My Way Home ...

I just enjoyed a short business trip to Southern California. As I travelled from Boston to LA late this week, I remembered that the first day of my journey happened to be on the 22nd anniversary of the day Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced his retirement from the NBA because of the HIV+ diagnosis he was given after he took a physical for his life insurance policy.

Thank God, Earvin is doing very well today. While his playing career was cut short, he went on to two miraculous curtain calls with the '92 NBA All-Star Game (one of my fondest memories) and with the '1992 USA Basketball Dream Team at the Barcelona Summer Olympic Games.

The rest is history. (My prior post noted the news reports).

So, now I'm up early and happy to be heading "home."  I don't take "home" for granted.  None of us should ever, ever take home for granted because sometimes, some of us -- well -- just can't find their way home.

Note Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, of course, Derek Truck, on rhythm guitar no less, along with drummer Doyle Bramhall.  The video was shot at Clapton's Crossroads festival in 2007.  In 2011, Bramhall passed away in his sleep at the age of 62.



Gotta Go! Time to pack up and head home.

Nov. 7, 1991 - A sad but "Magical" day we all remember

See:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/sports/2011/11/03/vault-magic-johnson-retires.cnn

Catching Magic in the Air

MAGIC BIRD Finds “MAGIC” Actor Kevin Daniels To Perform Title Role of Earvin “MAGIC” Johnson
MAGIC BIRD has found its “Magic”. The producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, today announced that the title role of Hall of Fame basketball player and Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be played by actor Kevin Daniels.

Kevin played high school basketball before turning his sights to acting which brought him to the prestigious Julliard School, NYC at the age of 17. After graduation Kevin made his Broadway debut at Lincoln Center, NYC in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Other stage roles include “Suge Knight” opposite Anthony Mackie in Up Against the Wind (New York Theater Workshop, NYC) and the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the staged radio play of RFK: Journey to Justice (LA Theatre Works, CA). On the big screen Kevin played Firefighter “Don Miller” in Touchstone Pictures Ladder 49 and starred in And Then Came Love with Vanessa Williams. Kevin can currently be seen in a reoccurring role on the ABC hit comedy MODERN FAMILY. His other TV credits include guest stars on NBC's CHUCK and LAW & ORDER, and ABC's BROTHERS & SISTERS. Kevin resides in LA and is a Lakers fan.

“I am honored to be playing Earvin “Magic” Johnson and am excited to dig in and deliver,” says Kevin Daniels.

Magic said, “Kevin Daniels is a great choice to play me and I look forward to his electric performance on the stage.”

Magic/Bird on Broadway (and a little side-trip to Boston)

Tony Ponturo and Fran Kirmser, the producers of Magic/Bird on Broadway, along with the basketball faithful of Comcast Sportsnet NE will host a special Boston-based evening of reminiscing about the on-court and off-court impact made by Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird.  The invitation-only event will serve as a tiny peek into the development of the play to open on Broadway/NYC this coming spring (2012).

Playbill.com recently ran this update of the play with comments from the producers:

Producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo are shooting for their production of Eric Simonson's basketball play, Magic/Bird, to have a March 21, 2012, Broadway opening following a Feb. 27 first preview.
A theatre is yet to be announced for the open-ended run of the six-actor, 95-minute play about the professional rivalry and friendship between basketball stars Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird. Producer Ponturo told Playbill.com on Oct. 31 that casting is ongoing for the title roles, and four other performers.
Kirmser and Ponturo were behind the NFL-minded play Lombardi, about Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, seen on Broadway in 2010-11.
"We're very much in the middle of casting," Ponturo said. "Like every producer, you like to look for talent that has a reputation…in the theatre business. These will be names that people will recognize."

 The announcement of the play has created some "showtime-type buzz" in New York, Boston and LA as the casting and background work is gradually accomplished by the creative team.  And, unlike the proximity of the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin's Lambeau Field to the lights of the Great White Way, the New England faithful are a short car, bus or Amtrak away from Manhattan and the ability to re-live some of the best memories of the classic rivalry between Magic & Bird and the Lakers & Celtics.

 

Orlando Wins... We Have a SERIES!

Across the Pond:
Magic Ace the “Character Building Game” and “We Have a Series!”

