Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

Kick ass. If you get a chance to watch the latest HBO documentary which follows the careers and rivalry/friendship between Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, czech it out. For me it was great because I was a little too young to really appreciate the Bird and Magic rivalry. My first clear memory of Bird was the great stroke but the terrible back. I remember Magic was awesome but played for the bad guys, and the HIV announcement just lead to awkward conversations with my parents.

The main focus, though, is the unique relationship between Bird/Magic and their common obsession with each other following the 1979 NCAA National Championship in which Magic defeated Bird. The program then journeys through their careers, the evolution of their relationship, and their importance to the NBA at a time when the league was hemorrhaging money and suffering from an identity crisis predicated mostly on racial issues. The NBA needed a kick and Bird and Magic essentially saved the league from becoming slamball on Spike TV.

Take a gander on HBO On Demand or if you don't have it, go to your friend's house and watch.