Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson Theatres will build a 16-screen, stadium-style movie megaplex as an anchor of the planned Capital Centre entertainment and retail complex on the site of US Airways Arena in Landover, the project's developers plan to announce today.Loews Cineplex Entertainment and Johnson Development Corp. formed the chain three years ago to bring upscale, first-run cinemas to minority neighborhoods in metropolitan areas, said a spokeswoman for Magic Johnson Theatres. The chain runs similar theaters in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston and plans to open three more next year in Cleveland, Harlem, N.Y., and Carson, Calif.

Where to begin? How to begin?There's no precedent here to work from. There was Lou Gehrig at the end of his career and Ernie Davis at the beginning of his.But this, this. This is different.You tell me Magic Johnson tested HIV-positive, and I don't know what to say. I could say that he was the greatest player who ever lived and that this wasn't even the most important thing about his game. What was essential, even unique, about the way he played basketball was the joy he took from it and the joy we took from it.I could say that what you need to know, what is most important to know, about Earvin Johnson is that the famous smile was as genuine as sunshine.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Could it have turned out any other way?Of course, Magic Johnson was going to step out on to the Orlando Arena court for the 42nd All-Star Game and turn it into his personal showcase, scoring 25 points and winning the game's Most Valuable Player award.Of course, he would hit three straight three-pointers in the last 2 minutes, 41 seconds, including a fade-away over his good buddy, Isiah Thomas, to cap the West's 153-113 demolition of the East stars.And, of course, Johnson, who retired three months ago after testing HIV-positive, would shut down Thomas and Michael Jordan on successive possessions with a sellout crowd of 14,272 in an uproar.

A day or so after Earvin "Magic" Johnson disclosed that he has the AIDS virus, another professional basketball player saw a divine plan in the wrenching news."

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who has already made a name for himself opening a chain of highly successful movie theaters in poor, urban areas like South Central Los Angeles, said yesterday he plans to open 14 theaters around the country, including two in Maryland in 1998.The theaters, in Prince George's County and Baltimore, will have plush seating and 12 or 16 large screens, and they will be designed to help bring the latest, popular movies to minority areas, which are typically underserved.But they should also benefit the surrounding communities by spurring economic activity, according to Johnson.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - This was a prize that Magic Johnson and Larry Bird could share. Johnson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last night, reunited with his former rival in a ceremony that evoked tears for the late Drazen Petrovic and laughs for the antics of the Harlem Globetrotters before the star of showtime stole the show. "You allowed me for 12 or 13 years to be a little boy, to play the game I love, to try to be the best player I could be, to try to win games, and to also turn the fans on," Johnson told commissioner David Stern between standing ovations.

LOS ANGELES - The Basketball Hall of Fame induction committee first was praised for the players and team that were voted into the Hall yesterday. Then the committee was criticized for the coach and player who didn't make the cut. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., were: former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson and former Portland Trail Blazers and New Jersey Nets guard Drazen Petrovic, coach Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers, University of Arizona coach Lute Olson, North Carolina State women's coach Kay Yow, and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Magic Johnson didn't live up to his name Monday night, but he at least left open the possibility that he could."The Magic Hour," Johnson's syndicated entry into the evening talk-show wars, made its debut with two high-powered guests (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Whitney Houston), a guy who sets himself on fire (does the L.A. fire marshal know about this dude?), a sidekick who brought nothing to the party, a music director with enough wattage to light a small town and a host who's so effervescent and so likable, he may just be able to pull this off.But first, Johnson needs to work on some noticeable rough spots.

Twenty years after an effervescent young talent named Earvin Johnson led Michigan State to the NCAA championship, another young, charismatic point guard has delivered the Spartans to the Final Four.That's where all analogies and comparisons of Michigan State's past and present should end, however.Mateen Cleaves is no Magic Johnson, but his No. 2-ranked Spartans do possess some magic of their own going into Saturday's national semifinal against No. 1-ranked Duke in St. Petersburg, Fla.How else do you explain a team with no true scorer getting this far in the NCAA tournament?

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Earvin "Magic" Johnson, one of the most popular and accomplished players in basketball history, said yesterday that he had been infected by the virus that causes AIDS and that he would retire immediately from the Los Angeles Lakers.Speaking in composed, straightforward terms, Johnson said at a news conference at the Forum, where he played with the Lakers for 12 seasons, that he learned Wednesday that he was infected with thehuman immunodeficiency virus."Because of the HIV virus I have obtained, I will have to retire from the Lakers today," he said.