In the new book, "When the Game Was Ours," Magic Johnson and Larry Bird share their viewpoints and stories of their classic rivalry with writer Jackie MacMullan. In talking about the 1992 U.S. Olympic Basketball team, Magic admits to not wanting Thomas on the squad, although everyone thought it was Michael Jordan who ultimately had final say."Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics," Johnson said in the book. "Nobody on that team wanted to play with him. ... Michael didn't want to play with him. Scottie [Pippen] wanted no part of him. Bird wasn't pushing for him. Karl Malone didn't want him. Who was saying, 'We need this guy?' Nobody."
Thomas read the excerpt and told Sports Illustrated that the comment and admission from Johnson shocked and hurt him.
"I'm glad that he's finally had the nerve and the courage to stand up and say it was him, as opposed to letting Michael Jordan take the blame for it all these years,'' Thomas told SI.com. "I wish he would have had the courage to say this stuff to me face-to-face, as opposed to writing it in some damn book to sell and he can make money off it."
Also in the book, Johnson accuses Thomas of questioning his sexuality, spreading rumors of homosexuality and bisexuality, after Magic was tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
"Isiah kept questioning people about it,'' Magic says. "I couldn't believe that. The one guy I thought I could count on had all these doubts. It was like he kicked me in the stomach."
Thomas also deflects this statement saying that for Magic to believe this going on was foolish:
"What most people don't know is, before Magic had HIV, my brother had HIV," Thomas said. "My brother died of HIV, AIDS, drug abuse. So I knew way more about the disease, because I was living with it in my house. Magic acted and responded off some really bad information that he got. Whatever friendship we had, I thought it was bulls--- that he believed that. Let me put it to you this way: If he and I were such close friends, if I was questioning his sexuality, then I was questioning mine too. That's how idiotic it is."
The book hits stores on November 4. Read the rest of Isaiah's response to the book at SI.com.
Comments: (14)
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By: midbluehungry on 10/23/2009 2:03PM
Zeekie Poo and Magic Dust sittin' in a tree... This is so GAY. Yall need to kiss and make up. Magic is still a bit miffed that he caught a disease from your gay blind date hookup.
Black men are just HILARIOUS. Its no wonder why today's black women are inferior.
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By: Marsha on 10/23/2009 11:35PM
Excuse me, but inferior to who? Someone like yourself that would make such statement??? First of all you don't have any facts to prove what you are saying, and even if you did, what an inhumane statement. You better watch yourself sweetie; you ain't thru livin yet. you never know what's coming down the pipe for you. I just pray that when your crisis hits, people will be much kinder to you.
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By: Jes in Detroit on 10/24/2009 12:16AM
No one is inferior, without consent, and I for one never gave my consent, and I am a Black woman! How ignorant you are to think that, perhaps that was your first mistake, thinking about it! I don't see my race of people feeling that way. Anyway, we are suppose to be commenting on Isaiah Thomas, and his hurt feelings. I got a story, back in the day, I met this girl we work together at a old ballroom, which later was named dance studio, and she was always talking about this guy that she was dating, that was a basketball player. she would follow him all over the country, and sometimes when he was in town would send a limo to pick her up at the job. So one night she comes in very upset about this guy, she tells me that while at one of their road games she took a shower in another player room, and was snooping , found a love letter from the guy she was kicking it with to the guy who she was in,it mess this girl's mind up, she said he was gay, and she was homophobic, she told me her mother was in a gay relationship.I'm here to tell you not long after that she quit the studio, and the next thing I know I'm watching the evening news at work, and the reporter is saying that she, and her sister had, had their mother killed by some boy they had went to high school with. The basketball player that she was in love with was Isaiah Thomas! Commenting about Magic Johnson, back in the day, word was he mess around alot, but everybody knew he loved his girl, that was Cookie.
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By: David on 10/24/2009 9:05AM
@ midbluehungry You're either a cowardly white racist or a self hating Negro. Either way take your ignorant bull somewhere else.
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By: DeeJaye on 10/27/2009 6:44AM
@ midbluehungry: You know what's HILARIOUS? White ppl, like you, who think they're so ABOVE Black ppl, yet spend all their time watching EVERYTHING Black ppl do. Why are you even here? I mean, if you think you're so much better than we are, then, why even waste your time coming to these boards? What we discuss here should be of no interest to you. What you need to do is take your "MID"dle-aged, "BLUE" and "HUNGRY" ass back to wherever the hell you came from.
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By: sandy on 10/24/2009 5:36PM
What went on between Isaiah and Magic has nothing to do with black women. What a stupid comment midbluehungry.You are HILARIOUS.
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By: midbluehungry on 10/24/2009 11:27AM
Dave, on top of being a Black fool, you must be a Caribbean Nutchucker as well. Probably a full blown sissy. Shut your black sissy mouth.
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By: midbluehungry on 10/24/2009 11:58AM
Need to bring back BUSH and CHENEY so they can finish the job of robbing you foolish blackies and trash of your real estate.
Hey Jes, keep messin' wit dat crack. Why don't you try sellin' it now. Get yo ignant ass offa da streets.
You sound like a gap tooth, doo doo breath crack ho. Your sista Serena can show you finer points of gettin' naked for money.
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By: Jes in Detroit on 10/25/2009 2:19AM
You are one of those people that walk around calling your white friends the n-word! I can tell you are a waste of white meat, probable the product of some inbreeding family, that feels like blaming every other race of people for your problems, and boy do you have them. Sticks, and stones may break my bones, but your words can never hurt me! And that's what scares you, you poor spirited small person. Your kind is passing away at an alarming rate, and thank God this old world is evolving! At the end of days you will have no more pride, but I will always have self-respect that you, and no one else can ever take that away. Oh, by the way I live in a beautiful home, so don't let the smooth taste fool you, I just might be living better than you! Anyway, we are suppose to be commenting on these two basketball player, but I just had to walk the dog on you, you waste of white meat.
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By: No1'sname on 10/25/2009 8:26PM
Midblue is looking for attention & this is the only way he can get it so just ignore it & he will go away!
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