A Decade To Remember
The world was a troubled place in the '80's, home to a number of disasters
From the plight of Iran's hostages to the meltdown of Chernobyl's reactor
But in the world of basketball, the 1980's served to revive the game
From a decade, the 1970's, where drugs and crime had gone untamed
There dawned a rivalry, perhaps never again matched, the Celtic's Larry Bird
'The Great White Hope,' whose hard-scrabble heroics, the fans hearts stirred
In fierce, epic battles with the Lakers' nonpareil, Magic Johnson
Whose wizardy with the ball and no-look passes quickly became legend
All through the '80's these hardcourt warriors duked it out
Bird MVP three years in a row, '84 - '86, 'the Greatest Player Ever,' no doubt
With Johnson hot on his trail, the ultimate Team Great, fueling the debate
Leading the Lakers to the Championship five times, from '80 to '88
While meantime, the lowly Chicago Bulls were cultivating a new player still
Greater than Bird and Magic, who in the 1990's would rule
The incomparable Michael Jordan, "MJ," as he would come to be known
Whose soaring dunks and breathtaking heroics eventually put him alone
Atop the throne of basketball majesty and glory
That's how I remember the '80's, and that ends my story
Entry in 'Remembering the 1980's' Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Michelle Faulkner
Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2018
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