Jackie MacMullan, "When the Game was Ours"

But right now it's our pleasure to visit with a friend of ours I'd say an old friend beware the old -- she's just been around for -- as our friend. If she started when -- ten Jackie McMullen had Jackie how are you tonight -- across the wrong buttons. Jackie I invite I don't I don't ever barometer. -- You know you Jackie you you have been around launch salmon as they said you started when you were twelve so another you're 38 you got a book out.

Now are so -- you know I do feel about the don't a lot of radio so that they can he got dropping. Evan and that public land like I don't mind. At -- you know you look real.

We -- on ESPN no you got this new book out too we -- about because it's and a near and dear subject were all of us and it's not. Larry Bird and Larry Bird Irvin Magic Johnson to win the game was ours is the name of the book. Just in time for Christmas.

Now that's the plan a plan -- that title come about. Well I don't provocative some -- Yes somebody creative not -- came up with that -- Mike -- I don't suddenly had a entrepreneur how could come up with the best title how -- went dark magic bullet I told it was ridiculous but you don't call the bulk of the book -- imagine I think it may have been.

Someone in the hold up one not creative department came up with --

I think Larry thought it was a little pretentious that.

Abernethy go through a slot in -- I'm glad it wasn't you that Citic that I am I some gonna bring this up Richard you know catches that I hadn't yet at the.

Time to go in net new you know of the year being delineated at the time by by the two biggest names in the in the sport and and to this day when we think back over fondly. We always call at the Larry magic -- don't.

We really do and you know sometimes that not really written -- in Paris and -- and Kareem and all of them but but the product let them then that's a lot of magic and Larry I've got guys when I looked out on it.

I'm gonna make it up any better. You know basically for the national championship they don't believe it is exactly.

They don't play that it's the most. There are protected in history on opposite code you know. You know you get on Britain's blue car in the black versus white yup you know you give you -- that these mysterious. Thing it did.

Hollywood couldn't have made some.

Better known and you I'm surprised -- have made a movie about it yet to a December maybe after the tell -- that beat you never know about who would play Larry. I think what I'm -- one I think Denzel maybe can handle matching public that guy is dumb and dumber. She ran away that you. Can -- I. Have my word and you'll you'll on the teleconference the other day. I wasn't. Don't like that it eat right and.

It it was it was terrific. And I really enjoyed it and and it. The way they speak now not just reverence for each other but this visit maturity -- the middle aged guys Jacqui we knew Larry when you would just say slug bug going out for bids were Roby and I'm Mikhail. And but there's been such a surety in him and and magic. More thoughtful than ever you know I didn't really like magic. You know and today -- it up. Yeah yeah again with the whole Hollywood thing and stuff like -- hey that's replay that's where you you know made his bed. But I mean I've really you know on 180 on on my opinion -- Some the subjects they -- it was just terrific and you just alluded to. You know bet era where they changed the game which they did and it disparage his the other guys but they brought about this city. Magic brought up you know Kareem and James -- And you know Larry brought -- by Mikhail and in Paris so -- good you know armies and they've given it some thought you know. -- that was the Genesis. Book what's the -- Who planted in you -- did you come up the idea -- how that happened.

Well you know I was really badly hit the -- that drove the train EM. You know he had such reverence for Larry -- room. No he wanted to share with Larry -- why didn't wanna hear you know Larry is right you know they would at the moment where they were billionaire on that have a -- and and that you could say okay now I gotta. You know now going to be president of the next time we come well I would -- I -- and I thought I think that they retired and.

And certainly. When -- contracting HIV that was in a traumatic event all of -- community that.

I'm married and had a Larry when members -- Jackie. He wouldn't want to very curtain and and I think we're -- what happened like there's that guy been battling a life. It's I didn't get to polite resisting lacking that got its own life now did the woman Brookline.

He's lying down. Any thinking about this guy and digging equipment I think that that but we also got eighteen had been hit the stomach that he hadn't had -- debate otter took an online and and I think what happened -- that when Larry you know I.

This guy gonna die and you know what I -- to make sure I would not feel about what had happened and I think that on the -- to break into them.

Yeah and I think that that was appoint a maturity for Larry to you know I mean it was something that I mean obviously you know what happened was -- with the suicide and and then -- sudden inning and ended different vein contemporary like a magic. You know I I think that really each started to change. You know Larry in terms of you know maturity beyond the basketball court.

