winning time: the rise of the lakers dynasty. hbo in march.

[oSuJeff97 3435]

INNNNNNN

Can't wait for this.

[atomheartbevo 89738]

On 7/24/2023 at 10:50 AM, oSuJeff97 said:

INNNNNNN

Can't wait for this.

First couple of minutes of S2 were awesome.   Also, HBO spending the money on music licensing,

And holy shit he looks like Pat Riley.

Edited August 7, 2023 by atomheartbevo

[oSuJeff97 3435]

Yeah very strong start... and the flash-forward to 1984 was great. Yeah Brody looks exactly like Riley.

[atomheartbevo 89738]

"I'm just gonna hold the camel's tail while you fuck it in the ass."

I need to work that into some conversations.

[WBT 20635]

Still such a fun show.  I loved the Bird scene at the end.

 

https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/03/09/magic-johnson-and-now-for-my-reappearing-act

Spoiler

AND NOW FOR MY REAPPEARING ACT

MAGIC JOHNSON HAS RETURNED TO THE LAKERS AFTER A KNEE INJURY CAUSED HIM TO VANISH FOR 100 DAYS.

JOHN PAPANEK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

For Earvin (Magic) Johnson the One Hundred Days of Solitude were over. The long period of frustration and uselessness—the only such time in the 21 years of his blessed life—ended last Friday night. Johnson trotted onto the court at Los Angeles' sold-out Forum and brought 17,505 Laker fans to their feet. They remained standing and roaring, as it turned out, for 45 seconds, one second for each of the games Johnson had missed since he tore cartilage on the inside of his left knee on Nov. 18.

Johnson waved nervously to the crowd, then broke into that grin—the one that belongs in the Guinness Book of World Records for size and luminescence—and, as the noise grew, he spread his arms, palms up, as if to say, "Why are you people treating me this way? I'm just a basketball player and this is just another game. Against the New Jersey Nets, yet."

His teammates, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, six times the NBA's Most Valuable Player, joined in the ovation, and Laker Coach Paul Westhead seemed to be choking back tears. What was going on here? Just one more magical moment in the phenomenal career of Magic Johnson.

Just as injury is an inevitable adjunct to sport, so is the clichèd comeback. But there are comebacks and there are comebacks. Mickey Mantle folded his leg over his knee backward and came back. Rocky Bleier nearly had his foot blown away by a grenade and came back. Tommy John had his pitching arm reconstructed and came back. All Magic Johnson did was have a small piece of cartilage removed from his knee—a relatively minor procedure as knee operations go—and he is only 21 years old, for heaven's sake.

But the severity of the injury wasn't The Forum crowd's yardstick; it was responding to the persona of Johnson, the man-child who has never failed to live up to his nickname. Last year, his rookie season, he received most of the credit for nudging Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers to the NBA championship. The year before that, as a sophomore at Michigan State, he led the Spartans to the NCAA championship, and in 1977 he led Lansing's Everett High to the Class A Michigan high school championship. He is a great basketball player and has never been anything but a winner, but beyond that he is as appealing as any public figure, perhaps more so.

He's just one guy. He's special—he has great instincts and ability—but we're a team.

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

"I do think about that," says Johnson with a puckish grin. "And...I don't know. I guess I've been blessed. The strength comes from my father, the smile comes from my mother and...well, I just don't know why it's me. It just is. But it was always me, long before I got all this stardom...I mean, attention. I've always had it, and this goes all the way back to the first grade. Ask anybody in Lansing. They all know me."

ORIGINAL LAYOUT

Thus the injury, which occurred when Atlanta's 7'2½" Tom Burleson fell across the back of Magic's knee on Nov. 11 but wasn't discovered until a week later, during a game with Kansas City, had a devastating effect on Johnson and the team. At the time the Lakers were 15-5. Johnson was averaging 21.4 points (up from his rookie average of 18.0), leading the NBA in steals and assists and out-rebounding all guards with 8.2 per game. Without Magic, the Lakers lost five of their next eight games. But without the Lakers, Magic lost much of his spirit. For the first time he had no team to be part of. He had come face to face with his own athletic mortality.

