When Magic tested positive for HIV back in 1991, we didn't know much about the disease and we all thought he would wither away and die so his return to the All-Star game was very emotional for everyone.

You might enjoy reacting to the HBO documentary about the Magic/Bird rivalry. It's called, Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals. It traces them starting with their college rivalry and how they saved the NBA as a professional league in the 1980s.

@robertdaspruce

4 ай бұрын

Definitely! Great documentary!

@The_AniMan

4 ай бұрын

My vote for this too!

The Lakers-Celtics rivalry defined the NBA in the 1980s. The championships were as follows: 80-Lakers 81-Celtics 82-Lakers 83-76ers (Lakers 2nd place this year) 84-Celtics 85-Lakers 86-Celtics 87-Lakers 88-Lakers It was all defined by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird trying to outplay each other. the 1990's were defined by Michael Jordan. He led the Bulls to three championships in a row, retired for two seasons, returned and led to three more championships. If he hadn't stepped out he undoubtedly would've gotten 8 in a row.

"Have fun" just like your reaction videos. He was amazing. Truly Magical.

On a cold February night in 1977 I made the drive to Lansing to see a high school kid named Ervin Johnson play ball.even on that long ago night you could see that young man was destined for glory.one of basketballs greatest players and ambassadors.

First.. Great video. Magic Johnson is the Greatest Winner by % of games played in a NBA career...look it up . and in that 12 years..9 finals. 5 rings.

The greatest era in NBA history IMO

We played against him in junior high , high school , and he was amazing then. Back in Lansing , Michigan.

Magic was one of the most exciting players ever. As you see in the video Magic ran a very fast-paced offense and very few teams could keep up with them. He was unique in that most guys his size didn't possess his speed and ball-handling ability. Phenomenal passer who could also take over scoring responsibilities when the situation called for it. Magic and his Hall-of-fame teammates James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were the major head to head rivals with the Boston Celtics Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish. Mabe the greatest rivalry in all of American sports. The Lakers and/or the Celtics appeared in EVERY championship FINAL in the 80s. Winner in *BOLD* 1980 *L.A* vs Philly, Magic Johnson MVP (rookie year) 1981 *Boston* vs Houston 1982 *L.A.* vs Philly, Magic Johnson MVP 1983 LA vs *Philly* 1984 *Boston* vs L.A , Larry Bird MVP 1985 *L.A.* vs Boston, (season MVP Larry Bird) 1986 *Boston* vs Houston , Larry Bird MVP 1987 *L. A.* vs Boston , Magic Johnson MVP 1988 *L.A.* vs Detroit 1989 L. A. vs *Detroit* (season MVP Magic Johnson

That is way we called Magic Johnson. Magic man back in of the day he was Great passes he was.

The rivalry between Magic and Larry and their teams in the 1980s resuscitated a professional league on the verge of collapse and paved the way for Michael Jordan and his popularity to take basketball to a global level in the 1990s. I grew up near the Celtics in the 80s and Larry has been my favorite player as long as I can remember, but Magic was a close second and always had my utmost respect. I think it speaks volumes about their competitiveness and team mentality that despite going up against each other at a championship level almost every year, Magic and Larry also have the best and second best career winning percentages in league history, with a small margin of ~10 games separating them. I truly recommend watching A Courtship Of Rivals, the story between these two is amazing on many levels on and off the court... these mixtapes are awe-inspiring, but the documentary tends to deepen appreciation of them as people, two who share a bond that transcends basketball.

Their rivalry goes back to college, the 1979 NCAA Championship game, started it all. Still today the highest rated basketball game(viewer wise) on any level in the United States history,. 40 million household watched.

@a.grimes4202

4 ай бұрын

Well, yeah but you forgot to add the context. It was the 1979 NCAA National Championship game, not just any NCAA men’s basketball game, featuring a very star-studded Michigan State Spartans ( *GO GREEN! GO WHITE!* ) vs. the Indiana State Sycamores, featuring Bird. It wasn’t merely just the spectacle of Magic vs. Bird, although that was a fairly large contributing factor in the viewership numbers being what they were.

@andrewmcclure2378

4 ай бұрын

⁠@@a.grimes4202I grew up about a half hour drive from French Lick. After he retired, we’d drive by Larry’s house trying to catch him out playing. I know all about the Legend that is Larry Bird. Unfortunately Magic’s career got derailed, but he’s definitely an HIV success story.