Yeah you don't need access to apply need the public -- the.

The private -- on Larry it only to -- me not for the opportunity to know Larry pretty well. It went up on you guys have ever been around and an easily one of the most loyal guy I've ever known in my life and it and -- a gregarious and and very you know outgoing and you could be with. But he just doesn't Soledad that I didn't -- in public he shot and.

I hit a little side and -- most awkward and you know I've got like -- he really doesn't it make a burger and make them actually have to trouble reading you -- wanted to.

Anything but not the book at them both talking about the -- in Barcelona that it. Barcelona and you know it's like rock -- and -- places that the Borland and handed the minority in -- people aren't connected with the land that. The problem is quite right bracket you cannot look at the --

Did magic help them get over that a little bit -- Over time China and no.

Not really you know Larry that it goes much better when he won I want somebody -- happy when he signal amid guards. And slick Indiana with a beer open looking at is beautiful car it in perfectly polished and clean and -- on a plane type with the -- and Larry.

that's suspects people in my neighborhood patent generally don't -- that came up well French -- came my pin in the interview -- that -- a teleconference the other day. And you certainly remember this that the famous with the congress shows that they that men -- magic -- to you know Indian foreign. Larry was justice done by that you know recent and he says this quote from Mattel constant updates that. You know I couldn't believe you account to my territory. And -- that never would have -- you know what -- exactly exactly and and magic said it was eye opener for me to like got to learn about Larry Bird you know in the match in the pour back background Larry came from and the fact that it's -- committed suicide. And he said I came up from I can in my port to -- that. You know they they realized a lot of things about themselves it's shooting that commercial literature well known of document.

I'm Larry Bird night we all remember that vividly from -- from the garden that and how well how that whole night came down -- magic being there and just the way the whole thing is Camilleri saying. It was not going to be come back and -- or ask a question board when magic finally. Did make a comeback and was obviously not the same player Jackie in your view what that tarnish him at all you know as far as is a -- long term reputation.

I don't think they'll -- it is --

And what you remember Michael Jordan you remember the com. Combat in Iraq and it would -- a former do you remember out in -- won multiple -- really think it's the same kind of think you know an an and that the people have to understand it.

In the region that you came back. I recommitment and that some of these that it can't handle retirement.

He read it -- was forced to retire whenever he came back recently that next -- and the and the problem so horrible and need the did lack.

A reception but --

Disappointing and upsetting him you know players like Karl Malone turning against -- get that scraps in the exhibition game against Clinton than I am proud of being in. You know holding on -- probably get that they have big Madonna for crying out loud right now. So that's. That's how he retired the the second time and that didn't sit right and because he retired for the wrong reasons he retired because people are afraid.

And I think the reading came back at that time probably years later and you want to --

player who -- practically it my all court power cord I'm an op events you know forty pounds heavier you did that because he needed them.

He needed to retire on it.

I give him a pass.

Jackie both of them harassed. You know. A lot the other day about the arrival in different points event and someone mass. If file what do they seem horizon and it's you know could Kobe and LeBron do the same thing well in a way in and considered to best plays in the game. But I had magic -- that -- they haven't played in the finals yet they have to meet the finals a couple of times. -- Larry and I we've met and finalists we didn't -- wouldn't be what we nevermind the college shows matchup and think yeah yeah that's real key to that -- setting the pace of -- relation -- and just different type of players Clinton gave one game thing I mean you know I mean that's a duplicative NCAA championship. In the NBA you can you can do that multiple times and at clarion in and he did. But you know they would be able fascinating to listen to Jacki should duct tape of it.

Well -- on the way I will say one other thing about the difference between LeBron and Kobe and Larry and magic and yet. Did come into the -- get. They didn't come into the league at the exact same time that's right I'm -- to major print and I think it's you know -- the one thing that it going to be hard to. So that rivaling the same way because I would think we would all agree that -- a very competent game. And probably about to go on the back out of his career let go beyond that even the peak of his career yeah I think that's another major different.

Now the other part of it is to I don't know about you guys but I hate Colby I mean I've never could hate magic is much they hate the lakers generated match used to likable. And you know Larry Norton is -- and oh my -- So we would call racists you're I'd just hate the guy can't stand dumped it makes me sick. But -- magic you know even though he was on the the dreaded enemies in the big rivals. Is the had a liked his personality and his his -- this you know and all that all the went with the smiles and all that stuff he was very charming guy. I've met him when not. Gayle king's friend Oprah had a -- to town in Hartford and I you know the guys really legitimately charming human being.

