When the Game Was Ours Celebrates Legendary Rivalry between Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers
BOSTON — June 10, 2010 — As we watch the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers trading years as world champions, one can’t help but look back to the last thrilling time that was the case — the 1980s, when Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson orchestrated one of the most dramatic eras in NBA history, recounted in their New York Times bestselling book with Jackie MacMullan, When the Game Was Ours, published last fall by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
When the Game Was Ours transports readers back to professional basketball’s golden age and reminds us that before Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce captivated our attention from coast to coast, there was another duo that commanded the spotlight. Bird and Johnson’s epic battles of the 1980s raised the teams’ rivalry to new heights and set the stage for Celtics-Lakers showdowns for years to come.
The two legendary players maintained an uncommonly competitive relationship that came to symbolize the most exciting rivalry in the NBA — Celtics vs. Lakers, East vs. West, physical vs. finesse, old school vs. Showtime, even white vs. black. Bird and Johnson pushed each other to greatness, together collecting eight NBA championships and six MVP awards and helping to save a floundering league.
The book is “the ultimate insiders’ account of the rivalry that launched the modern NBA” (Tom Verducci).
About the Authors
Larry Bird played 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. He claimed three NBA titles, three MVP awards, and an Olympic gold medal. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. He was the head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000 and currently serves as the team’s President of Basketball Operations.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, claimed five NBA titles, three MVP awards, and an Olympic gold medal. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. He is now the chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises and Vice President and part owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jackie MacMullan is a nationally recognized sports columnist who spent three decades at the Boston Globe. She is a frequent correspondent for ESPN and a regular contestant on ESPN’s Around the Horn. This summer, she will be honored with the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award, presented to members of the media who have made a significant contribution to basketball. She is the first woman to win the award. To interview Jackie MacMullan, contact Megan Wilson at megan.wilson@hmhpub.com.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world’s largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.
CONTACT:
Megan Wilson
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
617-351-3377
megan.wilson@hmhpub.com
Lori Glazer
Vice President, Executive Director of Publicity
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade and Reference Publishers
212-420-5840
lori.glazer@hmhpub.com