Rivalry between Lakers and Celtics is an understatement. As a life long Laker fan I hate anything that is green, I won't even eat anything that is green, no green clothes, nothing green at all! Growing up in the 80's and being able to witness all those Lakers vs Celtics games was amazing. With all the hate I have for the Celtics I have nothing but respect for Bird, can't say the same for the rest of the Celtics though lol

@fidel2xl

4 ай бұрын

As a lifelong New Yorker who occasionally visits California, I never understood LA's obsession with people wearing certain colors. Jeez...one day while I was in LA, I was merely wiping my face with a blue bandana since it was so hot, and these guys dressed with red bandanas suddenly rolled up on me and pointed their 'Pew-Pews' at me for wiping my face with the wrong color. So, the next day I was wiping my face with a RED bandana, and suddenly these other creeps all decked out in BLUE bandanas rolled up on me, and pointed THEIR 'Pew-Pews' at me, all pissed off that I was using a red bandana. So, the moral of the story is that I am very grateful that you warned me about the hatred of all things GREEN colored over there as well. And to think, I wasted all this money on GREEN bandanas. 😅

@Chillyz

4 ай бұрын

@@fidel2xl LOL yeah in certain areas red and blue are no no's but green is ok. I just hate green like the Yankees hate the Redsox and vice versa! I wouldn't harm a Celtics fan for wearing green I would just know that they have a bad taste in teams.

Without Magic the modern pass savant wouldn't exist. You can get so much joy from Magic and then watch someone like J-Will (white chocolate) and realize that this game has a genuine creator and none of it would exist without magic! Also, Joker has tons of Magic in him, which is why I love his style!

I love that you love this. The HBO documentary on Magic and Bird’s rivalry (and subsequent friendship) will make you ball your eyes out. Yes. Please queue it up!

I think you would have a better idea of the rivalry and friendship between Bird and Magic who go all the way back to playing a year before the NCAA Championship game if you watched that video Bird vs Magic. He did eventually return and was still magical.

It’s hard to underestimate how deadly he was in his prime. The speed at which the fast breaks happened and as he drove to the basket, he could either pass it to just about anyone or score it himself. DEADLY. 🏀

Best ball player I ever saw

The most important quality of Magic was this: He made everyone else on his team better, and because of that, led his teams to championship titles, his first, as a freshman at Michigan State, when he beat an Indiana State team led by senior Larry Bird. He was the best passer of his era and an unrivalled ball handler who elevated the play of teammates and leading the most feared fast break in the NBA, turning defensive stops into quick points in transition, a style the Lakers called Showtime. He was a scorer more than a shooter. He was not an especially good outside shooter - don’t be fooled by highlights. He was much better scoring in transition or using his dribble and length to get in the lane for short shots. He was not noted for his dunks; he was not an explosive leader and not blazingly fast by NBA standards. But his skills and competitive drive were legendary. His soccer comparable would be Messi - not faster or stronger but unmatched skill, drive and vision.

He's the best ever at manipulating defenses.

I used to be a die-hard L.A. Lakers fan and saw Magic play many times whenever he came to Philly to play the Sixers.

Please Verdy, you should do the Who's Quadrophenia next! You do such great reaction videos to these masterpiece albums! Keep it up!

It was more than 20 years after Magic, but for a couple years (switched districts midway through HS in ’97) I attended Lansing Everett, with whom he won a MHSAA State Championship. He of course went on and won a National Championship with the Michigan State Spartans in 1979, and would be drafted to the L.A. Lakers larer in 1979 as the first overall pick of the NBA Draft, where he won several NBA Championships, and the MVP award for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, _after_ the announcement that he was H.I.V. positive, and also represented the USA in the ’92 Summer Olympics as part of the legendary “Dream Team”, winning Olympic gold there. Anecdotally, back in spring 1993, I joined the Lansing, MI Boys & Girls Club and met one of Magic’s sisters, Evelyn l, who worked on the club staff at the time. Never really had the time or forethought to talk to her about Magic, though, sadly.

If you are a general manager picking an all-time starting 5 and 3 of your 5 picks aren't named Magic, Michael and Larry......you are FIRED if I'm the team owner. Not only are those 3 guys in the G.O.A.T. conversation for their basketball skills, they are 3 of the most competitive athletes to compete in any sport. That type of heart doesn't just win games, it wins championships.

I grew up in Seattle - Seattle Super Sonics! YEAH! But have been a fan of Larry Bird forever. Being in the West Coast Conference the Sonics and Lakers played a lot, so I've seen a lot of Magic! He is 2nd to only Larry Bird; but not by much!! They are soo a like and soo different! They both had an 'Extreme Work Ethic' that few in the NBA has ever shown and this is one thing that sets them both a part from the rest. Back then - I don't know if it was the media or the NBA itself but they made a 'racial thing' out of the competitiveness between Larry & Magic. Neither one wanted a part of that because that wasn't how they were! They were true Basket Ball Players and as such, they both became lifelong friends! It was hard to stop either of these players, but it was easier to stop Magic than Larry. But this is about Magic! Kareem had his patented "Sky Hook" shot - Magic adopted it to the "Baby Sky Hook!" which was virtually unstoppable! As I noted before - this ISN'T the 'ultimate mix tape' it proclaims to be as it spent too much time on his passing! His passing was incredible, no doubt! But he was an All Around Player! Up till 'Showtime" became a thing - Basketball never really seen anything like it up to that point - and it was almost consistent throughout every game! And they were incredible shows to see!!! It was a sad day for Basketball when he retired. Thanks again 😺Verdy!!! 😺 Don't forget 'Making the case" videos! Those make the case for 'The Greatest of All Time' (The GOAT).

