[11:46] ..." will bond a year ago a year half going to -- a Kevin Garnett going to Boston it's racist Michael and Rick Reilly a month ago said. -- the Celtics on in because of race the"...

[13:55] ..." or wouldn't give the time today. There there there are several people Bob Bryan who way I would like he called him three times it's."...

[14:21] ..." Called I talk of Robin Reid who played with the Houston Rockets nice it could I speak with Sammy teammates and he gave me Moses -- phone mountain. So I called Moses up I"...

[15:44] ..." into the crowd in game six and fired up his teammates. -- Pat Williams and GM of the sixes Heiden in the broom closet in the Boston got -- because the intensity was just pouring out"...

[0:03]" Welcome back our number three Dennis and Callahan. As a writer for the Boston Herald and authored a book called 26 miles to Boston. A writer Michael Conley of chronicle the life and sports world of this city are for many many years Michael as a new book out called rebound basketball. -- Larry Bird and the rebirth of Boston. -- Michael Conley joined in the studios -- Michael how are you want to guys Corey to be others appears to be at once a sports book and a history book which way is the needle leaving."

[0:31]" Michael no -- I invoke my license of of poetic license to use two stories and just found them within one balked at two different worlds going on during the seventies that I. They're traveling down train tracks but sometimes they have to sex sometimes they don't but the two separate worlds that just existed during the seventies and boss. And how -- they touch each other and meaningful ways that we all need to know about or live through -- the books that's with Ted -- my -- the African American attorney being attacked on the bricks of government -- The book ends with Larry Bird greeting the crowd and galvanized in this city together on those same -- so. In tangible and intangible ways these this these two stories and dissect the crossroads sometimes sublime sometimes not."

[1:13]" And I mean I I said this yesterday in my idea I don't like the title -- like to subtitled but the title doesn't do justice. I know there's meaning better and rebound you look at rebound they now. Another basketball book or a mark -- movie you know very famous and -- it's nobody. And but this is a serious work and I forget if it gets so much managing grew up around -- you forget just how tumultuous the times weren't. And how well at exactly what time bird came along I always what you meant I give that scene in the City Hall plaza on the forget it. And I'll never forget the effect he had on me and everybody image it was it was to in my mind though it's a sports thing where it was right after you know -- Fisk and Fred Lynn left in the and -- the Patriots socked in the rim and it was just not much. To cheer for along comes bird just the most uplifting character. Any kind of put a chip on the shoulder this whole area this whole region but he tied into. Things that were happening outside the sports world to forget this was a pre crazy place when Larry showed up."

[2:19]" For 56 year period boss was almost embarrassed by what was going -- In what the 81 team made up of six black six -- plays gave Boston was the opportunity to feel good about itself again. It was the first time Boston was able to look at the name boss and I assured him Boston on the news. And feel good then you know Boston has something that gets Alex and he works Sidney wicks and Curtis."

[2:42]" I mean I I knew those were dark that -- a lot of which you forget how you read about it and and these guys or Marvin Barnes literally doing cocaine on the bench on the bench. Put that towel over his head and doing some lines -- game and I guess that had its effect and on the whole team all league."

[3:02]" At that point. There's no question -- to Tommy -- and talked a little bit about it as he said. I went from being a dictator as a coach to Henry clay of the great compromiser. In the entire role as a coach changes he MBA changed. He was going into the airport bathrooms to make sure his players are and they used the facilities -- not hiding to use drugs so. It was it was a crazy world going on on the streets of -- crazy we're going on the locker rooms of the MBA."

[3:28]" Now as a kid growing up in west -- for you account to tell the economy going to a Celtics game and and come on back on -- are on the -- was that your first experience who was that your first sort of."

[3:39]" Revelation view that something was happening in this town that wasn't going to be comfortable for the next few years. You're always conscious of the fact that the city was being torn up but. To have attained generally affect you like that coming home in the Orange Line and -- gun drawn on you in the middle of a racial incidents. Was just some sort of brought at all to light that this is real it's not tell that tell us just -- it is a great stories great -- when they make a movie of your -- that's going to be feelings -- Antonio thirteen years -- thirteen years old and -- back then -- parents would like to take the -- flying into the gotten we have. Matinee tickets to the Celtics game -- some friends and after the game were coming home and talking about the game and who trained screech is up to Dudley station which shows always bumps before you get to the station platform. Everyone draws gets quiet as you pull up to the station. In dissolve the passengers again not -- the black passengers. As one is getting off a white teenager on the subways yells out. You know -- racial epithet all off in the calls them the racial epithet well. The last. Black passenger before he gets off stops that they sliding doors churns around pulls on again. And pointed at the pole with this teenager was where we where also. Unsure of who said that he points the Gannon all of us. So is at that moment that the racial crisis came to the common household. Tell moment and then when you're home now they read in the book."