By Terry Lyons
http://www.terrylyons.com

ORLANDO, USA – The character building “Big Game 3" of the 2009 NBA Finals did just that – it built the very foundation of a model NBA franchise, that has only seen the promised land of the NBA Finals twice in its existence. The “Big Game 3” victory built the character of the young Orlando Magic. It certainly secured the long-term future of an NBA expansion club which put the finishing touches on NBA’s late ‘80s growth to the southeast United States when the team hung its opening night banner in sunny, central Florida, USA some 20 years ago and will pave the way for the team to open a brand new arena a few blocks west of their now-dated Amway Arena.

The victory was the first Finals win for a club which recorded an 0-6 record in only two championship series appearances in its history.

Yes, the Orlando Magic came of age tonight and the exciting, young club remains a serious threat to the Los Angeles Lakers in this NBA championship battle. If the Magic can continue to play the kind of basketball they portrayed tonight, they can force the series back to Los Angeles where the Lakers will have to defend the home court advantage they gained during the NBA’s long regular season. The Magic won the game in the first half as it was a highly entertaining game where each team shot scorching percentages from the field. (Orlando 75% and LA 54%).

In the final boxscore report, the Magic displayed a balanced scoring attack with three players scoring over 20 points and an amazing shooting display of 40-of-65 accuracyfor a stunning 62.5 team percentage, an NBA Finals record. The Magic only faltered late in the third quarter when guard Rafer Alston tried to take on too much responsibility as he forced the ball and thus, forced the Magic offense into turnovers and poorly executed shots. To succeed, the Magic need to move, space and work the ball to get open ‘looks’ from their top outside shooters (Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu and Mickael Pietrus. However, their Number 1 option of hitting center Dwight Howard inside for baby hook after baby hook should remain “the” game plan for the Magic in the same way the Lakers of Yesteryear, via play calls form Coach Pat Riley, regularly called for the "fist" to indicate to legendary point guard Magic Johnson to get the ball into the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and “sky-hook” extraordinaire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Now, Howard is no Kareem, but he can be a dominant force inside and out. And, keep in mind, young Dwight Howard is just a babe. He will be the backbone and foundation of the American team come the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

In the postgame analysis, Orlando Coach Stan Van Gundy bounded into the interview room with a bit of a high-step and a voice of confidence. His counterpart, Phil Jackson, the legendary coach of Chicago Bulls teams of the ‘90s and the Lakers of the year 2000-plus, showed his usual air of cool, calmness. Phil and his cast of Big Chief Triangle assistants will be reviewing tape until sun-up.

“I’ve said it throughout the season and throughout these playoffs,” noted Van Gundy, “The one thing that you can’t question with our team is their resilience in situations like this, whether it’s from game-to-game or minute-to-minute. Our team will keep playing.

“We’ve had bad games, like Game 1 of this series, but it’s never a matter of our resilience or quitting or anything like that.”

Kobe Bryant had an interesting take on the Magic’s performance in Game 3, stating, “This is a tough team. This ain’t no cup-cake team,” said Bryant in a tone portraying the utmost respect and his sincere compliment of the young Orlando team.

“Well, I mean, this is a team that’s been through adverse situations. They went to Boston and won Game 7 and went to Cleveland and almost took the first two there. They are extremely well coached, they execute well and we’ve got our work cut out.”

The work begins at practice later today (June 10th), and continued when Game 4 is played on Thursday, June 11th. The nay-sayers who swing with the pendulum of an NBA Finals series are no longer talking ‘sweep’ and no longer looking to book flights on Friday morning.

They’ll be a nice, long weekend of pro basketball in Orlando, Florida and the Lakers and Magic will put it all on the line come Thursday night in downtown Orlando.

Terry Lyons, Contributor
A former communications and media executive at the NBA, Terry has behind-the-scenes knowledge that few others could boast. His vast experience, contacts list and knowledge of the game make him a star asset to 24/7's writing team. Lyons is currently running his own communications firm in Boston, Massachusetts while proudly helping the management team of his favorite restaurant, “Johnnie’s on the Side” at 138 Portland Street, a block from the TD Bank Boston garden.

For more information on Terry Lyons, see:
Terry Lyons: http://www.terrylyons.com

Terry Lyons’ Blog: http://terrylyons.blogspot.com

Thirty Years Ago for Magic in Lansing ...

I love the current edition of Michigan State and I think Tom Izzo is truly one of the best coaches in the land. The AP ran this item on Monday eve and made note of Earvin "Magic" Johnson's return to the East Lansing campus.

