
Wish It Lasted Forever
Life with the Larry Bird Celtics
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Narrated by:
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Dan Shaughnessy
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By:
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Dan Shaughnessy
About this listen
From award-winning Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, an “entertaining” (The Wall Street Journal) and nostalgia-filled retelling of the 1980s Boston Celtics’ glory years, which featured the sublime play of NBA legend Larry Bird.
Today the NBA is a vast global franchise—a billion-dollar industry seen by millions of fans in the United States and abroad. But it wasn’t always this successful. Before primetime ESPN coverage, lucrative branding deals like Air Jordans, and $40 million annual player salaries, there was the NBA of the 1970s and 1980s—when basketball was still an up-and-coming sport featuring old school beat reporters and players who wore Converse All-Stars.
Enter Dan Shaughnessy, then the beat reporter for The Boston Globe who covered the Boston Celtics every day from 1982 to 1986. It was a time when reporters travelled with professional teams—flying the same commercial airlines, riding the same buses, and staying in the same hotels. Shaughnessy knew the athletes as real people, losing free throw bets to Larry Bird, being gifted cheap cigars by the iconic coach Red Auerbach, and having his one-year-old daughter Sarah passed from player to player on a flight from Logan to Detroit Metro.
Drawing on unprecedented access and personal experiences that would not be possible for any reporter today, Shaughnessy takes us inside the legendary Larry Bird-led Celtics teams, capturing the camaraderie as they dominated the NBA. Fans can witness the cockiness of Larry Bird (who once walked into an All-Star Weekend locker room, announced that he was going to win the three-point contest, and did); the ageless athleticism of Robert Parish; the shooting skills of Kevin McHale; the fierce, self-sacrificing play of Bill Walton; and the playful humor of players like Danny Ainge, Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell, and M.L. Carr.
For any fan who longs to return—for just a few hours—to those magical years when the Boston Garden rocked and the winner’s circle was mostly colored Boston Green, Wish It Lasted Forever is a masterful tribute to “the Celtics from 1982-1986 [that] is so good even fervent Celtics haters will have trouble putting it down” (New York Post).
©2021 Dan Shaughnessy. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Story
The definitive biography of a legendary athlete. The Shrug. The Shot. The Flu Game. When most people think of him, they think of his beautiful shots with the game on the line, his body totally in sync with the ball - hitting nothing but net. But for all his greatness, this scion of a complex family from North Carolina's Coastal Plain has a darker side: He's a ruthless competitor and a lover of high stakes. There's never been a biography that encompassed the dual nature of his character and looked so deeply at Jordan on and off the court - until now.
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horrible naration
- By Hiro on 03-27-18
By: Roland Lazenby
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Blood in the Garden
- The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks
- By: Chris Herring
- Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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The definitive history of the 1990s New York Knicks, illustrating how Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley, and Anthony Mason resurrected the iconic franchise through oppressive physicality and unmatched grit. Blood in the Garden is a portrait filled with eye-opening details that have never been shared before, revealing the full story of the franchise in the midst of the NBA’s golden era. And rest assured, no punches will be pulled. Which is just how those rough-and-tumble Knicks would like it.
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Great book, horrible performance.
- By Sean Conway on 07-21-22
By: Chris Herring
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Magic: The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson
- By: Roland Lazenby
- Narrated by: JD Jackson, Roland Lazenby
- Length: 30 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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The definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, from the highly respected, career sportswriter and author of Michael Jordan: The Life.
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The Definitive Book on Magic
- By Hebern on 03-04-24
By: Roland Lazenby
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The Last Pass
- Cousy, Russell, the Celtics, and What Matters in the End
- By: Gary M. Pomerantz
- Narrated by: Gary M. Pomerantz
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Out of the greatest dynasty in American professional sports history, an intimate story of race, mortality, and regret. About to turn 90, Bob Cousy, the Hall of Fame Boston Celtics captain who led the team to its first six championships on an unparalleled run, has much to look back on in contentment. But he has one last piece of unfinished business. The last pass he hopes to throw is to close the circle with his great partner on those Celtic teams, fellow Hall of Famer Bill Russell, now 84.
