1979 NCAA Finals - Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson [Ending]

Michigan State, coached by Jud Heathcote, won the national title with a 75-64 victory in the final game over Indiana State, coached by Bill Hodges. Magic Johnson of Michigan State was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The final game marked the beginning of the rivalry between future Hall of Famers Johnson and Larry Bird. To this day, it remains the highest-rated game in the history of televised college basketball. Both Magic and Bird would enter the NBA in the fall of 1979, and the rivalry between them and their teams (respectively, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics) was a major factor in the league's renaissance in the 1980s and 1990s. The game also led to the "modern era" of college basketball, as it introduced a nationwide audience to a sport that was once relegated to second-class status in the sports world.

This was the first tournament in which all teams were seeded by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee. The top six seeds in each regional received byes to the second round, while seeds 7-10 played in the first round.

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[fallbackbroham]

"that is fraud". of course, it's the nba. the knicks winning the #1 draft pick and taking patrick ewing over the pacers was a fraud. the lakers could have lost that series if it were'nt for magic's leadership.so i don't mind them changing the vote. bill needs to get over his guilt, it's not even that serious anyway. i don'thear kareem crying.

[mrho4speed]

U should care what Bill Livingston said, everyone should. He was 1 of 7 chosen to vote for 80 finals MVP. After game 6 the tally had Kareem as the winner. CBS didn't want to present to an absent Kareem, so voters were pressured & coerced to change votes - that is fraud. I'm not taking credit away from Magic - his game 6 was terrific, but u r taking credit away from Kareem - his performance THROUGHOUT series was much better & why he was true MVP. Bill's guilt ate at him, 9 yrs later he confessed

[fallbackbroham]

*realized how great magic was*

[fallbackbroham]

i don't care what bill said. if kareem won it, he would have it. it's okay for them to change their minds and vote for magic. especially after they've realized that magic lead them to a great victory. wilkes did score 37,but magic scored 42,so you can't take credit away from magic. no one wins by themselves,of course.

[mrho4speed]

Your statement "magic has the most assists in playoffs history" is off topic. We r talking @ 1980 finals + u constantly ignore fact that magic set the all time finals record with 30 turnovers in that series. Have to take good + bad. Kareem's stats + votes shows who true mvp was. Bill Livingston's confession explained what happened. It seems your blind allegiance to magic does not allow u to see other players (wilkes career high 37 pts + Chones def on Dawkins) or think clearly + grasp reality.

[fallbackbroham]

your still crying huh? magic, has the most assists in playoffs history.apparently he didnt need kareem in game six. he showed hoow much of a great player he was. being a leader isnt all about putting up points. he got all of his teammates involved, especially the big man. when his team needed him he stepped up big time. trophy earned.it was a must win.you never want to go into a game 7.with an injured kareem,it was important to close them out.

[mrho4speed]

What it is - is Magic won the MVP trophy by default. Kareem had the votes and won until CBS did not want to present to an empty chair. Who's crying? these are the facts-just like Kareem was the best laker on that team & in Magic's own words "Kareem carried us" that season. So Magic's NBA finals record of 30 turnovers - a record that has lasted 30+ yrs- means nothing? Game 6 was a must win for Philly not LA. Magic never won a ring w/out Kareem so who needed who? Nobody wins alone-KAJ was better.

[fallbackbroham]

YOU should grow up and accept the fact that it is what it is.magic did what kareem couldn't do for the lakers in 5 years. win the chip. you can cry about it all you like,but that trophy is sitting in magics house.EVERY game in the finals is a must win.you just do not want to accept the fact that it was magic who pulled it out for the lakers.

[mrho4speed]

Definition of a "must win" = if u lose, series is over - so you are wrong, gm 6 was not a must win. All I have told u is true - so you want me to shut up? Not going to happen. Perhaps u need to grow up and accept truth and move on. Or maybe u can't handle the truth? The choice is yours and its your problem if you don't want to hear or discuss the truth.

[fallbackbroham]

'mvd most valuable diver'