NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Kids in the 80s and 90s wanted to be like Mike Jordan. Thanks to Gatorade, McDonald’s, and other ads, but no one wanted to be like Magic Johnson. Johnson was the leader of one of the best NBA dynasty’s ever with the Los Angeles Lakers as he led them to 5 NBA Titles. And yet, it was all about Jordan.
Fast forward and the tables have turned. Well, at least they should have by now. While Jordan is still a megastar and icon, that’s mostly due to his sneakers still being a timeless treasure. However, if you’re a kid coming up in the black community, it’s Magic Johnson you should want to model yourself after.
While he was great on the court, Magic Johnson has proven over the years that he’s even better off. Johnson is now part owner of the Washington Commanders after his investment teams bid was approved by the NFL to purchase the franchise from Daniel Synder. You may not like the Commanders, but you must respect the business sense of Magic Johnson.
After passing on Nike and what would eventually become the Jordan Brand, Magic reinvented himself following his retirement from the NBA with Movie Theaters, Starbucks, Burger King’s, 24-Hour Fitness Centers, Real Estate, and more, it was when he turned his attention back to the sports world that he laid the foundation for success that no other player of his statue has matched.
Can Magic Johnson Win With The Commanders
Johnson had stock in the Lakers as he should have. That was just the right move to make for both parties. Besides Kobe Bryant, when you think of the Lakers, those two names go hand and hand. Then Magic swung for the fences with Baseball when he became a minority owner with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What did Magic know about baseball? He did it have to know too much. He was the face of the ownership group due to his ties with the city and to make things better, the Dodgers would bring Magic a World Series ring to add to the 10 he won with the Lakes as a player and minority owner. But he wasn’t done there.
Magic also has a stake in the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS), and now he enters the world of the NFL with the Washington Commanders. And while it’s out of his LA box, Johnson is still a smart enough businessman to juggle it all. No, he’s not the majority owner but Magic is still a draw. Wherever he goes, he wins.
Johnson has another championship ring with the Los Angeles Sparks, and another with the Los Angeles Galaxy. That’s a strong selling point for any front office when it comes to players, coaches, and fans. Where has Magic failed at? Hell, this is the guy that no matter how we feel is labeled as a person who did the unthinkable and beat AIDS.
Magic has surpassed Michael Jordan as a sports icon. Jordan has failed miserably as an owner with the Charlotte Hornets so much so that he has sold the team. While he did make a nice sum of money from the sale, Jordan is a competitor who wants to win. He just couldn’t do it, or do it the way Magic has.
When it comes to winning, who has done it better than Magic Johnson at the level that he has done it? Gatorade can keep selling the image of kids wanting to be like Mike, I’ll raise mine to be like Magic Johnson.
