Overview: For years, the passion they shared for winning made Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird the most bitter of rivals. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals chronicles the fierce competition between Boston Celtics great Larry Bird and Los Angeles Lakers immortal Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

DVD Verdict: Narrated by Liev Schreiber, of all the videos about Bird and Magic that have come out through the years, this is by far the best. And, it is not a "highlight reel," so calm down!

This is about how they are forever linked in so many ways. They are linked in a lot of ways by being polar opposites from each other on some things. Black and white, East and West, charismatic and awkwardly quiet, Boston and LA, among about a million other comparisons. I saw this twice on HBO and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to sit quitely in my own front room and watch it at my heart's content - this time for reviewing purposes.

Their story is pretty much storybook type material. No two players in NBA history have ever been forever linked as Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson. Only a few rivalries in sports history compare. As I said before, this is not a highlight reel. This is as indepth life and career overview that has been made about these two men. Being too that it is made by HBO, it gives it much more credibility than any other previous biographies about them.

If you are a fan of sports in general I think you will enjoy this selection. If you are basketball fan, then this is a must have for your collection. Anyone will love Magic's infectious attitude about life and how emotional he is about himself and his friends and Bird's emotionless facial expressions as well as dry, ironic sense of humor that will have you rolling in the floor. Both of these men are equally likable but totally different personality wise. They were once bitter enemies and now are great friends that have a special connection and understanding only they can grasp. [JL] This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.