Review
------
"MAGICBIRD, BIRDMAGIC really should be the titled "When the Game
was Mine" because that is how they went after each other on the
court. In When the Game Was Ours you will enjoy an exhilarating
ride down one of the most competitive rivalries ever."
--Pat Riley
"Finally--a book that tells the story of Magic and Larry from
their vantage point. When the Game Was Ours took me inside their
fascinating rivalry with new ins and revealing details about
two men who evolved from bitter competitors into lifelong
friends."
--Denzel Washington
"At long last the great book on Bird and Magic--their own
account, told from behind the scenes, inside huddles,
confidential phone conversations, backseats of cars, and most
importantly, from their inner hearts. Their book is alive with
truth--it's a story of brilliance, brilliantly told with the help
of prize-winning writer Jackie MacMullan."
--Sally Jenkins, author of The Real All Americans, Funny Cide,
and It's Not About the Bike with Lance Armstrong
"When The Game Was Ours is the ultimate insiders' account of the
rivalry, the friendship, the tension and the bond between Bird
and Magic that launched the modern NBA. A real treat for all
hoops fans."
--Tom Verducci, author with Joe Torre of the #1 New York Times
bestseller, The Yankee Years
"You know that game where you pick a certain number of characters
for your favorite dinner party of all time? (The one where you
picked Gandhi, Babe Ruth, Li'l Wayne and, who was it, Jenna
Jameson?) I just spent a couple of nights with Larry Bird and
Magic Johnson in the lyrical When The Game Was Ours and they
should be in the mix. They're funny, frank, anecdotal and just
plain interesting. This book is terrific."
--Leigh Montville, bestselling author of Ted Williams and The Big
Bam
"Unprecedented in and commentary from the stars themselves
on their unique relationship, a compelling mixture of bitter
rivalry and mutual admiration... Offers a captivating look at the
NBA's greatest era." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Highly entertaining . . . A thrill-packed, lively and moving
dual memoir." -- Shelf Awareness
"A terrific read." -- Sports Illustrated
"Spectacular." -- Dan Shaughnessy, The Boston Globe
"An unbelievable read." -- Improper Bostonian
"You have to read this book!" -- Conan O'Brien
"A must-have for any basketball fan." -- Jimmy Kimmel
"A winner...Deftly explores the relationship between the former
NBA superstars that started at arm's length [and] became a
lasting friendship." -- USA Today
"Greatness commands our attention . . . uplifting . . . If ever
there was a two-man Dream Team, they were it." -- New York Times
Book Review
"In MacMullan's capable hands, the tale is re-energized . . . a
wonderful waltz down memory lane . . . A compelling and enjoyable
read, every bit as entertaining as watching Magic and Bird
battling on the parquet." - Boston Globe
"Fascinating . . .The former Boston Globe reporter and columnist
masterfully weav[es] the recollections of the two protagonists
with those of dozens of observers . . .The book is at its most
powerful when it hews close to its premise: the evolution of
perhaps sports' greatest rivalry . . . The game of basketball has
never been better than when it was theirs." -- Washington Post
About the Author
----------------
Larry Bird, in his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics,
cled 3 NBA titles, 3 MVP awards, and was elected to the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1992, as
part of the "Dream Team" he brought home an Olympic gold medal.
He served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000.
In 2003, he assumed the role of president of basketball
operations for the Pacers, which he currently still holds.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr., in his 13 seasons with the Los
Angeles Lakers, cled 5 NBA titles, 3 MVP awards and was
elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2002. He also won an
Olympic gold medal as part of the 1992 "Dream Team." Currently,
he is the Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises and Vice
President and part owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jackie MacMullan is a nationally recognized sports columnist, who
spent three decades at the Boston Globe and covered the NBA for
Sports Illustrated in the late 1990s. She is a frequent
correspondent for ESPN, CNNSI and local Boston television
networks. She is also a regular contestant (and the only female
one) on ESPN's Around the Horn.