In observance of March Madness, we’re highlighting the greatest college basketball matches ever. The 1979 National Championship game between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird is still remembered as a legendary duel. Our newest collection, “When March Went Mad,” is now available; indulge in nostalgia. Purchase here.
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.
The two were diametrically opposed. Magic liked the attention from the media, but Bird detested it all. Bird was meticulous, Magic theatrical. One was a forward with guard-like passing and shooting skills. The other was a guard who was about the size of a forward, giving out transitional no-look dimes. The advent of two superstars who defied the positional rigidity of the game were the driving forces behind collegiate basketball’s growth.
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 toward 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 Center, formerly the Special Events Center at the University of Utah, would host the first-ever meeting between the Sycamores and Spartans in the annals of their respective schools. Forty-five years later, the magnificence of the moment, rather than the court, holds the genuine spirit of the game. Even the premiere of Avengers Endgame couldn’t match the kind of excitement that two celebrities brought to the college game in the post-John Wooden era.
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. Their sole sources of reasoning would be Bird and Magic. College basketball was worthy of the main television program.
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 unique Selection Sunday program. 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.
