Magic to relive Showtime in LA

LOS ANGELES — Magic Johnson, who brought Showtime to Tinseltown during the fabled Pat Riley years, returns to action Saturday night (this morning, Manila) before an adoring hometown crowd in the Shooting Stars competition of the National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Weekend at the Staples Center here.

Johnson, 43, teams with Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks in the four-team contest that is part of a program featuring the Slam Dunk tournament, Three-Point Shootout and the Sports Skills Challenge.

The Shooting Stars competition is making its debut in the All-Star extravaganza. Four teams–the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers–are battling for top honors. Each team is made up of an NBA player, an NBA legend and a WNBA player.

The Pistons are Chauncey Billups, John Salley and Karl Malone’s daughter Cheryl Ford. The Clippers are Marko Jaric, Terry Cummings and Nikki Teasley. The Spurs are Manu Ginobili, Steve Kerr and Jennifer Azzi.

Kerr, now an NBA analyst on TV, said he’s ready to shoot the lights out of the Staples Center but admitted not practicing with Ginobili and Azzi. "It’s just a shooting contest," said Kerr who won five NBA title rings in a 15-year career and holds the record for the highest three-point field goal percentage at .454. "We’ll be fine."

The focus of attention will clearly be on Johnson who retired in 1991 because he was tested HIV-positive. He was voted to play in the 1991-92 All-Star Game two days after retiring and in an emotional comeback, suited up to play in the annual affair–scoring 25 points and dishing out nine assists to capture his second MVP title.

Last Wednesday, the city for whom Magic played his entire NBA career honored him by unveiling a 14-foot bronze statue of his likeness at the Star Plaza outside the Staples Center. Michael Jordan’s statue stands outside the United Center in Chicago’s own tribute to his Airness.

Magic’s statue weighs over 2,800 pounds. The unveiling was marked by a one-hour ceremony attended by NBA commissioner David Stern, Jerry West, James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Buss family–which owns the Lakers–commissioned the work crafted by renowned sculptor Omri Amrany.

Since leaving the NBA, Magic hasn’t really hung up his sneakers. His touring team called the Magic All-Stars play exhibitions all over the world. While Johnson has put on at least 30 pounds in retirement–probably because of steroid treatment to prevent the onset of AIDS, he remains a wily sorcerer on the court. He isn’t as quick as before but the sleight of hand is still a trademark.

Johnson left golden memories of his playing years at the Lakers previous jaunt, the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. But the Shooting Stars contest will be a sentimental homecoming just the same even if it will be played at the Staples Center. The Showtime generation is expected to come in full force to greet Magic with a standing ovation.

Johnson said the passage of time has been a blur. "I mean, 12 years, man," said Magic, quoted by Steve Dilbeck in the Daily News. "Here I was playing basketball then you’re upset you have to retire. And then you turn that into a business. I’m happy with me. I’m happy with my life. I’m happy with the way I’ve grown over 12 years. And I’m happy with the things I’ve done to help people."

According to Dilbeck, Johnson now owns 56 Starbucks outlets, TGI Friday’s restaurants and 24-hour fitness clubs. He also controls $750 Million in real estate holdings. Magic has opened health clinics, movie theater complexes and freetechnical centers in urban areas all over the US. He has also started a housing program. Magic is a vice president in the Laker organization.

In the Slam Dunk tournament, Golden State’s Jason Richardson guns for his third straight title. His opponents are Indiana’s Fred Jones, Boston’s Ricky Davis and Denver’s Chris Andersen. There is talk that Cleveland rookie LeBron James may join the group as a late entry.

Sacramento’s Peja Stojakovic is also setting his sights on a third straight crown in theThree-Point Shootout. The other contestants are Billups, Philadephia’s Kyle Korver (in place of the injured Brent Barry), Denver’s Voshon Lenard, Seattle’s Rashard Lewis and Houston’s Cuttino Mobley.

Jason Kidd isn’t defending his Sports Skills Challenge championship. Looking to succeed Kidd are Denver’s 5-5 Earl Boykins, New Orleans’ Baron Davis, New York’s Stephon Marbury and the Lakers’ Gary Payton.