When the Game Was Ours - Larry Bird [30]
The image of Magic soaring over Heaton appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated a few days later, declaring Michigan State the national champions.
In the final four minutes, without a 24-second clock to limit their time of possession, MSU went to a spread offense and ticked off as much time as they could by passing the ball around the perimeter. Bird, frustrated by their stall tactics, swatted the ball out of Magic's hands as he was inbounding it, then laid it in for two. The basket was waved off, and Bird was called for a technical. He did not react to the call; he merely turned and ran back down the floor, his blond head bowed.
Once the buzzer sounded and Michigan State's 75–64 victory was officially in the books, Bird quickly located Johnson, shook his hand, and congratulated him for having the better team.
Bird checked out with mortal numbers: 19 points on 7 of 21 shooting attempts with 13 rebounds and 2 assists. Yet what haunts him to this day are the missed free throws.
"It's the one thing I'll never get over," Bird said.
Magic was too busy celebrating with his teammates to notice the anguish of his opponent. It wasn't until later, with his arm draped around a young announcer named Bryant Gumbel, that Magic noticed Bird sitting on his bench, his face buried in a towel. Johnson had just been named the game's Most Outstanding Player on the strength of his 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, but suddenly he felt a pang of sympathy for his rival.
"I spent all week wanting to beat Bird in the worst way, but when it happened, I found myself feeling kind of bad," Magic said. "I knew how much it meant to Larry. I cried the year before when we lost to Kentucky."
Bird declined to attend the postgame press conference. He remained, head down, choking back tears in that towel for several minutes after the game ended.
"What hit me most was it was all over," Bird said. "I didn't know where I was going. I hadn't signed with the Celtics yet, and I had no clue what was next. And it was just killing me we were out there playing so hard and no matter what we did, it wasn't going to happen."
In subsequent years, as the stature of Bird and Magic increased, the championship game was rehashed and rescrutinized hundreds of times. Bird conceded that, if the two teams played again, Michigan State would beat Indiana State nine times out of ten.
"Maybe even ten out of ten," he admitted.
Their epic game sparked an interest in college basketball that exploded in subsequent years. Three decades later, the NCAA basketball tournament was one of the most hyped and eagerly anticipated events in sports, its roots firmly planted in the drama of Magic and Larry.
After their showdown, both players went home to a hero's welcome. The Spartans were treated to a ticker-tape parade featuring Magic lounging in a convertible, waving to his adoring public.
The Sycamores were greeted by more than 10,000 smitten fans upon their return to Terre Haute, and Bird was later presented with a key to the city.
Heathcote spent 16 more seasons at Michigan State, earning legendary status for guiding the team to the first title in school history. Hodges was dismissed from Indiana State three seasons later and never given another opportunity to coach a major college program.
Bird and Magic moved on to professional basketball—together, of course.
Whenever Hodges ran into Heathcote, he'd whack his rival on the back and say, "Remember, Jud, you're the one who ruined my life."
Bird vowed to make sure he would never have to say the same to Magic Johnson.
3. MAY 16, 1980
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
THE ROOKIE WAS SITTING in the captain's seat.
Usually only veterans claimed dibs on the roomier bulkhead rows