Magic versus Bird. Earvin vs Larry. The French Lick Hick versus Buck. A showman versus a folk hero. Whatever your perspective, only one game has ever really contributed to the development of college basketball into the dynamic, buzzing phenomenon that it is today. There has been endless discussion of the legendary rivalry between Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird. The legends of college basketball were first entwined on that tragic night, March 26, 1979, when the sport grew from a modest hobby on tape delay into an enormous colossus. This night marked the Finals appearances, championships, and rings.
With senior forward Larry Bird playing flawlessly and a supporting group that included Carl Nicks, Alex Gilbert, and Bob Heaton, Indiana State University had made it to their first-ever playoff play. March saw the Sycamores defeat No. 8 Virginia Tech, No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 2 Arkansas, and No. 2 DePaul behind No. 33, who finished the season with season averages of 28.6 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Bird chose to forgo his pick in the 1978 Draft in order to complete his collegiate eligibility, and as a result, his star had been rising in Terre Haute for years. The latter would bring about a significant shift in focus towards the vivid baby blue threads of ISU and the Hoosier State. That season’s 33 victories in a row also helped a little.
The collegiate player of the year would lead ISU to its first-ever NCAA Championship game against the Michigan State Spartans, who feature a jaw-dropping 6-8 point-forward from Lansing, Michigan, with a 35-piece in the Final Four on 16-19 shooting.
Prior to March, the Spartans had not performed as well, dropping four of their six games in January. Nevertheless, Magic Johnson’s laugh, smile, and contagious charisma prevented the club from moping over lost chances. In kind, Greg Kelser, Ron Charles, Jay Vincent, and others replied.
In the century-defining college duel, Magic’s Spartans (25-6) defeated No. 3 LSU, No. 1 Notre Dame, and No. 9 Penn, averaging 17.1 points, 8.4 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game throughout the regular season.
The Huntsman Centre, formerly the Special Events Centre at the University of Utah, would host the first-ever meeting between the Sycamores and Spartans in the annals of their respective programmes. Forty-five years later, the magnificence of the moment, rather than the court, holds the genuine spirit of the game. Two celebrities brought a level of excitement to the college game in the post-John Wooden era that wasn’t even surpassed by the premiere of Avengers Endgame.
With Dick Enberg calling the shots, Michigan State led nine points at the half and never looked back, defeating Indiana State 75-64 to win the program’s first NCAA championship. Larry Legend was uncharacteristically bad in his final collegiate game, going 7-21 from the field with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while leading the tournament in points and rebounds. Magic Johnson, meanwhile, performed a historic March in yet another way. With seven rebounds, five assists, and a game-high 24 points, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player was unstoppable.
Nothing compares to the pure intensity of that 1979 championship game. And it most likely won’t. Even after all these years, college basketball has yet to attract an audience for a game that comes close to what it did in the late 1970s, with an overall viewer rating of 24.1. For the historians who don’t know statistics, that means about two out of every five people watching television will watch the game.
America was not limited to its family rooms to experience the buzz. The historic matchup simultaneously sent shockwaves through television boardrooms across the country. It was time to take advantage of college basketball to its fullest. It had been solidified by Magic and Bird, to the point where in 1982 CBS attempted to fully acquire the television rights to the tournament.
The number of TV deals increased dramatically, and there were 64 teams overall instead of just 40. It had become March Madness. The game had reached previously unheard-of heights thanks to Bird and Magic, even before the 24-hour news cycle and the special Selection Sunday programme. The NBA’s debut and infatuation with “superstars” would propel the L into unquestionable success in a matter of years. And who would receive credit for that influence? Magic and Bird.
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