Magic Johnson and Larry Bird first became friends and rivals 42 years ago: A retrospective

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird first became friends and rivals 42 years ago: A retrospective.

When I was eight years old, on March 26, 1979, my uncle and my mom’s cousin traveled to the University of Utah’s Special Events Center (my alma school, woot!) to see the NCAA championship game between Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores and Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans.

Then, as a young devotee of NCAA basketball… How I wish I could have been there, you gentlemen, so caring. Well, anything. Scott, I’m glad you were and I wish you were still here. I miss you now, when it would have been wonderful to go back.

In any case, the rivalry between Bird and Magic began then, altered college basketball forever (think brackets, March Madness, etc.), preserved the NBA, and ultimately resulted in numerous thrilling Celtics-Lakers Finals. It also sparked a friendship, commercials, and even led to teammates on the 1992 Olympic team that won gold. And a Broadway play inspired by their careers, too.

These are a few excellent pictures from the years after 1979.