Magic Johnson

During his first year playing professional basketball in 1980, Earvin "Magic" Johnson earned $425,000, but spent about $700,000 on cars, clothes and other things he wanted - at age 19 - but later realized he didn't need. "It took me three years to get ahold of what I was doing with my spending ... and it's been great ever since," said Johnson, now 44, who after a stellar career with the Los Angeles Lakers became a symbol of African-American economic empowerment with his chain of movie theaters, retail centers and more than a half-billion dollars in real estate investments.

Baltimore's Andre Poole has one thing on his mind -- winning MTV's Who's Got Game (Sundays at 10:30 p.m.). With hosts NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and playground legend "Pee-Wee" Kirkland, the show is made up of 12 cast mates who have to showcase their streetball skills to gain the respect of their peers, and to win $100,000. Poole, whose streetball name is "Silk," went to an open tryout and was selected from the thousands who tried out based on their personality, skills and charisma.

The top individual scoring, rebounding and assist performances in the 1991 NBA playoffs (through May 27):PointsPlayer .. .. .. Opponents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .Date .. .. .. PointsMichael Jordan .. Chicago at Philadelphia .. .. May 10 .. .. .. . 46Magic Johnson .. .L.A Lakers vs. Golden State ..May 8 .. .. .. .. 44Chris Mullin .. ..Golfen State at L.A. Lakers ..May 8 .. .. .. .. 41Karl Malone .. .. Utah at Portland. .. .. .. .. May 9 .. .. .. .. 40Clyde Drexler .. .Portland vs. Seattle .. .. .. April 26 .. .. .. 39Chuck Person .. ..Indiana at Boston .. .. .. .. April 28 .. .. .. 39Willie Anderson ..San Antonio vs. Golden State.

Dr. Spock is against milk. Cal Jr. is for milk. Milk wins.It's hard to tell who is dominating this campaign more, Ross Perot or Magic Johnson.If IBM were truly Republican, it would delay announcing its layoffs till November 4.Now it's official. George is the challenger demanding debates. Bill is hemming and hawing like any incumbent.

SkyBox does NFL with The Impact Series, a 350-card set. Backs have color action photos, stats and an X-and-O diagrams showing the player's position. Look for a bonus card with Magic Johnson and Jim Kelly, of which 500 have been autographed. Cards come in 12- and 24-card packs.

NBA games lost yesterday: 8.Total games missed: 77.Earliest estimated date that season can start: Dec. 15.Negotiations: Nothing scheduled. Commissioner David Stern and union director Billy Hunter were supposed to speak by phone yesterday.Projected player salary losses (through Dec. 15): $250 million.Today's best canceled game: Lakers at Boston. Sure, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are long-since retired, but it's always special when these teams meet.Pub Date: 11/13/98

LOS ANGELES -- The prominent NBA player met a beautiful young woman after a road game at a restaurant near the arena and, after a few drinks, asked if he could go home with her. She agreed, with one condition. In return for her companionship, he had to give her a pair of autographed sneakers.When they arrived at her bedroom, he fulfilled his part of the agreement, producing the shoes from his shoulder bag and signing them."She took them to her closet and opened the door," he said, laughing about the story while he told it to a reporter a couple of years later.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Jud Heathcote insists that only one athlete should be called Magic.And it's not Michigan wide receiver Desmond Howard, a Heisman Trophy candidate.Heathcote, Michigan State's basketball coach, said yesterday that he got irritated when he heard Howard referred to as "Magic," especially in the wake of Earvin "Magic" Johnson's revelation that he has the HIV virus.Johnson played for Heathcote at Michigan State when the Spartans won the 1979 NCAA title. Heathcote asked reporters to reserve the nickname for Johnson alone.

EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON wanted to return to the National Basketball Association as a player three years ago. He couldn't.It wasn't that his having the virus that causes AIDS had made him physically unable to play. But it was obvious that if he played, many of his opponents would not. They would be in constant fear that any accidental scratch that caused Mr. Johnson to bleed would put their own lives in danger. It didn't matter that medical experts said the possibility was remote. That's what they thought and they let Magic know it. Five weeks after announcing he was ending his retirement from the game, he announced he would stay retired.

By nearly a 2-to-1 margin, respondents to "It's Your Call" sai they would choose Michael Jordan over Magic Johnson if they needed to win one basketball game.Jordan, whose Bulls will try to wrap up their first NBA title tonight, got 297 of 468 votes, or 63.5 percent. Johnson, who easily won a similar poll among NBA general managers recently, was preferred by 36.5 percent of those who called."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.