Magic vs. Bird
One of the greatest sports rivalries that ever took place during the 1980′s was Magic vs. Bird. These two will always be considered two of the best basketball players ever. The rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird actually started in the 1979 NCAA basketball tournament where Magic’s Michigan State team beat Bird’s Indiana State team 75-64 in the last college game for the both of them.
Magic Johnson was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1979 draft, while Larry Bird was 6th overall to the Boston Celtics in the 1978 draft. The Lakers with Magic and the Celtics with Bird would have an intense rivalry all through the 1980′s. For some people this rivalry was about East Coast basketball with Larry Bird vs. West Coast basketball with Magic Johnson. For others it was more about white basketball with Bird vs. black basketball with Magic. For all of these reasons and more this rivalry produced great basketball and eventually a great respect between the two.
On the court these two would meet three times in the NBA finals. The Lakers beat the Celtics in 1985 and 1987. The Celtics won in 1984, but every time these teams played in the 1980′s, it was an intense show.