I have the utmost respect for Magic Johnson the basketball player. I think he gets shortchanged in GOAT conversations, a guy who broke the mold and would have fit it brilliantly in today’s NBA undergoing a positional revolution because guys are trying to develop the varried skill set he had.
I think Johnson should be remembered more for what he did off the court. How he became a symbol that helped change perceptions and the debate about HIV and AIDS. How as a businessman he succeed by bringing amenities to parts of Los Angeles that were underserved by large corporations only looking at spreadsheets. He is a towering figure in the city.
Magic Johnson the basketball analyst... I don’t really have much use for. Everyone can have an opinion, let’s just say mine and his disagree quite often. So when I see what he tweeted Wednesday, I just shrug.The reason I haven’t tweeted in 2 days is because I’ve been mourning Phil Jackson not being hired as the Lakers head coach.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 14, 2012
My mother always taught me that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 14, 2012
Really Magic? Mourning?
I know you feel full of yourself following the “I told you so” about hiring Mike Brown. I know you have a business relationship with Jackson and you two are friends. Still...
Get over it.
Which frankly is what Lakers fans are doing. Listing to talk radio and just talking to people here in Los Angeles, they would have preferred Jackson, but most of them were ready to dump Mike Brown in July (which is when the Lakers should have done it if they were going to make a move). They gladly will take D’Antoni over Brown. They watched a Lakers team the last three games and seen a squad freed from an overly complicated offense that had the team thinking and not just reacting — and they have seen a Lakers team start to come together. Yes, they lost to the Spurs Tuesday, but the Brown coached Lakers of the week before would have been crushed against these Spurs.
Mike D’Antoni brings an offense that is not a perfect fit, he brings questions about defense, but he also brings hope. Something Lakers fans were losing under Brown.
Magic, get over it. And realize that if you’re really a Lakers fan you have to come around — you can’t root against a team out of spite for the coach. Then you come off like those 1972 Dolphins players.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get back to mourning about how the Dodgers played this season.