During the inauguration celebration a reporter asked Magic Johnson about President Obama's plan to replace the White House bowling alley with a White House basketball court and whether or not he will get an invitation to play some hoops with the President. Johnson replied that he would obviously lace up his sneakers if he was invited to play. However, when asked if he would take it easy on President Obama during the game, Johnson flashed his famous smile and laughingly said "I will take it easy on him, if he takes it easy on my taxes."
Johnson, who in so many ways personified the joy of the game of basketball, along with Larry Bird saved the NBA in the 1980s. What a joy he was to watch play the game, and his message of self-discipline, hard work and entrerpreneurship is also joyous to listen to.
Peter,
I had the opportunity to hear Magic speak at the Association of Financial Professionals Conference in Los Angeles this summer. I was not expecting much, was I mistaken. Not only is he a great speaker, he is quite an entrepreneur.
He told us he has raised a billion dollars that is sitting in the bank on the sidelines, to buy real estate. He supplies beef for half the Burger Kings in the country. I think he owns something like 60 Starbucks. It goes on and on.
Lest anyone think it was easy for Magic to do this, during his speech he told us about how many banks turned him down for various projects. "They all want your autograph and a picture, but they didn't want to give me any money."
Posted by: Robert Wenzel | January 22, 2009 at 09:07 PM
I think he owns something like 60 Starbucks.
Starbucks is not a franchise. All stores are owned the by the starbucks corporation.
Posted by: Oil Shock | January 23, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Oil Shock,
Earvin Johnson does in fact own a number of starbucks coffee shops.
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20041201/celebrity-johnson.html
But it is true that they do not franchise
http://www.starbucks.com/customer/faq_qanda.asp?name=common
He has the Magic on and off the court to be the only franchisee.
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