"It made me see that, just as fast as you can rise to the top, you can come tumbling down," he said last week. "First they take your ball away. That's bad. And then, not being around the guys, that really hurts. I mean, you're alone now, you see. That's my life, being around the fellas, talking jive, singing on the bus, that's the whole thing. All of a sudden that's all taken away. I don't think missing the ball was that important. Missing the fellas was badder than missing the ball."

Westhead, the scholarly 42-year-old coach, knew he had to keep the Lakers from nose-diving, but he also saw Johnson's injury as an opportunity for a little academic study. "I had seriously wondered if Magic was human," he says. "I doubted that he was. The day before his surgery I thought, 'Gee, this guy's going to have surgery just like the rest of us.' The operation was at 8 a.m. on a Monday [Nov. 24], and I wanted to visit him. I didn't want to go too early because he would still be doped up. I figured I'd go around six o'clock and find out what this guy was really like. So I went to the room and the door was closed and I thought, 'Aha! A sign! He's crying and moaning.' I pushed the door open and peeked in and there was Magic propped up in the bed with a Dodger cap on backward, a piece of apple pie shoved up under his face, watching a football game, yelling at his father and a bunch of friends playing cards to keep the noise down. I couldn't believe it. I walked away that night thinking, 'What does this guy have that no one I've ever known has?' I guess he's human, but it's only a guess."

Even before the cast on his knee was removed, Johnson was already working indefatigably on his rehabilitation. He went home to Lansing over Thanksgiving and made two other trips there while away from the team. After their initial slump, the Lakers won five in a row, again lost five of eight, then went 17-7, ending up 28-17 for the 45 games they played without Magic. But it seemed that waiting for Magic was more important to the fans and the press than what the Lakers were doing without him, even though the Lakers had stayed close to Phoenix in second place in the Pacific Division.

"He's just one guy," Abdul-Jabbar would say. "He's special—he has great instincts and ability—but we're a team." Other Lakers said that the team could indeed win without Magic; it was Abdul-Jabbar they could never afford to lose.

Nonetheless, without their spiritual leader, the Lakers just weren't the same outfit. Without Magic, they could probably forget about becoming the first NBA team in 12 years to win back-to-back titles.

Even though he was still three weeks away from playing form. Johnson rejoined the team for practice on Feb. 2 and accompanied the Lakers on three road trips. His presence lifted everyone's spirits immediately. "I was pleased with the way we carried on without him," says Westhead. "But when Magic wasn't with us our performance—in practices, games, trips—was surgical: neat, clean, minimal talking, no nonsense. But when Magic returned it was like Looney Tunes. He created havoc. Everybody started laughing again. It was unreal."

The final road trip—Chicago and Milwaukee—took its toll on Johnson. He was besieged by reporters and asked the same questions over and over again: Was the knee all right? Would he be the same Magic? Would the team, now playing well without him, have to readjust? Did the other players resent all the attention that was being directed to a non-playing member? "What do you think?" said Johnson, in T shirt and jeans and not smiling, waving to a roomful of ignored uniformed Lakers. In practice that last afternoon in Milwaukee, Magic had passed his final test: as he matched up against bruising Mark Landsberger in a full-court two-on-two game, the exercise disintegrated into an ugly shouting match. "Everybody had finally had it," says Assistant Coach Pat Riley. "That meant only one thing. Magic was ready."

Back in Los Angeles, preparations were made for his return. At The Forum, 17,505 buttons reading "The Magic Is Back" would be distributed, two Magic Johnson Jogging Suits would be awarded to lucky ticket-holders. All over town his face, thirsting for 7-Up, beamed from billboards. His television commercials for the soft drink are a critical success, as is his spot for Buick with Willie Shoemaker. In fact, a new Buick ad is being shot this week and will be aired during the Academy Awards telecast later this month. In Los Angeles Magic Johnson is bigger than Bo Derek, than Steve Garvey, even, and he's making a serious run at Ronald Reagan for popularity. He was forced to darken the windows of his gold Mercedes, he says, for fear of causing accidents when people recognized him on the freeways. "If he keeps his head in perspective much longer, he'll be too wonderful for words," says Riley.

