“What you’ve got here though, is a testament to the power of fame. And a testament to the power of a modicum of charm,” Le Batard said. “Because Magic Johnson is charming. But Magic Johnson was given a late night television show because he’s famous and charming. Failed in 11 shows. Magic Johnson was given a head coaching job of the Lakers because he’s famous and charming. Failed in 16 games. Magic Johnson, not interesting as a broadcaster, given broadcasting opportunity after broadcasting opportunity, because he’s famous and charming.
“And now, he gets to run the entire Lakers organization because he’s famous and charming. But he wasn’t good at any of those jobs I just mentioned, and he got all of those jobs, bypassing a whole lot of people who are more qualified, because he’s famous and charming.”
Keyshawn Johnson resumed the topic on his Los Angeles-based ESPN radio show, defending Magic Johnson and urging Le Batard to “shut up” after spewing inaccurate and insensitive insults at the Lakers great. Johnson, who joined ESPN as an analyst after retiring from the NFL in 2006, suggested Le Batard’s personal attack on Magic Johnson and his qualifications was a sign of racism.
“I’m going to read between the lines, I’m going to read between the lines on this one,” he said. “To me, he saying because he’s a black dude, that’s the way I look at it …”
Sedano: “If you are insinuating that Dan is like being prejudiced here …”
Johnson: “That’s what I’m insinuating …”
Mychal Thompson, a former teammate of Magic Johnson’s on the Lakers in the late ’80s and early ’90s, called into the show to shoot down Sedano’s counter-claims.
“Sedano, you’re pissing me off. You gotta stop defending this Le Batard,” Thompson said. “How dare he question Magic’s credentials and qualifications, when this man is a basketball genius. What does he want? … That ticked me off when I heard that, I’m with you Key, that was some kind of veiled racist comment there.”
Thoughts? I expect Le Betard to issue an apology for his comments.
