North Station Sports

The story of the soon to be released book, When The Game Was Ours, is beginning to create drama that rival’s the epic basketball battles of the 1980’s, in which it chronicles.

The book, which at first seemed to be another squeaky clean portrayal of the Larry Bird/Magic Johnson basketball rivalry of the 80’s, has actually turned into quite the sports controversy.

In a story published by Sports Illustrated Online today, Isiah Thomas, the subject of many of the criticism described in the book,  struck back today. Isiah candidly addressed several accusations made at him by Magic Johnson in the book. He did not hold back anything today, he accused Johnson of being two faced and having a duel personality. Isiah said,

“There’s this public person and then there’s this b.s. person. There’s Earvin and then there’s Magic. OK, I understand you’ve got to sell a book. But if this is how you sell it, then who’s kicking who in the stomach?

“There’s this public person and then there’s this b.s. person. There’s Earvin and then there’s Magic. Okay, I understand you’ve got to sell a book. But this is how you sell it? Then who’s kicking who in the stomach?”

Magic accused Isiah of spreading rumors that the basketball icon was gay when the news first broke that Magic had the HIV virus. Isiah told SI today,

“Magic acted and responded off some really bad information that he got. Whatever friendship we had, I thought it was bull —- that he believed that. Let me put it to you this way: if he and I were such close friends, if I was questioning his sexuality, then I was questioning mine too. That’s how idiotic it is.”

Thomas also, in typical Isiah fashion, denied everything in the book from his freeze out of Michael Jordan in the 1985 all-star game to Magic’s claim that he spent hours consoling Isiah when he blew game 5 on the 1987 EC Finals against the Celtics.

Isiah also insinuated that Magic has held a different opinion of Larry Bird in his private life and that Isiah has witnessed Johnson take a different stance towards Larry in his professional life. Isiah said,

“Lets be real. I am not going to say the things Magic said in private about Larry, but I do know the public stance he’s taken [in becoming Bird's friend]. I know that’s not how he felt about Larry Bird. Magic hated Larry and he tried to make others hate Larry. Magic was no friend of Larry Bird’s at that time. His Lakers teammates will tell you that and I’m sure they’ve got to be disgusted at the way he’s carried on with this whole me-and-Larry bull —- ”

I suggest you take a look at the entire story posted to Sports Illustrated today. It contains more detailed quotes from Isiah that may raise a few eye brows.