"The thing about Magic that amazes me," says Jamaal Wilkes, "is his timing. He's always at the right place at the right time—in high school, college and the pros. Look at the last playoff game. Everybody remembers it as 'Magic's Game' [Johnson had 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals as the Lakers beat Philadelphia for the championship while Abdul-Jabbar was out with an injury]. And look at him now, coming back as he is. a month before the playoffs. The spotlight's all his. And nobody on the team resents him at all. We love him. The only athlete I've ever seen who is like him is Ali."

Says Westhead. "Magic's timing is always too good for chance."

When the day finally arrived for Magic to play, though, he admitted, "I'm real scared. Like it's a first game." On the way to the court Friday night, Westhead asked Johnson if he knew Spanish.

"No," said Magic. "Why?"

"There's a word for what I want you to be tonight," said the coach. "Suave, suave. Easy, easy."

"I gotcha, Coach."

Johnson sat the bench while his teammates, unnerved by the pregame hysteria, made one of their sloppiest starts of the season. With 5:02 left in the first period and the Lakers behind 19-14, West-head sent Magic in for Wilkes. Every delicate step and slide was scrutinized—L.A. owner Jerry Buss admitted being "scared to death"—while the crowd waited for the magic to begin. It took a while. Johnson threw his first pass directly to the Nets' Maurice Lucas, then tossed another out of bounds. He missed his first two shots—both awkward hooks. But in the second period he scored nine points and began diving on the floor for loose balls. At one point he collided violently with Lucas and went sprawling, but he got up easily and later said, "I'm glad he knocked me down. I need to be knocked around."

Johnson's shooting was off the mark. Against New Jersey he made just four of 12 from the floor. (Two days later, before another sellout crowd at The Forum. he connected on only four of 11 in a 101-96 loss to the Suns.) But Johnson's contributions cannot be measured solely in baskets. And in the fourth period of his comeback game against the Nets he showed that the magic was really back. With the Lakers ahead 103-98, Johnson had the ball on the left wing. As Mike O'Koren dug in against him, Magic slapped the ball and yelled, "Here we go!" He faked twice, drove to the lane, then pitched to an open Norm Nixon for a 15-foot jumper. As the Lakers clung to a 105-103 lead with 10 seconds left, Magic crashed the offensive boards to retrieve a missed shot by Michael Cooper. It was his 11th rebound of the game (to go with 12 points in 24 minutes) and the act that preserved the victory. He dribbled around while the crowd screamed, then passed to Abdul-Jabbar, who was fouled and made two free throws to end the game at 107-103.

Magic's postgame media crush was enormous. The knee felt fine, he felt fine, the team was fine, he said. "Now I think all of you can leave me alone." Few did. They listened and listened some more, watching him undress and cut tape from his ankles. After an hour he looked up and still saw half a dozen reporters watching him. All the other players were gone. He stood up. looked around and said, as if he were the host of a party, "So now, if you all don't mind, it's been a wonderful evening. It's over. The night is over. I'm well. You can all go back to your certain cities, have a nice plane ride, I'm—going—to—take—a—shower."

The reporters lingered another few moments, long enough to hear loud, incredibly loud semi-musical sounds coming through the metal doors to the showers. The Jacksons’ Heartbreak Hotel and Teddy Pendergrass’ Love TKO. Magic was all alone. But he was singing.

MARCH 09, 1981

 

[Red Five 40875]

Very fun show. I watched for an hour with a smile on my face. 

[Guest]

I like the way Magic lets the lipstick on the cast get in his head.  Then Bird is the same way.

Would really like to know if the depiction of Dr Buss is even in the ballpark. I love John C. Reilly; but would like to know how accurately they are portraying Buss.

Edited August 8, 2023 by slorch

[Eskimohorn 5638]

I like the way Magic lets the lipstick on the cast get in his head.  Then Bird is the same way.
Would really like to know if the depiction of Dr Buss is even in the ballpark. I love John C. Reilly; but would like to know how accurately they are portraying Buss.

I hate to admit I hated the Magic dream sequences and any scene with Cookie. Like a slow motion car wreck and just bores me to death. Im not a fast forward guy but it gives me Mad Men Don Draper homelife vibes - and is filler and a weak link.

[A-Tex Devil 2451]

Did the Celtics fans really attack the bus after Game 1 in 1984?

I wonder if we get that far this season.  

