Showtime in Chavez Ravine

He did it again. Just like he did in 1979, we now have hope. Tuesday evening Earvin “Magic” Johnson was again drafted by Los Angeles. And just like then, he has set the city abuzz. The LA Times is on it. Facebook is lit up. Sports talk radio is alive. And life could not be better for Los Angeles sports fans. With the stroke of pen, Magic is once again the hottest sports figure in the city. Just like he was back in the day when Jerry Buss signed the skinny kid from Michigan State to a Laker contract. We don’t know how this is going to turn out. Magic is walking into a situation that has few usable parts and the parking lots are still owned by the Butcher of Baghdad, er Boston, Frank McCourt, who can wreak havoc from afar. But we have hope, an owner who wants to do right for Los Angeles, even if only to preserve his image, and a reason to go out to the ballpark. This year I will my buy first Los Angeles Dodger tickets since Rupert Murdoch traded Mike Piazza and started this once storied franchise on the road to ruin. Not because I believe everything Magic touches will somehow turn to gold, but because he already has. The O’Malley did not win every year, and neither will Magic. But the Dodgers are back. And because of that, Chavez Ravine will become the new home of Showtime for Los Angeles. Now excuse me while I dream of sitting in the stands, watching the sunset over Chavez Ravine and a great baseball game while eating a grilled Dodger Dog. I just wish my parking lot fees weren’t going to settle a divorce decree.

Can Magic Strike Twice?

A little over a year ago I wrote an article for Bleacher Report, an online sports blog site, asking Magic Johnson to consider buying the Los Angeles Dodgers. I felt then, as I do now, that the Dodgers deserve local, respected leadership that believes in Los Angeles. We do not need a carpet bagging owner from another city who only wants the franchise so they can make money. We can do just fine with our own guy making money thank you! As a long time Dodger fan, my heart, along with those of millions of other followers has been in a funk pretty much since the O'Malley family felt they had to give up the team. Today brings word that apparently Magic Johnson has finally agreed with me and is putting together a team to make a bid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. All I can say is that it is about time we had some good sports news out of Los Angeles. Hopefully, with an owner like Magic, the Dodgers could put together a nice run of championships over the years just like the Lakers did. I wonder what Showtime would look like at Chavez Ravine? Hey, do you think someone passed my article on to Magic last year?