The Power of Friendship

On November 3, 2009 Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were interviewed on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. The main focus of the podcast was to discuss Johnson's and Bird's new book When The Game Was Ours.

First, I enjoyed this podcast because it was not too long, about nine minutes. And it covered two of basketball's great athletes. The overall podcast was about the book but it really focused on the friendship between Johnson and Bird. They were rivals in college basketball as well as in the NBA. After a photo shoot for Converse shoes which both appeared in their friendship took off. Bird was also one of the first people that Johnson called after he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Host Michele Norris did a nice job of detailing the book and interviewing Johnson and Bird. She was professional and spoke in a way that everyone could understand. The broadcast included several soundsbites. There was a soundbite of an announcr during one of Johnson's games and a bite of an announcer during one of Bird's games.

Both Johnson and Bird provided commentary during the podcast. Norris asked questions which they eagerly answered. When she talks about the Converse commercial a soundbite of the commerical can be heard as well.

A more dramatic soundbite that was p.ayed during the podcast was of Johnson's announcement to the public that he would be retiring from the NBA because of HIV/AIDS. This clip brings a different tone to the podcast. It goes from a friendlier one to a more somber one.

The podcast ends on a high note though because once again Norris emphasizes the friendship between the two.

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