[Js1 85444]

8 minutes ago, A-Tex Devil said:

Did the Celtics fans really attack the bus after Game 1 in 1984?

I wonder if we get that far this season.  

Don’t think so

Quote

The outcome of Game 1 of the 1984 NBA Finals was a Lakers victory of 115-109. However, actual footage of the game proves that the Lakers were not forced to sprint from the court to the safety of their bus without first going to their locker rooms. In reality, many of Boston's fans were no longer in the stadium when the game ended, making the sea of popcorn and beverages being tossed at the Lakers as they ran off the court a complete fabrication. In fact, Kareem stuck around after the game for a televised interview with Pat O'Brien on CBS

 

[atomheartbevo 89738]

nm

Edited August 9, 2023 by atomheartbevo

[atomheartbevo 89738]

Loved seeing the old-school Rockets.  So now we are jumping ahead to the next season I guess.

[Beantown Express 2.0 6559]

16 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

Loved seeing the old-school Rockets.  So now we are jumping ahead to the next season I guess.

The Rockets game would have been 1981 I believe and the opening scene of this season at the Boston Garden was 1984 so I think so they have to get through 3 more years in the next few episodes to end the season where it started.  Guess we will get lots of 76ers stuff the rest of this season also. 

[Js1 85444]

24 minutes ago, Beantown Express 2.0 said:

The Rockets game would have been 1981 I believe and the opening scene of this season at the Boston Garden was 1984 so I think so they have to get through 3 more years in the next few episodes to end the season where it started.  Guess we will get lots of 76ers stuff the rest of this season also. 

Loss to the Malone Rockets was 1981 playoffs. We are going quickly into the Magic contract/Westhead drama of late 1981 next episode 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Js1

[Guest]

Jerry West is stealing his scenes.

Interesting dynamics with a coach like Westhead trumping the GM's moves.  A GM who is one of the alltime great basketball people.  Period.

[Mitch Cumsteen 18550]

I do love this show but it's still a little weird for me having all these people who are still alive today being dramatized and fictionalized the way they are on some things, but represented accurately in others. Regardless I thought Sunday's episode was fantastic.

I don't think any of that stuff between Westhead and Riley ever happened. I don't think that David Thompson trade was ever close to a real thing. No way Denver would have given up their star for Norm Nixon. Of course, Thompson ended up sticking his career right up his nose just like a bunch of other dudes during that period. I wonder how much they are going to get into that because that early 80s period was rife with cautionary tales. Dark days for the league in a lot of respects.

Looks like the next episode is Larry Bird-centric. The casting has been amazing throughout, but they really nailed the actor who plays Bird. Can't wait.

[RPM 26326]

5 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

they really nailed the actor who plays Bird.

this

[Aqua Buddha 14598]

2 hours ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

I do love this show but it's still a little weird for me having all these people who are still alive today being dramatized and fictionalized the way they are on some things, but represented accurately in others. Regardless I thought Sunday's episode was fantastic.

I don't think any of that stuff between Westhead and Riley ever happened. I don't think that David Thompson trade was ever close to a real thing. No way Denver would have given up their star for Norm Nixon. Of course, Thompson ended up sticking his career right up his nose just like a bunch of other dudes during that period. I wonder how much they are going to get into that because that early 80s period was rife with cautionary tales. Dark days for the league in a lot of respects.

Looks like the next episode is Larry Bird-centric. The casting has been amazing throughout, but they really nailed the actor who plays Bird. Can't wait.

They nailed a lot of characters with both wardrobe and acting/mannerisms.  Magic and Kareem look nothing like their real life counterparts but the way they talk, the way they smile (or don't), and the way they interact with everyone is spot on.  Brody is spot on for Pat Riley.

[RPM 26326]

I have no idea what Dr. Jerry Buss was like, but I want to think John C. Reilly is nailing it.

[atomheartbevo 89738]

3 hours ago, Aqua Buddha said:

 Brody is spot on for Pat Riley.

Looking at old clips on YouTube, it's uncanny.

3 hours ago, RPM said:

I have no idea what Dr. Jerry Buss was like, but I want to think John C. Reilly is nailing it.

If Surly existed in the 80s, Reilly's version of Buss would be shitposting with us?

