Lakers Front Office Staffer: Magic Johnson Used Intimidation, Bullying To Show Authority

[TKainZero]

Hey. Maybe magic looked at my resume!

[HeartBreakKid]

Anyone who needs to continuously remind people of their importance are NOT great leaders.

Magic was woefully unqualified for the roll of President of Basketball Operations, and was always best served as an outside Advisor/Recruiter/Team Representative.

He's simply not intelligent enough to get into corporate, and you can tell by the way he left the organization that he's still unqualified and completely clueless in this role. I'm so happy for the Lakers that he's finally out.

tell that to the corporations he has ran successfully with his net worth over 600 million I think your comment about intelligence sounds racist whether you meant or not. Never mind his business success make your point invalid
http://www.upgrademag.com/web/2018/05/04/how-magic-johnson-became-a-successful-businessman/

Well, he had a lot of money to invest in - it's not like he built it from scratch. There is also a big difference between owning and running a company, he is a good investor- he puts a lot of things like movie theaters and starbucks in places with low property value. That isn't really the same thing as being able to run a corporation hands on as a manager, it's not like he actually ran the Dodgers or Starbucks - he got really good financial advise from his advisors (the article you linked basically implies that).

Safe to say he listened to financial advice because he doesn't know anything about finance, so he probably did not have an ego when it came to that. Naturally, him being an NBA champion and everyone kissing his ass all the time in the basketball community basically meant that he wasn't going to listen to anyone because he thinks he knows better (when winning a championship and being able to analyze or run a basketball team are two different things).

[CycklopsGT]

I said very specifically that if you anger and intimidate your employees, they will switch from wanting to do a good job to deliberately screwing you in all the little areas that you can't keep track of, which kills the organization (ANY organization). You replied with a bunch of cliches that didn't even relate to that.

Stop trying to apply your work at Taco Bell to this situation.

.

That's low!

He's an idiot who thinks that money changes human nature. It doesn't, but you don't know that unless you've actually seen it at all levels.

[shrink]

Stop trying to apply your work at Taco Bell to this situation.

.

That's low!

He's an idiot who thinks that money changes human nature. It doesn't, but you don't know that unless you've actually seen it at all levels.

My suspicion is that you have never held a truly competitive job, and feel you can afford to screw around with your career when you feel your boss hasn’t been nice enough to you.

Moreover, people aren’t offered these jobs without a personal desire to do a good job simply because of your own sense of personal responsibility.

Employees that intentional sabotage their boss and their workplace, even if they feel they can get away with it, are also the ones that feel their own pettiness represents everyone’s human nature. It does not, and I would not hire you .

[23artest23]

All of these reports and rumours need to be taken with a handful of salt. Pelinka's and magic's camps are putting them out there to sling mud at each other.

While much of it is probably coming from those 2, there is truth in it. Things are probably just as dysfunctional as they are being made out to be. As an outsider, seems like the 2 were both amongst the worst hires that could've been made. Magic is about himself, money, being the center of attention...he has always been that way to an extreme. The LA job? He just wanted the pay, prestige, power, and attention that comes with it...the work part wasn't a part of the equation. Pelinka? From what I can gather, the guy seems to be pretty universally disliked at the least and despised by some. Jeannie? She is in so far over her head. I'm glad LBJ chose to go waste away as a Laker for a little while...

[CycklopsGT]

That's low!

He's an idiot who thinks that money changes human nature. It doesn't, but you don't know that unless you've actually seen it at all levels.

My suspicion is that you have never held a truly competitive job, and feel you can afford to screw around with your career when you feel your boss hasn’t been nice enough to you.

You didn't read what I said to you before, did you? About working as an analyst at a multi-billion dollar company, where you see all the same things? There's a reason that NBA front-office decisions often seem capricious, it's because money doesn't change human nature, and only people who don't understand either one, like yourself, think it does.

Moreover, people aren’t offered these jobs without a personal desire to do a good job simply because of your own sense of personal responsibility.

Did you seriously just say that to get offered a high-level job you have to have a personal desire to do well out of responsibility? You have NO idea how these decisions are made or what motivates people to want high-level jobs, including nepotism and simply wanting a higher paycheck without being aware of or caring about the job responsibilities.

I could tell very quickly that you have the knowledge-level of a 14-year-old, now you're really showing it.

Employees that intentional sabotage their boss and their workplace, even if they feel they can get away with it, are also the ones that feel their own pettiness represents everyone’s human nature. It does not, and I would not hire you .

