Guru’s Monday Memories

The Beginning of an Era: Magic’s Debut

Earvin “Magic� Johnson is the kind of player you only get to see once in an era. He’s the kind of player that revolutionizes a position and the game along with it. Its been said that many more recent players have wished they would have been born earlier, just so they had the chance to see magic play live, and not only on highlight reels. That kind of player doesn’t come along often. Magic brought a sense of style and passion to the court that I have yet to see demonstrated by any player since. He might be streaking down the court pointing out a mismatch on the block with his right hand, then next thing you know he’s dumping a behind the back pass to Byron Scott for an open 3 with his left. He was the epitome of “Showtime�, the heart of the Lakers throughout the 80’s, and a symbol of a legend for the franchise and a league for all eternity. Right from the get-go you knew this kid had something special.

Magic first graced the court with his presence 25 years ago this week in the 1979-1980 season opener. Fresh off leading teams to championships 2 out of the last 3 years, one at Everett High School, and one at Michigan State University, he hoped to keep the high level of play going and impact this new look Laker squad just the same, hopefully living up to his 1st overall selection in the draft months prior. A selection in which the Lakers were fortunately given by the Utah Jazz in compensation for the free agent signing of Gail Goodrich 3 years earlier. That turned out to be possibly the best loss of a free agent in the history of a franchise. With a new coach in Jack McKinney, a new owner in Jerry Buss, and 7 new players the Lakers kicked off what would be an incredible season. A season that would include the franchise’s first NBA title in 8 years.

It had to start somewhere, and that somewhere happened to be the Great Western Forum against the in-state rival San Diego Clippers. A team boasting players such as Bill Walton, World B. Free, Freeman Williams, and yes, even Jellybean Bryant (Kobe’s father). Magic was considered the most exciting player in college sports, he was now the tallest point guard in HBA history, and with the owner Jerry buss billing this years club a the most exciting and dazzling squad in sports there was definitely some excitement in the arena as fans were eager to catch their first glimpse of this so called “Showtime”. And from the moment the last person to ever wear #32 in purple and gold stepped onto the hardwood, he didn’t disappoint. He was noticeably excited and in the pre-game, almost giddy. Enough so to prompt Chick Hearn to refer to him as “jittery energy ballâ€? in pre game discussion. The Lakers played that game as they would for the next 8 years, up-tempo, and exciting, and this one even had a climatic ending as if it could go any other way. In a game that was close the whole way, the young rookie looked poised throughout posting 26 points and 6 assists so far. With the Lakers down 116-115 and the final seconds ticking away Magic recorded his 7th assist of the game with a pass to Kareem, who turned and buried a 15 foot sky hook at the buzzer to give the Lakers their first win of the season and Magic his first win as a professional in memorable fashion. After the shot passed through the net maybe the most distinctive memory of that game is one of Magic going bezerk, “distributing bone-jarring high-fives and bear hugsâ€? to all teammates. When he reached Kareem, the last second hero, at center court, Kareem simply told the young man to calm down. “We got 81 of those left little fellaâ€?. This exuberance was looked down upon by some claiming that this young guy would burn out by seasons end. Only he didn’t. And kareem was right, they did have 81 left, plus some. The Lakers went on to win 60 games that season, and continued on to win the NBA championship, in a series where Magic may have delivered his most memorable performance ever, garnering him Finals MVP as a rookie, the first time that had ever happened. But we’ll leave that performance for another week of GuRu’s Monday memories. See ya next week.

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