Shouts to my dude A.King from PNC Radio who put me on to this documentary screening at my local watering hole. SODA Bar on Vanderbilt Avenue was hosting the screening. HBO pictures produced this tight little doc about the relationship that two of basketball’s supreme competitors now share together. Magic & Bird is all about the obstacles that these two men had between them when they were pretty much mirror images in their love for the game of basketball and how hard they were willing to work to become winners.
What made the film so compelling is that you got to see a side of Larry Bird that made me wonder why I h8’d dude so much (other than the fact that he was a Celtic). Larry Bird grew up wild poor. Hardbody poor. Magic’s family wasn’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but Magic’s dad didn’t end up merc’king himself like Bird’s dad did. Larry Bird was obsessed with Magic [ll]. With his stats and his achievements. Bird used Magic to propel himself faster and harder [ll]. Magic only wanted a hug from Bird. This shit was more than a bromance, these two wanted to mouf kiss each other.
At one point in the film while Magic was being interviewed he broke down into tears recalling the moment that Larry Bird called him up to ask how he was doing after Magic had publicly disclosed that he was HIV+. For Larry Bird, he secretly viewed Magic as one of his siblings that he constantly fought with but cherished dearly. This fuxing documentary almost made me get a piece of dust in my eye like that gotdamn Antwon Fisher bullshit. I pounded on my chest tho’ and the dust went away. Still and all, this was an incredibly revealing film for these larger than life NBA characters.
The Association needed Magic and Bird and the level of competition that they brought to the league. Magic and Bird needed one another for the challenge of competing and then later on the camaraderie. If you are a fan of the Association then you need this documentary to show you how these two players combined to save professional basketball. Bryant Gumbel’s commentary in this film was heeelarious. The filmmaker’s research and the archival footage used was vainglorious. From the Sopranos, to The Wire, up to Curb Your Enthusiasm, Home Box Office stays winning. Make sure you DVR this movie so you can watch it on repeat.
Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals
Saturday, March 6th, 8pm