[5:08]" Were they disappointed with you can -- you read in the book and it what's element that would restrict my freedom. Two to go to the games. It -- Tuesday that it they want to know what else that in."

[5:18]" You know it's it's funny that most. I I guess I'm guessing you had a little trouble selling this idea that some people because. While and we you and I problem Larry Bird watching and all re emergence resurgence of the Celtics. You don't generally think that team did a lot to you know. Heal the racial. Divide them today and I mean you do a nice job of make in the case. But I don't think I've heard that case made before that Larry Bird in. In a Kevin McHale and any games you went Mac thing -- was here yet but. Went and did much in terms of repairing the damage was done through the busing crisis."

[5:57]" If you asked the play is none of them had the intention of trying to Scotch tape the city of Boston back together. What happened was they were all pulled together with one common goal winning. Through that winning the city's -- to jump on the bandwagon and they had something to fall that was positive. For the first time the city said the -- that is blacks in general rooted for the team. Visit and distinct difference between the 85 team in the 81 team. The 81 team was a melting pot it was six black six -- it was plays from every corner of the country UN Roby and Florida firms and from California. Tiny from New York forward from New Jersey Byrd from Indiana. -- had a that was a melting pot."

[6:40]" What did you find to be the most fascinating guy that you found out stuff about you did know whether it be certainly probably not Larry Bird maybe did -- But the judge Garrity or bill -- shore or who did you find out things that you were unaware of even as a writer in Boston and basketball fan sportswriter."

[6:56]" pick too good names right they judge Garrity. Growing up -- I had a preconceived notion that Garrity was the person. That inflicted all of this pain upon us and he what he did was. His ruling and the court case was completely a 100% correct. We he -- was the fact that his implementation. To solve the problem. Was a complete failure and the busing -- hundred million dollars the purpose of Boston was to balance schools are imbalance. When it was all said and done the schools were never -- balances they were then. White flight happened in Boston and the city in the face some of the communities change completely how was he without hole. Rustling of that that project personally. He he's a very diligent person I spoke with coworkers of his he's and a man of very high character. He understood the historical and even biblical consequences of what he was doing. He's going to change of cities that have been 400 years old in eleven weeks and your take on bill Fitch. Bill -- was very interest in them. Almost every player to a man. Dislike them almost every media Mehmet dislike them but if you put the plays on the truth serum they would say Fitch was the right man yeah the right time."

[8:10]" I want to go back -- there and it sounds like they're a kind of a conflict that you're saying and it was a right decision. And yet it was a complete failure to meet I I understand I'm -- I'm reading -- on the things you write about him in that and I understand that. You had a very common preconceived notion. What ball what I don't what I understand what changed your mind go with what if it was a complete failure. If it did nothing if it didn't serve the purpose didn't achieve the goal itself to do. Then why was it the right thing to do."

[8:42]" These school committee in the status quo politicians in Boston for years. Had ignored not by the constitution but the Supreme Court. And the brown versus Topeka board of education in the fifties even gone back to eighteen funny with the Serra roberts' case which is a major case in the schools back then. The school committee refuse to abide by what they were asked to do they they serve them for themselves at the pleasure of themselves in the fact that. For years that's the school committee refused to lose that integrate the schools left judge Gary very very impatient man. Now for his ability to rule. It was accurate with the constitution Supreme Court what he should have done what he didn't do was show some patience and try to implement the system over I grew."

[9:30]" What I mean what parent. Is ever going to accept a system where you kids like a year left school when you're left with his friends play sport -- a team haven't -- You know in his neighborhood and it's okay. He's going to get on the bus and go ten miles to some other school. And they're going to say okay good idea let's wherein we're on board mean that the whole concept seems. Doomed to fail from the start."

[9:56]" You you had judge Garrity from wells lead you had experts from North Carolina from Michigan all these people from outside the city trying to put them. Finger on the pulse of Boston the data and understand the community that you've forged for 33 so I don't -- thought it would work. Whoever said this'll work even the person who developed the whole theory of -- Would later come out and say this is a complete failure."

[10:21]" Your book makes the case that Bostonians at that time were paying attention of the Celtics and were galvanized by some of their successes. With the you know inclusion on Larry Bird on the roster. Was there any evidence that anybody talked to that the Celtics were aware of what was going around. Them going on around them or they oblivious to at all."

[10:40]" They weren't oblivious Cedric Maxwell talked about when the draft came along. He was hoping that Atlanta would choose them in any was well aware of what was going on up in Boston. When he was selected -- disappointed because he was leaving his hometown plus there was there was problems up here in Boston so they are conscious of it. But it didn't affect them. Directly."