[RPM 26326]

25 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

If Surly existed in the 80s, Reilly's version of Buss would be shitposting with us?

Mark Cuban really wants to be Dr. Jerry Buss. He's way beyond shit posting with us. He has his own platform.

[Mittens 8287]

 

[bolverk 29694]

1 hour ago, Mittens said:

 

I don't even like basketball but am loving this show.

[atomheartbevo 89738]

Allie LaForce as a 1980s news personality in the State Farm commercial does something for me.

[atomheartbevo 89738]

Loved this episode.  And holy shit, they cast Larry Bird well.

[Pig Bellmont 8719]

On 8/16/2023 at 10:48 PM, Mittens said:

 

I’m watching it but I don’t find this season as compelling. 

[atomheartbevo 89738]

This week’s episode, stay through the credits for Willie.  And they always show previews for upcoming episodes anyways. 

[Mitch Cumsteen 18550]

I thought this episode dragged a little compared to the last one, but still good. And yeah... the casting is just phenomenal. I remain stunned by the attention to detail. The Larry Bird character actually had pretty close shooting form to Larry Bird. They used the old CBS font when they were showing the Celtics celebrating the title. There are a million things like that. The show is an open love letter to the early 80s NBA, which is incredible for old NBA-heads like me. They are hitting all the nostalgia points on the screws even while taking massive liberties in over-dramatizing all of the relationships. Regardless, I'm here for it all. 

Edited August 21, 2023 by Mitch Cumsteen

[Red Five 40875]

Yeah they could not have done better with Magic and Bird, outside of CGI'ing their real faces on them. 

[RPM 26326]

When does Jeannie get nekkid for Playboy? I got this friend that's curious.

[Deej 76848]

Cookie's pussy must have been unreal for Magic to keep working so hard for it. 

[atomheartbevo 89738]

For those curious about Magic being treated different.  Yeah, he was.  From wiki:

Johnson had an extremely close relationship with Lakers owner Jerry Buss, whom he saw as a mentor and father figure. Calling Buss his "second father" and "one of [his] best friends", Johnson spent five hours visiting Buss at the hospital just a few months before he died of cancer. Speaking to media just hours after Buss had died, Johnson was emotional, saying, "Without Dr. Jerry Buss, there is no Magic." Buss acquired the team from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, shortly before he drafted Johnson with the #1 pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Buss took a special interest in Johnson, introducing him to important Los Angeles business contacts and showing him how the Lakers organization was run, before eventually selling Johnson a stake in the team in 1994. Johnson credits Buss with giving him the business knowledge that enabled him to become part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Buss supported Johnson as he revealed his diagnosis of HIV in 1991, and he never hesitated to keep Johnson close to the organization, bringing him in as part-owner, and even as a coach. Johnson had never seriously considered coaching, but he agreed to take the head coaching position with the Lakers in 1994 at Buss' request. In 1992, Buss had given Johnson a contract that paid him $14 million a year, as payback for all the years he was not the league's highest-paid player. Although Johnson's retirement prior to the 1992–93 NBA season voided this contract, Buss insisted that he still be paid. It was this arrangement that allowed Johnson to coach the team without receiving any additional salary. After Johnson ended his coaching stint, Buss sold him a 4% stake in the Lakers for $10 million, and Johnson served as a team executive.

[TrashMaster G 17570]

10 hours ago, RPM said:

When does Jeannie get nekkid for Playboy? I got this friend that's curious.

#metoo

[Deej 76848]

6 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

For those curious about Magic being treated different.  Yeah, he was.  From wiki:

