When March Went Mad

When March Went Mad chronicles the 1979 NCAA championship game between Michigan State and Indiana State, featuring the first matchup between future NBA legends Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The book examines the lives and careers of both players leading up to their historic encounter in what became the most-watched college basketball game ever. Davis reconstructs the parallel journeys of Johnson and Bird through their respective seasons, following Michigan State's drive to prove themselves as national contenders and Indiana State's improbable rise from obscurity. The narrative tracks both teams' paths through the NCAA tournament while exploring the contrast between Johnson's outgoing personality and Bird's intense privacy. Through interviews and detailed research, the book captures the cultural impact of this pivotal moment in basketball history. The game marked a turning point for college basketball and the NCAA tournament, transforming March Madness from a regional competition into a national phenomenon that changed both the sport and television coverage of college athletics. The book stands as an examination of how single moments can transform sports history, and how the intersection of two transcendent athletes can capture the imagination of an entire nation. The Johnson-Bird rivalry that began in this game would go on to define an era of basketball and demonstrate the power of sports to unite diverse audiences.

Readers appreciate the detailed retelling of the 1979 NCAA championship game between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, with many noting Davis' thorough research and player interviews provide new insights into the matchup. Several reviews highlight the book's exploration of how the game transformed college basketball's popularity and TV coverage. Readers liked: - Personal stories about both players' backgrounds - Coverage of lesser-known teammates and coaches - Balance in giving both teams equal attention - Behind-the-scenes details about the television broadcast Common criticisms: - Some sections drag with excessive detail about regular season games - Too much focus on TV executives and broadcasting logistics - Repetitive passages about both players' later NBA careers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ reviews) "Davis captures the perfect storm of personalities and timing that made this game legendary" - Common sentiment in Amazon reviews "Less business history, more basketball would have improved the pacing" - Recurring Goodreads critique

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🏀 The 1979 NCAA Championship game between Magic Johnson's Michigan State and Larry Bird's Indiana State drew a 24.1 Nielsen rating, making it the highest-rated basketball game (college or pro) of all time—a record that still stands. 📚 Author Seth Davis is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and has been a studio analyst for CBS Sports' NCAA basketball coverage since 2004. 🏆 Before facing each other in the championship game, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had never met or played against one another, despite both being from Indiana. 📺 The game helped transform the NCAA tournament into "March Madness," leading to CBS paying $48 million for the rights to televise the tournament in 1981—a massive increase from the previous $5.2 million contract. 🌟 The match-up launched one of basketball's greatest rivalries, with Bird and Magic later facing each other in three NBA Finals during the 1980s as members of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.