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Great Premise, Not Quite Fulfilled in Good Book
- By Joe Kraus on 11-06-18
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West by West
- My Charmed, Tormented Life
- By: Jerry West, Jonathan Coleman
- Narrated by: Ryan West
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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He is one of basketball's towering figures: "Mr. Clutch," who mesmerized his opponents and fans. The coach who began the Lakers' resurgence in the 1970s. The general manager who helped bring "Showtime" to Los Angeles, creating a championship-winning force that continues to this day. Now, for the first time, the legendary Jerry West tells his story - from his tough childhood in West Virginia, to his unbelievable college success at West Virginia University, his 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his relationships with NBA legends.
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Jerry is really disturbed and needs help
- By bmatt48 on 02-04-12
By: Jerry West, and others
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Showtime
- Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s
- By: Jeff Pearlman
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 18 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Best-selling sportswriter Jeff Pearlman draws from almost 300 interviews to take the first full measure of the Lakers’ epic Showtime era. A dazzling account of one of America’s greatest sports sagas, Showtime is packed with indelible characters, vicious rivalries, and jaw-dropping, behind-the-scenes stories of the players’ decadent Hollywood lifestyles. From the Showtime era’s remarkable rise to its tragic end - marked by Magic Johnson’s 1991 announcement that he had contracted HIV - Showtime is a gripping narrative of sports, celebrity, and 1980s-style excess.
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Offended at the style used to voice black characters.
- By NP on 01-15-22
By: Jeff Pearlman
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Belichick
- The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time
- By: Ian O'Connor
- Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
- Length: 21 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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From a New York Times best-selling author, the definitive biography of the NFL’s most enigmatic, controversial, and yet successful coach, Bill Belichick. Veteran sports writer and award-winning author Ian O’Connor delves into the mind of the man who has earned a place among coaching legends like Lombardi, Halas, and Paul Brown, presenting sides of Belichick that have previously been unexplored. O’Connor discovers how this legendary coach shaped the people he met and worked with in ways perhaps even Belichick himself doesn’t know.
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Revealing Portrait
- By William G. Stuart on 10-09-18
By: Ian O'Connor
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Dynasty Restored
- How Larry Bird and the 1984 Boston Celtics Conquered the NBA and Changed Basketball
- By: Thomas J. Whalen
- Narrated by: Asa Siegel
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Ronald Reagan declares the Soviet Union an Evil Empire. The Apple Macintosh personal computer makes its debut. Michael Jackson's Thriller dominates the charts. And Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics capture the NBA championship over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was 1984, and for the NBA and the nation, the year was full of milestone moments. In Dynasty Restored, Thomas J. Whalen explores this dramatic season.
By: Thomas J. Whalen
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Sum It Up
- A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective
- By: Pat Head Summitt, Sally Jenkins
- Narrated by: Sally Jenkins
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Pat Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history and best-selling author of Reach for the Summitt and Raise the Roof, tells for the first time her remarkable story of victory and resilience as well as facing down her greatest challenge: early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Pat Summitt was only 21 when she became head coach of the Tennessee Vols women's basketball team. For 38 years, she has broken records, winning more games than any NCAA team in basketball history.
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The Incredible Story of an Incredible Individual
- By Allen on 03-13-13
By: Pat Head Summitt, and others
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A Season on the Brink
- By: John Feinstein
- Narrated by: John Feinstein
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
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A Season on the Brink chronicles the basketball season that John Feinstein spent following the Indiana Hoosiers and their fiery coach, Bob Knight. Knight granted Feinstein an unprecedented inside look at college basketball - with complete access to every moment of the season. Feinstein saw and heard it all - practices, team meetings, strategy sessions, and mid-game huddles - during Knight's struggle to avoid a losing season.
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Great Sports Journalism
- By Robert on 04-18-13
By: John Feinstein
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Joel Embiid: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Star Centers
- Basketball Biography Books
- By: Clayton Geoffreys
- Narrated by: Todd Mansfield
- Length: 2 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Learn the inspiring story of the Philadelphia 76ers' star center Joel Embiid! As the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Joel Embiid has emerged as one of the top centers to play in the modern league due to his ability to do close to everything. Whether it's rebounding, blocking shots, or making three pointers, Joel Embiid is close to the total package when it comes to finding a franchise player.
