When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed Basketball
By Seth Davis
You can view this book's Amazon detail page here.
The great story behind one of the greatest personal rivalries in sports – between Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. The book focuses on their lives and play prior to their becoming pros and, more specifically, on what led up to the 1979 NCAA finals in which Magic’s Michigan State played Larry Bird’s tiny Indiana State. One of the most watched sporting events of all time in the US.
As the book states, the game was pivotal in a change in the way we watch sports, but it certainly was the the only thing happening that changed it all. ESPN was just coming on line and many of the sports, NCAA men’s basketball included, were working hard to make themselves more interesting to wider audiences. The rivalry of these two phenomenal players certainly didn’t hurt.
While the book was enjoyable, I wish it detailed more about these two greats in their pro careers. Not a huge loss and it wasn’t the book’s declared domain. A good read regardless.
- Started reading:
- 19th December 2009
- Finished reading:
- 6th January 2010