The Magic Johnson/Larry Bird Broadway show you always dreamed of
A. Isaac It appears that NBA Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are taking their talents to Broadway. Well, maybe not the athletes themselves but the story of their relationship that is. 
Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo were encouraged by the response to “Lombardi” — the story of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi now on Broadway — to push ahead with a second sports-themed play.
“We’ve been fired on by the experience to keep on going and really feel that it can be a really thriving series,” Kirmser said Thursday in a phone interview.
The story will trace the two basketball stars’ rivalry and friendship from their days as rookies in the NBA to their appearance on the Olympic Dream Team in 1992. Johnson and Bird were key parts in the storied struggle between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s.“Here are these two, amazing at their craft, inspiring to watch, and yet they couldn’t be more different people,” said Kirmser. “There was a fierce competitiveness between them and yet such a great love and respect.”
Who knew that sports rivalries were so intriguing as to make plays out of. Maybe one day we’ll have LeBron James and uh, eh, wait, um that one player he hated going up against. Oh no, I’m sorry, that never happened. He’s everyones friend in the NBA. At best, we’d have to settle for LeBron vs. the city of Cleveland and/or Comic Sans aficionado Dan Gilbert. Oh, how exciting. I’d rather go see “The Nutcracker” with my wife while a midget sat underneath my seat and repeatedly used my testicles as a speed bag.
Let the above be exhibit A as to why the NBA is not nearly as exciting or as “fantastic” as it used to be (the LeBron part–not the midget and my nuts).
Broadway plans play on Magic Johnson, Larry Bird [Sporting News]
comment on this story
blog comments powered by Disqus