Johnson had an extremely close relationship with Lakers owner Jerry Buss, whom he saw as a mentor and father figure. Calling Buss his "second father" and "one of [his] best friends", Johnson spent five hours visiting Buss at the hospital just a few months before he died of cancer. Speaking to media just hours after Buss had died, Johnson was emotional, saying, "Without Dr. Jerry Buss, there is no Magic." Buss acquired the team from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, shortly before he drafted Johnson with the #1 pick in the 1979 NBA draft. Buss took a special interest in Johnson, introducing him to important Los Angeles business contacts and showing him how the Lakers organization was run, before eventually selling Johnson a stake in the team in 1994. Johnson credits Buss with giving him the business knowledge that enabled him to become part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Buss supported Johnson as he revealed his diagnosis of HIV in 1991, and he never hesitated to keep Johnson close to the organization, bringing him in as part-owner, and even as a coach. Johnson had never seriously considered coaching, but he agreed to take the head coaching position with the Lakers in 1994 at Buss' request. In 1992, Buss had given Johnson a contract that paid him $14 million a year, as payback for all the years he was not the league's highest-paid player. Although Johnson's retirement prior to the 1992–93 NBA season voided this contract, Buss insisted that he still be paid. It was this arrangement that allowed Johnson to coach the team without receiving any additional salary. After Johnson ended his coaching stint, Buss sold him a 4% stake in the Lakers for $10 million, and Johnson served as a team executive.

He earned it. 

[atomheartbevo 89738]

10 hours ago, Red Five said:

Yeah they could not have done better with Magic and Bird, outside of CGI'ing their real faces on them. 

  My wife watched a few minutes of this week's episode, and she asked why they made Bird so ugly, and I had to show her a few photos of him from that era.

And Sean Patrick Small, the guy who plays Bird in the TV show, had actually optioned/written a Larry Bird project before he was cast in Winning Time, covering Bird's high school and college days

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/winning-time-celtics-larry-bird-michael-chiklis-sean-patrick-small-1235700478/

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/winning-time-actor-sean-patrick-020000833.html

Quote

Small’s preparation for the role unknowingly started in 2014, as he worked on a miniseries focused on Bird’s life from his senior year of high school to his senior year of college.

Quote

“His whole back story really surprised me because he was at Indiana University for a short amount of time, dropped out, didn’t ever think he was going to go back to college. Was working for the county, picking garbage up weekly and painting park benches and loving it with his friends… and his father tragically passing, all this type of stuff informed what he is as a Celtic, but also all of that is so deeply internalized within him that you might not see it until this season,” Small said. “We get to dive back into that and peel back those layers and see who he is as a person, where he comes from and what we have gotten today from all that.”

And Chiklis actually saw the Lakers/Celtics mania first hand, growing up in Boston and going to Boston U in the early 80s.

Quote

Small worked closely with Michael Chiklis, who portrays Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach. Chiklis noted that he watched the rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics happen in real time while attending Boston University from 1981 to 1985.

“My only regret this whole process is that my father is not allowed to see it because he was the biggest Red Auerbach fan of anyone,” Chiklis said. “I grew up listening to him preach the gospel of Red Auerbach and he really was a big believer in him as a coach, as a man, in his work ethic.”

This season is apparently going to be devoted a lot more to Bird/Auerbach because they are going all-in on the Bird/Magic rivalry.

[Deej 76848]

Such an amazing era to be an NBA fan. Some twenty something at work had never seen Bird or Magic play. I sent him a bunch of highlight videos. He then told me that neither would be a top 50 player today. 

WTF?

He probably thinks Led Zeppelin doesn't hold a candle to Taylor Swift's "band".

Edited August 22, 2023 by Deej

[mr. sunshine 2827]

This is currently my only show and the soundtrack kicks so much ass. Cheap Trick for FTMFW

[Augustus 3061]

15 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

Loved this episode.  And holy shit, they cast Larry Bird well.

 

I was finishing high school when Magic hit the mini-skyhook to win in Boston which sealed the series as they came back to LA, so there's my age.

I saw all of the careers of Magic, Bird and their era, and Michael Jordan, followed by Kobe and Shaq, and then most of Lebron's before my interest in the NBA died.

I'll not argue about who was the best.  But the most amazing NBA basketball player I ever saw was, without question, Larry Bird.  For a bunch of reasons.  

[RPM 26326]

Larry Bird was unreal.

[atomheartbevo 89738]

10 hours ago, mr. sunshine said:

This is currently my only show and the soundtrack kicks so much ass. Cheap Trick for FTMFW

What We Do in the Shadows, Futurama, and this are my only shows.

Early advertising may have made it seem like we were getting a Magic Johnson biopic.

Instead, we are getting a Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Norm Nixon, Paul Westhead, Pat Riley, Jeannie Bus, Jerry West, Jerry Bus, Claire Rothman, Red Auerbach, Bill Sharman, Paula Abdul, and Jack McKinney biopic, with a touch of Chick Hearn and Jerry Tarkanian.