About optimistic people I have ever been around and you know I went around a lot of the project and I never gonna kinda bad mood and the other thing. It just won't need a way it when you heard public with them and that anyone ever get any -- is that Larry they're usually in the privacy of adopted. Or in the privacy of the -- the -- his home by The -- or whatever it. An argument about it like that with Matt Oppenheim we need in Iraq not we've -- having -- in Iraq on the people would become an up to Latin interrupting a.

And I became really hurricane. Did you know --

The ninth hey you would find something very safe to eat when the middle of that right now my way out about -- Jack I've never heard anybody you know.

Does that I've been yelled at those who didn't you just -- I'm trying to write a book over land -- out you know -- wanted to but they make you like -- yeah -- probably night and Jackie's bigger book I think -- announce it Wednesday right. It it went on Atlanta but -- in the -- Iowa.

Okay so they were passed. Why the book why why do this book right and at out of instinct you know -- said. I felt was important to let people know how I felt in that time period that that was a lot of misconceptions about him in his you know attitude in May be is it's arrogance and wait. In magic set to get the truth about what what debated what better way to do it then do it together and so give -- Halliburton magic never.

I think they got tired of people writing about them what I have o'clock until -- right now and how you can understand that. And I'm on the lot and and and it's just that important. Things that that have been perpetuate you're about Larry in the Stanley that that didn't sit well themselves don't attempt to both of them to kind of set things straight. And -- you know to reveal the people. The -- that they have a real.

We just baseball they talk about you know 91941. You know -- this is Joe DiMaggio Ted Williams I think all people that live through -- look at the as the late eighties with the with the room lakers and Celtics and magic and and bird -- rivalry as the golden era until something comes along to change that Jackie and I think that's if not all by itself. A good reason to write a book like this.

Yeah I I gotta tell -- it was the all my life because. -- lives there's so much that I watched it. Are some of the journalists summit you know just a kid in college you know I was 21 years old might need one I'm about 721. And that. -- my professional perspective a Lebanon and and some of that word you know what I -- most implant is growing up in the area and and watch it on hold out. You know there was some of the group little things like 87 that they actually helped each other I would look at. I mean you didn't know that at this monument I'm -- Clinton defense.

It really really is. And that's you know that's why the -- that that again that Larry -- night was more special maybe do one guy in the world you had to have show up to that event was Magic Johnson.

I -- it's unbelievable and you know that didn't they think -- amnesty -- whenever I'm tired and you cannot -- they would say I want it to be mad that I didn't want stunning announcement. Now that they're prevalent whether they like it or not and now the vehicle like it now these are quite happy about.

Jackie both -- along with the whole process from you know that the seed of the idea to you first where it through to the press.

Well now is little more complicated Melanie because them the suspect many years ago they were gonna do a coffee table book it was going to be.

I -- that about the under the that would you right.

That that -- outside the security now output. Right you know 20000 words the companies and that that would spoke to -- my role and a well lot of reasons that I won't -- you -- it said that project felt real and that the when the sun came up again. -- you know when we were talking and I tried the simulate human rights the student -- the memoir of the two you know I didn't. And that brings a lot about doing it in their voices first person that. I think a little complicated. They'll let the candidate to the terrific editor at home that when bill. Really made it -- special -- just it's it's a -- and one at that you know what with a third person narrative I think it'll work. You can can be the fly on the rocks that -- then men -- and hopefully -- good work.

Well no better subject no better person did to do the project that you Jackie. And I hope you sell a zillion copies -- I can tell you that I got 34 people my Christmas list to be perfect give pork. So they can go to Amazon and get it -- they get at a bookstore.

It should animate them that content you don't walk rather nice little that you are up on Amazon com if you click on that -- you can really get it and -- turnaround Mikey let's hook up like -- and I'll put EM up.

You wanna Jacki thank you had nice talkin' to you haven't gotten it on an obvious Argentine banking and diplomats random you know -- that's I don't have gotten mine. Okay not go to our Jacqui thank you very. --

Are -- friend Jackie McMullen -- and one of the nice people -- a great people in the business no question this is a good lord it's gonna be Goodman. For everybody it's this into it NN SI a lot of people are talking about huge group of people that wanted to rent -- read this book.