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Showboat
- The Life of Kobe Bryant
- By: Roland Lazenby
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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The definitive portrait of Kobe Bryant, from the author of Michael Jordan. Eighteen-time All-Star, scorer of 81 points in a single game, MVP, and one of the best shooting guards in NBA league history: Kobe Bryant is among basketball's absolute greatest players, and his importance to the sport is undeniable. Third on the NBA career scoring list and owner of five championship rings, he is an undisputed all-time great, one deserving of this deep and definitive biography.
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KOBE BEAN BRYANT
- By Allaeldien Abdelrahman on 12-14-18
By: Roland Lazenby
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The Big Three
- Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and the Rebirth of the Boston Celtics
- By: Michael Holley
- Narrated by: Jean-Francois Donaldson
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The first of "The Big Three" was Paul Pierce. As Boston Celtics fans watched the team retire Pierce's jersey in a ceremony on February 11, 2018, they remembered again the incredible performances Pierce put on in the city for fifteen years, helping the Celtics escape the bottom of their conference to become champions and perennial championship contenders. But Pierce's time in the city wasn't always so smooth. In 2000, he was stabbed in a downtown nightclub eleven times in a seemingly random attack.
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Okay basketball book
- By Mark on 07-26-23
By: Michael Holley
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The Football 100
- Sports Series, Book 1
- By: The Athletic, Dan Kaufman
- Narrated by: Jaime Lincoln Smith
- Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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At The Athletic, home to the best newsroom in sports, this question would become a labor of love for dozens of the best football writers on the planet, including Mike Sando and Dan Pompei. Over the course of 100 riveting profiles—each drawing upon unparalleled access and superlative storytelling to offer intimate perspective on what made the greatest players tick—these writers reveal their findings. In the process, they also uncover the history of football.
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Many interesting stories of football greats
- By Donald J. Bentley on 02-16-25
By: The Athletic, and others
What listeners say about Wish It Lasted Forever
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Steven Lipofsky
- 02-12-22
Brings the Bird era back in high relief
I was the Celtics photographer for this period and Dan's book brings back rich memories.
He adds much that I was not aware of and fills in lots of details not commonly known.
It's an entertaining and informative narrative of a VERY special time with colorful characters and, arguably, the greatest team in NBA history.
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- Richard D. Harrison
- 09-08-22
THE Best
The Celtics during the Larry Bird eta was the Best and so is Dan’s book, thank you.
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- Rob Garry
- 02-09-22
Great story
Great insight on 1986 Celtics. Best team ever! Shaughnessy has a better relationship with the players today than he did then.
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- Arthur Smith
- 02-13-23
Wonderful story
This basketball ball goes into depth about what of the greatest teams ever. I loved it and I hate the Celtics.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-04-22
Great read but wished he stayed the entire season
Anyone can look at the stats sheets to see what happened, but the author gave us the background on the almost 4 seasons. The end was kind of chopped due to the change of assignment. I wished he could have stayed to finish the season. 1985-86 Celtics best team ever.
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- Jose Miramontes
- 02-03-23
The Good Ole Days!
I loved this. Nothing like going down memory lane and hearing detailed stories of my favorite all-time team.
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- Danielle B.
- 03-09-24
Great book about a great time in basketball history
Great book about a great time in basketball history. I loved those years. I wish there were biographies of many players on that team. I was happy to find this book and this perspective. Brought it all back and learned a lot.
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- Mark
- 06-25-24
A joyful ride!
An incredibly beautiful story telling from a unique perspective of an amazing time in sports history!
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- jonathan meharg
- 06-24-22
Great book for any Celtics fans
If you're a fan of how the NBA used to be played or remember the NBA in the 80s and 90s you'll probably enjoy this book. If you're a Boston Celtics fan you'll LOVE this book. Some of the stories you've heard a thousand times but they're still enjoyable. hearing Dan Shaughnessy do an impression of Bill Walton it's a good enough reason to use a credit for this book.
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- greg
- 04-05-24
The memory’s
Anything bird I love Only idle I ever had won’t be another like him I never missed a televised game
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