LINKED FOREVER MAGIC, BIRD TRANSFORMED BASKETBALL.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - It was after a practice for a college all-star game in 1978 that Larry Bird - already growing into a legend at Indiana State - returned home to French Lick and made a startling announcement to his brother.

``I think I just saw the greatest player I'll ever see in my life, and he's two years younger than me,'' Bird said. ``He said, `Ah, get out of here. There's no way.'

``A year later we played in the (NCAA) finals. After Michigan State defeated us, my brother came up to me and said, `Yeah, he's a lot better than you.' ''

The young buck was Magic Johnson, who, along with Bird, soon would revolutionize the NBA. Save it from sinking TV ratings and dwindling attendance, lift it to rarefied air in the world of professional sports.

Magic and Bird have been this sometimes odd, sometimes perfect pair ever since that NCAA title game. ``Linked'' is what Magic calls it.

So it was perfectly fitting Friday night that when Magic was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, he chose Bird as his presenter.

Two of the greatest players in basketball history, once two of its greatest rivals, now two of the best friends. A Laker and a Celtic, linked by similar backgrounds but mostly by the same competitive fire.

``Larry pushed me,'' Magic said. ``He made me a better basketball player. He made me reach for the stars.

``Every day, whether we were playing each other or not, I was watching his box scores. In the summer, I knew he was shooting thousands of shots a day.

``He helped raise the level of my play because I always wanted to keep up with him. The true blessing has been that we've been able to not only become the players we wanted to become, but also friends.''

It hadn't begun that way, of course. Magic leading Michigan State to an upset of then-unbeaten Indiana State. Bird getting payback in a memorable seven-game NBA Finals in '84. Magic bringing the Lakers back to defeat the Celtics in the Finals the next year, and then again two years later.

Those were legendary Finals, maybe the best the NBA has ever known. Two historic rivals, led by some of the game's greatest players, refusing to give ground and skyrocketing the league's popularity in the process.

``The most fun I had playing basketball was playing against the Los Angeles Lakers,'' Bird said. ``That's what basketball is all about.

``When a Boston Celtic gets defeated by a Los Angeles Laker, if you're competitive and have a desire to win, you get this sickness in your gut ... the worst feeling you could ever have. I can remember flying home on our flight and being so disgusted, I could care less if the plane crashed or not.''

At first they were something less than close. Privately they admired the other's ability but continually seemed to be getting in the other's way. And the other played for exactly the wrong franchise. Cats and dogs on hardwood.

``Hate is a heavy word - but, yeah, you hated them,'' Magic said. ``You almost had to hate the Celtics when you were playing against them because you got to conjure up everything in your body to go out there and play against the Celtics and Larry.''

It was during the shooting of a shoe commercial in Indiana after the '84 Finals that the two learned they were more alike than they had allowed themselves to consider.

What once seemed unthinkable became natural. Magic and Bird evolved into near-best friends. At least, off the court.

``The great thing about our relationship is we got along well and were friends, but once we stepped on the court, believe me, we were enemies,'' Bird said.

Bird was a legendary smack talker, and he hardly backed off when it came to Magic. During one regular-season game in Boston, Magic was injured and unable to play. The Celtics were warming up before the game in front of the Lakers' bench when Bird ran by.

``He bends over and says, `Magic, don't you worry, I'm going to put on a show for you,' '' Magic said.

Magic said Bird finished with more than 40 points and 20 rebounds that day, and near the end of the Boston victory, let fly a 3-pointer right in front of Magic's seat.

``He turned to me and said, `That one's for you,' '' Magic said. ``I wanted to choke him.''

Bird, who calls Magic and Michael Jordan the two greatest players in NBA history, remembered a night the Celtics beat the Lakers at the Forum. As Boston's bus was leaving the Forum tunnel, he looked out the window and saw Magic walking to his car.

``I just watched him,'' Bird said Friday. ``I could see the pain in his face, the look in his eyes that he was a beaten man that day. And I said, `Suffer, baby, suffer.' ''

The Springfield Civic Center, the site of Friday's induction ceremony, erupted into laughter.

``I was going to write a big speech because I wanted to talk from my heart, but I said, `Damn, he broke my heart so many times, do I have anything left?' '' Bird said.

Magic forever will hold one thing over Bird: He won five NBA titles to Bird's three. His Lakers beat the Celtics twice in three Finals.

Magic appeared in nine NBA Finals overall. After his last appearance in the Finals in '91, he stunned the sports world at the start of the next season when he announced he was HIV-positive and retired.

``Eleven years ago, I didn't know if I would be here to accept this award,'' Magic said. ``Everybody thought I wouldn't be. I'm not just here, but I'm here very healthy.''

Magic, 43, was fairly subdued by his standards during his acceptance speech. Several times he struggled to control his emotions, particularly when he thanked his father, coach Pat Riley and his wife, Cookie.

At the end, though, he returned to Bird.

``Larry, we're going to meet up again,'' he said. ``I was waiting until your back was a little better, so you wouldn't have an excuse when I took you out under the garage or the park.''

Magic was enshrined Friday along with Sixers coach Larry Brown, former New Jersey Net Drazen Petrovic (who died in a car accident at age 28), University of Arizona coach Lute Olson, North Carolina State women's coach Sandra Kay Yow and the Harlem Globetrotters.

``I wish every kid out there would remember how unselfish (Magic) played,'' Brown said. ``He made a lot of coaches' jobs easier.''

Magic used his team play, natural leadership and unique passing skills to win titles at every level - high school, college, the NBA and the Olympics. At any age, he was about winning.

But his Lakers' victories over Bird's Celtics remain the sweetest.

``There's never been basketball like the Lakers and Celtics played - never,'' Magic said. ``And I don't know if there ever will be. The ball did not stay on the floor, it did not stay in a man's hands long. It moved. We executed.

``If Larry and I had played on the same team, there wouldn't have been no championships for nobody else. Everybody would have been mad. It would have been just unfair.''

Magic originally wanted to be inducted into the Hall with Bird, but his last comeback bid in '96 pushed his eligibility back until this year.

Instead, he opted for having Bird induct him.

``If I'm going to draw the ending to my basketball life and career, I want it to be with Larry Bird,'' Magic said. ``It started with him, now it should end with him.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Former Lakers great Earvin ``Magic'' Johnson blows a kiss Friday after his speech during the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Springfield, Mass.

(2) Larry Bird and Earvin ``Magic'' Johnson embrace during the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night in Springfield, Mass.

Charles Krupa/Associated Press