Can you believe it was 30 years ago?

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP)—If Tom Izzo gets his wish, Michigan State will go from good to great because its players figure out how to focus consistently.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson returned to campus last weekend to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the championship he helped the Spartans win, and the Hall of Fame player said focusing was the key to success when he was in college and the NBA.

Michigan State (21-5, 11-3 Big Ten) has struggled to play at or near its potential during games and from week to week, but talent and hard work have put the program in position to win its first conference title since 2001.

The Spartans rallied from a 12-point deficit midway through the second half last Sunday to beat Wisconsin by 11 points after getting routed at Purdue. They’re ranked No. 9 this week, down three spots in The Associated Press’ poll.

Michigan State’s road to an elusive Big Ten title will take it to Illinois, Indiana and against Purdue in the regular season finale.

But first, the Spartans have to make sure they don’t overlook 10th-place and banged-up Iowa on Wednesday night at home.

“It’s the perfect time of year to see if we’re growing up enough to handle this in a business-type approach,” Izzo said.

Magic at 48 ...

Earvin “Magic” Johnson turns 48 years old today.

You just can’t help but think back to that November, 1991 day when Magic walked up to the podium at the Forum in LA to announce to the world that he had the HIV virus.

There were only two or three people in the room that day that knew what it meant; Earvin’s newly hired specialist, Dr. Ho and a few of his colleagues. Magic had the financial wherewithal to hire the very best in the medical field. At that time, Dr. Ho had been researching the HIV/AIDS virus for nearly a decade and hadn’t witnessed anyone with the virus battle the “PR” fight against the virus the way Magic could and would.

Magic brought the virus to the front pages and the sports pages.
He successfully preached that the virus could affect the everyday man and woman. Magic changed his diet, his exercise regimen and said he would retire from the NBA.

Later that season, the NBA All-Star ballots were counted and, of course, Earvin was the leading the way. We fondly remember Magic was the MVP of the ’92 game and that he went on to win a gold medal at the ’92 Barcelona Olympics Games, and would eventually return to play in the NBA. But, he had made the announcement that November day, the same day that All-Star ballots were being unveiled for the game in Orlando. I remember it clearly because I was in Orlando, on the “Beeline” Toll-way between Orlando International Airport and the Disney properties where we held the press conference. It was the ‘old’ days, before cell phones and I saw a page that said to call into one of my NBA colleagues who was in Salt Lake City, readying for an announcement of the 1993 All-Star Game. I pulled the car to a stop on the beeline tollbooth and used a pay phone to get the terrible news.

They cancelled that announcement and “bee-lined” it themselves to be at Magic’s side at the ‘major’ announcement and I returned to NYC where the NBA office would be deluged with phone calls seeking NBA comment.

We all started to learn about the virus and to learn what having it really meant. At that point in time, nearly everyone thought the virus meant an immediate death sentence. A sentence to a slow and terrible demise. I don’t think there was a soul in the sports world who thought they could be sending a Happy 48th birthday message to Earvin on August 14, 2007.

I am so glad to be posting these words.

Happy Birthday, Earvin, and here’s to many, many more.

Yao deserves better...

Saw this item this morning on the wires and in USA Today:

Chinese sports association rips Yao for reporting late
From wire reports
China's official sports association has issued an unprecedented public criticism of Yao Ming for reporting late to national team training.

The Houston Rockets' star was faulted for taking too much time off to recover from his last NBA season. The government's All-China Sports Federation also said he spent too much time planning his wedding and making appearances for the Special Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"No matter how lofty public welfare activities are, they can't be allowed to take first place in a player's life," the China Sports Daily, a federation-owned newspaper, said in an article Tuesday. "No matter how sweet personal life is, it can't be compared to the exultation of capturing glory for one's nation," the article said.

Chinese websites later said Yao reported for national team training Wednesday.



I truly believe that Yao deserves so much better than this type of slap. He has done more than his share for the national team effort since he burst onto the global scene in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics. He has performed countless public service efforts, including speaking out on HIV/AIDS awareness with Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Yao stood up to fight against the SARS crisis by staging an unprecedented telethon to help educate the youngsters against the deadly virus and helping control its spread.

Yao recently appeared at the Basketball without Borders program on behalf of the NBA and conducted clinics for Special Olympians, a truely wonderful cause. Yao is an example of the very best the NBA and China has to offer. He should be praised for his participation with the National team.