Adam Fletcher
Works Cited
"The Greatest Laker Ever?" Magic Johnson Talk.
21 Jan. 2012. Vinayak1000. 16 Feb. 2012
<http://magicjohnsontalk.com/news/greatest-laker-ever>.
This aricle goes
off describing the prior great Lakers that have played and their Impact. The
author mentions the career of Kareem and James Worthy but no Laker career is
comparable to Magic’s 5 championships. Also, the love he got for Los Angeles
was near god status, he was loved by everyone.
"Magic Johnson." Featured Articles From The Los
Angeles Times. 05 Nov. 2011. LA Times. 16 Feb. 2012
<http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/05/sports/la-sp-plaschke-magic-johnson-20111106>.
All of Magic’s on
court achievements speak for themselves while is HIV virus spoke even louder.
When he announced his retirement from the Lakers in 1991, people thought from
the disease he had that he was going die soon. People freaked out because they
were scared, but if they knew, espically Magic, what we know today he would
probably still be playing. Ervin represented a symbol of hope.
"Magic Johnson NBA & ABA Statistics." NBA
& ABA Basketball Statistics & History. Sports Reference LLC. 16
Feb. 2012 <http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsma02.html>.
This article is
list of Magic Johnson’s stats over his career and how he compared to other
point guards of past and present. The biggest highlight stat that he has point
guard wise is that he is the All-time leader is assists per game(11.2). Also
the all-time leader is assists per game for the post season as well. Magic is
most definitely the greatest point guard in Laker history but the debate for
greatest Laker all-time lives on.
"Magic Still Greatest Laker." Nesn.com. 12
Feb. 2012. 2012 New England Sports Network. 16 Feb. 2012
</2011/02/magic-johnson-still-greatest-laker-in-storied-history-but-kobe-bryant-is-closing-fast.html>.
The only player
that has comparable stats and actually the only one who can compare in general
to Magic is Kobe Bryant. As they both have 5 rings while playing with two of
the most dominating big men of all, now we must look at the era in which each
of them played in. Kobe played in an era of everytime he played for a rig it
was a different opponent. Magic had to play the dominate Celtics three times
which was more stressful every year.
Dwyer, Kelly. "Magic Johnson’s influence,." Yahoo!
Sports - Sports News, Scores, Rumors, Fantasy Games, and more. 7 Nov. 2011.
Yahoo Sports. 16 Feb. 2012
<http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/10283?urn=nba,wp10283>.
After his days of
playing were over, Magics impact on the game and to others just grew. Since his
announcement of having HIV, he has done many things to support others that are
going through the same. The biggest contribution he has made would be starting Magic Johnson Foundation. The MJ Foundation
goes around the country spreading the news on HIV, Magic is an example of
someone living with this disease but goes on with living his life the way he
wants, and doing the things he wants to do.
Springer, Steve. "Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin
Magic." ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports. ESPN Internet
Ventures. 16 Feb. 2012
<http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/7193605/los-angeles-lakers-legend-earvin-magic-johnson-others-reflect-20th-anniversary-hiv-announcement>.
Ervin Johnson’s
announcement that he had HIV was one of drastic and heart breaking news to
thousands of people who loved Magic and thousands of people who were unclear
about HIV. The technology we have now has shown that someone who takes the
right medicine and lives healthy and exercise, they can live with that virus.
Magic is now a symbol of hope for people who couldn’t believe their loved ones
could not live for any longer than five years.
Witz, Billy. "Magic still making impact off
court." Foxsports.com. Fox. 10 Feb. 2012
</nba/story/magic-johnson-still-making-impact-as-hiv-aids-activist-113010>.
We all see Magic
Johnson now, after all the news that HIV can not be transfered by touch and all
the support. But before all that he was almost exiled by his town and other
players. Karl Malone, after hearing the news, was afraid to play with him cause
he didn’t want to get infected. All the insults and people not giving him hugs
or high fives really hurt Magic’s feelings. But he kept his head up, he was
going to “beat” HIV and live long and proper.
Schattner, Elaine. "Magic Johnson is
Alive 20 Years after Announcing He Had HIV « Medical Lessons." Medical Lessons. 8 Nov. 2011.
16 Feb. 2012
<http://www.medicallessons.net/2011/11/magic-johnson-is-alive-20-years-after-announcing-he-had-hiv/>.
This a reaction to the video of
Magic announcing his retirement from the Lakers. Newscasters reported that it
was first time where you could see reporters crying from what is happening in front
of them. But even when he announced it he wanted to beat it rather then it beat
him. People thought he was crazy, people who had no knowledge of the disease
thought he was going to die painfully and soon. Magic took the first step to
defeating his illness and that was by facing it like a man, he has daily
morning workouts and takes medicine and spreads what he knows to others around
him.