Magic Johnson Basketball Star Entrepreneur

Legendary Athletes introduces readers to the people who have made significant impacts both athletically and socially. Magic Johnson: Basketball Star & Entrepreneur highlights Magic Johnson's childhood and rise to fame. Career highlights, battles along the way, and humanitarian contributions are also discussed. The basketball star's lasting legacy is told through informative sidebars, captivating photos, and engaging text. SportsZone is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

As a young man, Earvin “Magic” Johnson admired his father and other small-town entrepreneurs who created jobs and served as leaders in his Midwestern community. He worked for them, watched them, and his interest in building communities through economic development grew even while his basketball career flourished. His fame as an NBA star gave him access to some of the most successful business leaders in the country. It was Earvin’s own entrepreneurial spirit that inspired them to serve as his mentors. Earvin made the transition from great athlete to greater entrepreneur through hard work and by avidly pursuing opportunities. He recognized that densely populated urban communities were ripe for commercial and residential development. He partnered with major brands like Starbucks, 24 Hour Fitness, and T.G.I. Friday’s to lead a major economic push in these communities. The success of his businesses proved that ethnically diverse urban residents would welcome and support major brands if given the opportunity. Earvin continues to be a leader of urban economic development that provides jobs, goods, and a new spirit of community. 32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business will inspire and enlighten readers who wish to make a similar impact with their careers and business endeavors.

Legendary Athletes introduces readers to the people who have made significant impacts both athletically and socially. Magic Johnson: Basketball Star & Entrepreneur highlights Magic Johnson's childhood and rise to fame. Career highlights, battles along the way, and humanitarian contributions are also discussed. The basketball star's lasting legacy is told through informative sidebars, captivating photos, and engaging text. SportsZone is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Throughout his life, basketball superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson has met both challenges and opportunities with perseverance and leadership. Dubbed Magic, Johnson blazed a spectacular career in basketball. His play with the Los Angeles Lakers as point guard alongside center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as his epic rivalry with the Boston Celtics' forward Larry Bird, marked a legendary era in the NBA. In 1991, Magic announced he had tested positive for HIV, a virus that can lead to the life-threatening disease AIDS, and was retiring from basketball. Little was known then about HIV/AIDS and its prevention. His declaration shocked the public but succeeded in putting a familiar and much-admired face on a disease that was shrouded in fear and prejudice. Magic Johnson's legacy includes his inspirational work as an advocate for the prevention of HIV and the still-incurable disease AIDS through his own foundation, which provides programs for HIV/AIDS education and prevention, including testing and safe sex practices.

“A true emotional phenomenon . . . Entertaining . . . Of particular interest to fans will be the evolution of Johnson’s relationship with Bird, his great karmic partner in the game.”—Newsday (New York) He's faced challenges all of his life, but now Magic Johnson faces the biggest challenge of all, his own brave battle with HIV. In this dramatic, exciting, and inspirational autobiography, Magic Johnson allows readers into his life, into his tirumphs and tragedies on and off the court. In his own exuberant style, he tells readers of the friends and family who've been constant supporters and the basketball greats he’s worked with. It’s all here, the glory and the pain the character, charisma, and courage of the hero called Magic. AN ALTERNATE SELECTION OF THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB

Crabtree Groundbreaker Biographies tell the stories of people from a variety of walks of life whose talent, courage, skill, and vision have inspired millions. These stories will fascinate readers with their in-depth portraits of people who have risen to the top of their fields, achieved excellence and recognition, and provided examples of achievement and character for people of all ages and backgrounds. Throughout his life, basketball superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson has met both challenges and opportunities with leadership. Johnson blazed a spectacular career with the Lakers as point guard alongside center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His epic rivalry with Celtics' forward Larry Bird marked a legendary era in the NBA. Magic's announcement in 1991 that he had tested positive for HIV and was retiring from basketball shocked the public but succeeded in putting a familiar and much-admired face on a disease that was then shrouded in fear and prejudice. Since then, Magic Johnson has worked as an advocate for the prevention of HIV and the still-incurable disease AIDS. Book jacket.

The definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, from the highly respected, career sportswriter and author of Michael Jordan: The Life. Magic Johnson is one of the most beloved, and at times controversial, athletes in history. His iconic smile lifted the dowdy sport of American professional basketball from a second-tier sport with low ratings into the global spotlight—a transformation driven by Magic’s ability to eviscerate opponents with a playing style that featured his grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed the Los Angeles “Showtime” Lakers to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charm. Then, in 1991, at the height of his charismatic power, Johnson shocked the world with a startling cautionary tale about sexually transmitted disease that pushed public awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Then out came his confession of unprotected sex with hundreds of women each year, followed by his retirement, an attempted return, and a proper farewell on the iconic 1992 Olympic Dream Team. Longtime biographer Roland Lazenby spent years tracking the unlikely ascension of Johnson—an immensely popular public figure who was instantly scandalized but who then turned to his legendary will to rise again as a successful entrepreneur with another level of hard-won success. In Lazenby’s portrayal, Johnson’s tale becomes bigger than that of one man. It is a generational saga spanning parts of three centuries that reveals a great deal, not just about his unique basketball journey but about America itself. Through hundreds of interviews with Johnson’s coaches, representatives past and present, teammates, opponents, friends, and loved ones, as well as key conversations with Johnson himself over the years, Lazenby has produced the first truly definitive study, both dark and light, of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr.—the revolutionary player, the icon, the man.

Starting a business is inherently risky, but it has historically been much harder for African Americans due to the systemic racism they face in many different areas. However, many black entrepreneurs have overcome those barriers to create successful businesses, working harder than their white counterparts to achieve similar results. Readers will learn about the history of discrimination against African Americans in the business world and how it has been and still can be combated. Historical and contemporary photographs and a comprehensive timeline shine a spotlight on many African American entrepreneurs who have changed the world.