Just sick...my, oh, my.

AND 1 Mixtape tour "The Professor"

This video does not truly display how great he really was. But it’s a cool video

Magic holds the highest assist per game in the nba . Ever.

HI VERDY! 😊SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE THE WHOLE MAGIC / BIRD THING, THEN YOU SHOULD DO ( A COURTSHIP OF RIVALS ) IT'S ABOUT 90 MINS. BUT YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THE STORY ON THEIR RIVALRY!💯😊MOST REACTORS DID IT IN 4 PARTS, I KNOW YOU LIKE TO DO ALBUMS 1 SIDE ATTA TIME SO, THERE YA GO!👍

Now you know

Vince Carter and Jason Williams next!

Verdy, these have all been some of the greatest basketball players of all time, but did you know there was a seven footer in the NBA who once scored 100 points in one game? Check out Wilt Chamberland sometime, you should be amazed by his abilities as well.

If you react to more basketball you should watch a video about the 1992 Dream Team. Best team ever assembled.

A highlight video of Dr. J or Wilt Chamberlain would be good..

Chuck Norris doesn't give HIS opinion, he tells you YOUR opinion.

Irwing o mágico espetacular

HI VERDY! 😊SO YOU SHOULD VIEW THE ( MAKING THE CASE ) VIDEOS FROM ( CLAYTON ) 👍HE HAS MAGIC, BIRD, JORDAN, DR.J., KAREEM, KOBE, ABOUT 10 OF THEM, MAGIC AND BIRD YOU SHOULD DO FOR SURE VERDY SO YOU SEE WHAT THEIR CAREERS WERE LIKE! 💯 HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND TAKE CARE!

You want to see some unbelievable passing then check out Jason Williams highlights.

Magic was the man. There is possibly a New Dude in pro sports... Please Please consider expanding your scope to Allow NEW Green Bay Packer QB Jordan Love. It might be fun to bring UR fanbase along to NFL Football, Verdy!! ?? If you are not to informed yet to "the other" Football sport it may indeed be a fun side track for Verdy Channel!! ?? Go Go Packers!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eres muy linda!😘

VERDY l don't remember if watch the Michael Jordan special Come Fly With Me if not you might want to check that one out.

Sorry, one other video to watch is the highlights of Jason Williams, who was called "White Chocolate".

Michael Jordan averaged 30 a game. Magic could have done the same thing if he wanted to. He just didn't want to. He played a different game and he played to win.

read my comment below but also, just watch Joker.... the parallels are crazy.

You like football watch this comedy sketch "Harry Enfield | Arsenal 1934 vs Liverpool 1991"

Magic, Bird, then Jordan made the NBA the extremely popular. What position do you play in Futbol a.k.a. soccer ? Do you have favorite player ?

Maybe you might also try a highlight video of Allen Iverson. At only 6 feet tall, he outplayed others who were much taller.

O hell yes Larry Bird and Magic Johnson halted each other in the 80s and Boston Celtics team and Lakers team hated each this as much when those two teams played it was war it was not nice when they play each other.

Are you from Canada?

U gotta react to kobe Bryant mixtape now

Out of the three mix videos you've watched, Jordan was the flashiest and most alien. Bird was pure fundamentals. No frills. Just solid fundamental talent. Magic lies between the two. He wasn't as alien as Jordan, but had a lot of flash with his no look passes and ball handling skills.

Please react to a band called THE WARNING 3 young ladies from Mexico.. people say they're the future of rock.. I'm a life long Led Zeppelin fan now at 66 yrs. My favorite band is THE WARNING. Try The Warning 2023 MTV VMAs EVOLVE . THEN THEIR NEW ALBUM ERROR..

hated the Lakers back then but loved Magic, he and Larry were better than Labron

You should definitely check out Caitlin Clark. She is becoming the all time leader in college basketball statistics this year while leading the Iowa Hawkeyes. Triple doubles are normal for her. She often shoots 3s from the logo and last second game winners are frequent. She has already passed 3000 points, 900 assists and 800 rebounds. She leads the nation in scoring and assists. Don't miss that you are living through her career.

Not a basketball fan tbh, but I love that you react to different stuff 😊 If you want to react to other cool sports, how about a reaction to highlights of Lamar Jackson(american football player)? He's an insanely good player! There's one video on YT called "Every Lamar Jackson rushing touchdown so far", I highly recommend that one ☺