Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.is an American retired professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Associationfor 13 seasons. After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth14 August 1959
CityLansing, MI
CountryUnited States of America
I watched the way he handled himself on all those nationally televised interviews that followed, and he seemed to be at ease and having fun with things. It reminded me of me. When I met Jason, I told him that he and I must have known each other from a previous life.
I will continue to talk about it for the rest of my life,
Some people are going to have to grow some tough skin they hadn't had to grow before. Pat is a direct guy. That's going to really be different than everyone is used to. And he's going to say it in a way they're not used to a coach saying it and right in their face. ... He just wants you to play the game the right way.
My wife and I have been praying on it and God has answered our prayers, ... God has put me here to play basketball, to do my thing on the court. So that's where I'm going to do my thing, on that court.
I just signed a deal with 24 Hour Fitness. We're going to build those in the inner cities as well, ... I'm just happy that my businesses are doing well and that they're supplying jobs to those minorities, and for those communities.
I come from a small town in Lansing, Michigan, and there were very few people I could point to and say 'I want to be like him or that person,' ... So basically I had to watch TV and say 'I want to be like that person.
He told me to go for it, ... He told me he'd be coming to some of our games to check me out.
He's not the same Tony Parker any more. He knows what to do now: 'I'm going to pull up instead of going all the way. Or, the next time, I may drive it, but I'm not really driving for a shot for me. I'm trying to draw the defense and kick it out.
The gay community has taken care of their issues and problems in terms of HIV/AIDS. They have done an incredible job. We as heterosexuals need to learn from the gay community because they have rallied together. They have sent a lot of information out there. They go get tested.
All-star weekend is still the biggest celebrity-driven event in all of sports. Because I've been to Super Bowls, and a few celebrities come out. And I've been to a lot of other sporting events, and a few (celebrities) come out. But at the NBA all-star weekend, everybody comes out.
It's almost like we have ESPN.
The real story is that I had unprotected sex. That's that. That's easy.
If you hate to lose, you do whatever you need to do to make sure you're business is successful.
The looks, the stares, the giggles . . . I wanted to show everybody that I could do better and also that I could read.