[11:01]" What if the included will sleep in the plant or Brookline -- Dukakis -- the rest of the academics. If their neighborhoods were included -- this of that room happen. They would have their creative real fast in the solomons wisdom which I called upon in the book to solve this problem. Would have been enacted at that time -- And you referred of this and in -- It if you read selling in the green and you have but in with a New York Times guys wrote about the team. And their you know their guys like Cedric Maxwell who hadn't. Problems. With the racial climate in and they had problems with Celtics organization at times. It's the ones who do with so cavalierly like public. -- Michael will bond a year ago a year half going to -- a Kevin Garnett going to Boston it's racist Michael and Rick Reilly a month ago said. -- the Celtics on in because of race the Celtics are not. He had to do a -- we could pick one team represent pizzas he wouldn't be the Celtics their racist a month ago and around the racist problems that had. And it's just that the most serious charge you can make against someone something and they do so cavalierly. And and you have reference to a Dan Shaughnessy in his book ever green and what he calls the upper deck it at that it's all what he says people from Charlestown South Boston called cheap seats. At the garden and it's just just like just throwing out there you know you if you make the most vile. Accusation against someone and act like you're talking about there now they vote on funny hat on something that's."

[12:40]" It just taken so lightly seems to me but -- one of the motivations for this book is. This is a great city no matter what if of people to painted as the epicenter of racism is a complete falsehood. Is there racism in Boston yes but also Detroit Chicago Miami -- Los Angeles. In people like Spike Lee who want to perpetuate this image of Boston. Haven't buses knocked over. Even can -- Rosenfels I -- that's in -- his -- all through that I article talkin' about. When you want to connect Boston and whites as Ken Rosenthal that the very dangerous road he took that. Who was a cooperative in your efforts and who was not. I music is great experience for me because I was able to meet and -- with people that. We're involved with this Billy Bulger real long list -- Whitey -- minutes at -- it is call you back against Philly bullets in no way. His aliases in that we've ray Flynn Cedric Maxwell is great Gerald Henderson's great Steve -- was married. I said at a breakfast -- with four of them most prominent black leaders in Boston just set there with my record Iran and it was a very it. Interesting meeting and who didn't give it time a day or wouldn't give the time today. There there there are several people Bob Bryan who way I would like he called him three times it's."

[14:03]" Rising I mean you make a lot of references the stuff he wrote and said. And and he's not the kind of guy. And badger herald guy maybe in the globe gutter something else going on behind the scenes I don't know -- so I speak of the Moses Malone yes I possession. I added that the."

[14:21]" Called I talk of Robin Reid who played with the Houston Rockets nice it could I speak with Sammy teammates and he gave me Moses -- phone mountain. So I called Moses up I gave my hope pitch to Moses I'm doing this book on the 81 championship. I'm Mike Conley -- and and Boston have loved to have your input on this. Needs in his bit best Barry white voice said big -- don't know you look at."

[14:43]" And hung up before. The big Mo don't know you know it's that that that parts interest from the 81 the the you think as -- thing people forget that Philly series the Philly series was the -- mean it was the biggest. Deal and that Emmy winning the title was -- Houston it was just that those foregone conclusion. But getting over the home beaten Philadelphia beaten and Andrew -- and beaten to -- and was like. In -- it was big as anything the Patriots have done in the in the Brady your your or the Red Sox for the men. It has to be the most intense an interest in series in Boston sports history the only thing that would approaches open or -- the -- yet the Red Sox comeback against the Yankees because. The World Series was similar the two World Series were similar -- were and whatever -- and they want it and it was no big deal but that game that series that got them there. Was bigger --"

[15:39]" It has so many twists and turns with they're down 31. As Cedric Maxwell went into the crowd in game six and fired up his teammates. -- Pat Williams and GM of the sixes Heiden in the broom closet in the Boston got -- because the intensity was just pouring out the parquet floor. It was just sit I can remember bird celebrate at the top of the key. Completely unconscious of all the crowds swarming around and just hold his hands over his head with such sort of innocent in general yes or."

[16:08]" crazy kid in the member of -- crazy Jennings obviously most of civil Moses. But he was -- party area -- in annual hall of drink India and just he was a bit of a wild man in those days he settled down. In the subsequent title years in mid eighties ladies but back then man he was. He was like Mickey mantle he was a lot of fun."

[16:31]" The book is called rebound basketball -- Larry -- the rebirth of Boston the author's name is Michael -- a Michael good luck with the book it's in the bookstores as of this week yes it is available in the books or rebound basketball -- Larry Bird and the rebirth of Boston but good luck in thanks for -- thank you very much -- will continue."