many things we'd never know behind the scenes as to what these guys were thinking. I'm a big time Bird fan and not much about Magic that seemed so dedicated to woman, partying and fame it seemed to me. I never doubted his ability, but now I have a greater understanding of him as a person and I do really like him and have so much more respect for his talent, work ethic and how he played the game.Bird could have been a nicer guy to everyone along the way but that's what happens when your dad kills himself I guess. He was tough to get along with for sure.
These two guys are once in a lifetime players that other hot shots in the N.B.A. should be grateful for but I suspect they aren't. None the less.....a really good read that I listened to twice already I find it so good.I honestly wished it had been twice as long.

Excellent. Very exciting. Great sports history

A terrific history of two of the greatest athletes of all time, and how their fierce rivalry blossomed into a deep friendship.

Great story; stilted delivery

If you could sum up When the Game Was Ours in three words, what would they be?

Larry and Magic

What was one of the most memorable moments of When the Game Was Ours?

Learning how continually connected these two greats were (and still are).

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dick Hill?

Someone who had the ability to speak naturally - Hill seemed overly intent on enunciating ev-er-y syll-a-ble, which is painful to listen to. In addition, he sounds so clunky reading the quotes from Larry that I could barely take it seriously. Finally, it seemed like he was unaware what basketball was.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Nope

Fantastic material. Listen at at least 1.5x

This was exactly the content and storytelling I was hoping for in the NBA's most storied rivalry. I loved every second. listen to it at at least 1.5x though as the narrator is a little drawl.