For 13 years, Earvin “Magic” Johnson dominated the United States National Basketball League. Dazzling fans and striking awe into his opponents with his phenomenal ball skills. Good natured, the gentle giant stands 6 feet and nine inches tall and weighed 225 pounds during his career. He achieved Sports Immortality in 2002 when he was inducted with the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Magic Johnson: This is one of the greatest moment; not just for me but for my family. My mom and dad would be here, all my brothers and sisters—my nine brothers and sisters. My nieces and nephews allow them never seeing me pay so they get to be a part of this. And along that time going it—that pictures still be in here and you know, they compress that little button and pull up some highlights. And I think that’s what it’s all about; that you got to be remembered and that you build a legacy.
Born in 1959, Earvin’s childhood evolved beyond basketball and his mother remembers him taking his career everywhere even practicing his dribbling on the way to the shops. It was sports writer Fred Stabley Jr. who had dubbed Earvin, Magic after the team played the game for for Lansing Everett High School where he had tripled double 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists.
At Michigan State University, Magic led the college basketball team to victory in the 1979 National Championships. He then left early to pursuer the lucrative life of an NBA player.
The first draft picked; Magic was picked up by the Los Angeles Lakers, the $600,000 a year. He want proof to be off sound investment. A three time most valuable player, Magic was named the MVP of the NBA finals in 1980, 1982 and 1987. He was voted first team of all NBA every year form 1983 to 1991 as being named for the second team in the 1982.
Magic’s most memorable moment came as a rookie in 1980 when he started at center enclosed with injured Abdul-Jabbar in game 6 with the NBA finals against the Philadelphia 76ers entitled 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists. As he led the Lakers to their first NBA titles since 1972.
Magic Johnson: Everything good? All right let’s go play some basketball.
The twelve time old start in his 13 year career, Magic left the NBA after the 1990-91 season when he announced that he was HIV positive. Fortunately his wife a new born baby had not contracted the disease what Magic has contracted from one of he women who slept off while ion the road with the team. Magic became the beckon for those afflicted with the virus, showing that you could not only live but tried with HIV.
He became a highly successful businessman hoping to change of movie theater, restaurants and coffee bars. He is also throwing his considerable weight behind the Magic Johnson Foundation which he set up in 1991 who help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds achieved by the potential.
Magic Johnson: We know the impact but we also know the impact on highest change; many minority kids like—not just black kids, Latino kids too and Asian kids because they all opt to our program as well.
Musician Quincy Jones was just one of those seen Magic’s praises in his Midsummer Nights Magic Charity Event.
Quincy Jones : Very tall, very talented, very visionary and all that—he’s got it all, he gets it whatever it is he gets it.
Rapper Ludacris is another of Magic’s fan.
Ludacris: Multi faceted entrepreneur, very great person you know, I’ve been looking up to him since I was a kid and I mean he has done nothing but grow over all these years so it feels great to be here and just to be a part of something great.
Armed with a big smile and a heart to match, Magic Johnson shows no sign of slowing down and his mission to improve the world with a little bit of Magic.
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