And they really need to bring back Paula Abdul in the second season.

[Guest]

11 hours ago, Deej said:

Such an amazing era to be an NBA fan. Some twenty something at work had never seen Bird or Magic play. I sent him a bunch of highlight videos. He then told me than neither would be a top 50 player today. 

WTF?

He probably thinks Led Zeppelin doesn't hold a candle to Taylor Swift's "band".

That person is a moron. Bird in today's era would make fans think he was a borderline terrorist though.  I liked neither the Lakers nor the Celtics, yet still recognized how badass it was. while it was happening.  That rivalry in the 80's was pure greatness that might never be matched again.

Edited August 22, 2023 by slorch

[Red Five 40875]

I always kind of thought Bird was the Mickey Mantle of the NBA. If his back had held up he might be thought of as 1B to Jordan’s 1A. He’s not far off as is.

[Deej 76848]

I fucking hated Bird and the Celtics back then, but I have much respect for Bird and his game. The greatest shit talker of all time, and he never failed to back it up. I can't think  of a weakness in his game. Inside, outside, ball handling, passing, free throws, court awareness, basketball IQ, and as physical as anyone else on the court. The kid at my office tried to tell me he wouldn't be able to keep up with today's players and their 3 pointers. Lulz. If he was playing today, his long range percentage would probably be blowing people away. 

[RPM 26326]

22 minutes ago, Red Five said:

If his back had held up

Did you see some of the shots where he defied the laws of physics? He makes Luka look like a piker.

 

[Beantown Express 2.0 6559]

As you can imagine I am a huge Bird fan and that dude would kill it in today's NBA.  His only issue would be the shit talking that he would do would probably get him suspended and fined for making some players cry.  To me, the below quote from Pat Riley says it all about Larry Bird.

"If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I'd choose Michael Jordan.  If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save my life, I'd take Larry Bird."   -Pat Riley

 

 

 

[Post Oak 20253]

9 minutes ago, Deej said:

I fucking hated Bird and the Celtics back then, but I have much respect for Bird and his game. The greatest shit talker of all time, and he never failed to back it up. I can't think  of a weakness in his game. Inside, outside, ball handling, passing, free throws, court awareness, basketball IQ, and as physical as anyone else on the court. The kid at my office tried to tell me he wouldn't be able to keep up with today's players and their 3 pointers. Lulz. If he was playing today, his long range percentage would probably be blowing people away. 

The kid is obviously a moron and should be chopped up and used for parts.  If youre not willing to do that, remind the imbecile that 2 of the best 5 players in the world currently are slow, white basketball geniuses. And while I enjoy watching both of them play neither of these future HOFers are a psycho, savant, killer like Bird.  

OMG how would Larry Fucking Bird ever manage against the likes of Tatum, Zion, Paul George, Kawhi and Jimmy Butler.

 

 

[Deej 76848]

Well, Bird wouldn't have the TIkTok skills. 

[Guest]

I get it as part of the caricature, but Larry Bird slamming Buds all day is something about which  i have never heard nor read.

Edited August 22, 2023 by slorch

[Deej 76848]

1 minute ago, slorch said:

I get it as part of the caricature, but Larry Bird slamming Buds all day i have never heard nor read about.

He was notorious for his beer drinking. He wasn't quite Wade Boggs, but...

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba-media/charles-barkley-on-drinking-beer-with-larry-bird-on-1992-team-usa-my-head-hurt-like-two-days

[Beantown Express 2.0 6559]

31 minutes ago, slorch said:

I get it as part of the caricature, but Larry Bird slamming Buds all day is something about which  i have never heard nor read.

“Didn’t we talk about this before?” Dan Patrick asked Quinn Buckner on a 2018 episode of The Dan Patrick Show. “When you guys played the Chicago Bulls, first round of the playoffs, and you guys went out. It might have been you and [Rick] Robey. And you went out with Bird, and the Chicago Bulls cheerleaders bought you beers, figuring they could get Larry drunk. And then Larry lit them up, and then walked off the floor and walked by the cheerleaders and said, ‘Thanks for the beers.'”