I hate to break it to you, but I've never actually done it, but knowing how things are handled by necessity of division of responsibility, I know how it can happen and I've seen it. I can tell that you have no idea what I'm talking about and are one of those people that think that if you made a ton of money, you'd never complain or be unhappy, right, little boy?

[metafisical]

People in power have a right to assert their authority. They have the right to do whatever they want and get away with it. We peons just have to live with it.

[shrink]

People in power have a right to assert their authority. They have the right to do whatever they want and get away with it. We peons just have to live with it.

Or go get a different job, if your skills warrant it.

[shrink]

He's an idiot who thinks that money changes human nature. It doesn't, but you don't know that unless you've actually seen it at all levels.

My suspicion is that you have never held a truly competitive job, and feel you can afford to screw around with your career when you feel your boss hasn’t been nice enough to you.

You didn't read what I said to you before, did you? About working as an analyst at a multi-billion dollar company, where you see all the same things? There's a reason that NBA front-office decisions often seem capricious, it's because money doesn't change human nature, and only people who don't understand either one, like yourself, think it does.

Moreover, people aren’t offered these jobs without a personal desire to do a good job simply because of your own sense of personal responsibility.

Did you seriously just say that to get offered a high-level job you have to have a personal desire to do well out of responsibility? You have NO idea how these decisions are made or what motivates people to want high-level jobs, including nepotism and simply wanting a higher paycheck without being aware of or caring about the job responsibilities.

I could tell very quickly that you have the knowledge-level of a 14-year-old, now you're really showing it.

Employees that intentional sabotage their boss and their workplace, even if they feel they can get away with it, are also the ones that feel their own pettiness represents everyone’s human nature. It does not, and I would not hire you .

I hate to break it to you, but I've never actually done it, but knowing how things are handled by necessity of division of responsibility, I know how it can happen and I've seen it. I can tell that you have no idea what I'm talking about and are one of those people that think that if you made a ton of money, you'd never complain or be unhappy, right, little boy?

I don’t like to talk about myself online, but I will say that I’ve personally hired over 50 people, and sat in on committees to hire probably over 300 employees (including some analysts). I feel I have some ability to contribute to this discussion.

First, being an analyst (I don’t know what your area is), is generally a skill-set which can be transported to other businesses. We have hired analysts from other companies, often very different companies, and many have been successful with us. We have had others move on as well, and I assume they have done fine in their next job. My point here is that you have the flexibility to simply quit and find other opportunities. For people who want a job in an NBA front office, those positions are quite limited. If you are their CBA expert, their cap guy, or Director of International Scouting, you can’t show up at Pillsbury and expect a similar opportunity. Moreover, I have read that it is especially hard to break into this business, and for many it’s their dream job. As I said, employees like these cannot afford to try to risk screwing their own career, because they hope they can stick it to the boss without anyone finding out.

Second, I will mention to anyone reading this, treat your own career with respect. Don’t try to screw over the boss or your fellow employees over personal grudges - even if you think they deserve it. In fact, don’t even talk badly about them, at work or especially in an interview. We make calls to former employers. Hiring committees are looking not just for successful producers, but team players that won’t cause problems (and make more work for them down the road!). This is particularly important if you have a specialized skill-set, or have a single field in which you’ll be happy. You can’t afford to go around screwing people over, and claim you deserve a pass because it’s human nature.

[CycklopsGT]

My suspicion is that you have never held a truly competitive job, and feel you can afford to screw around with your career when you feel your boss hasn’t been nice enough to you.

You didn't read what I said to you before, did you? About working as an analyst at a multi-billion dollar company, where you see all the same things? There's a reason that NBA front-office decisions often seem capricious, it's because money doesn't change human nature, and only people who don't understand either one, like yourself, think it does.

Moreover, people aren’t offered these jobs without a personal desire to do a good job simply because of your own sense of personal responsibility.

Did you seriously just say that to get offered a high-level job you have to have a personal desire to do well out of responsibility? You have NO idea how these decisions are made or what motivates people to want high-level jobs, including nepotism and simply wanting a higher paycheck without being aware of or caring about the job responsibilities.

I could tell very quickly that you have the knowledge-level of a 14-year-old, now you're really showing it.

Employees that intentional sabotage their boss and their workplace, even if they feel they can get away with it, are also the ones that feel their own pettiness represents everyone’s human nature. It does not, and I would not hire you .

I hate to break it to you, but I've never actually done it, but knowing how things are handled by necessity of division of responsibility, I know how it can happen and I've seen it. I can tell that you have no idea what I'm talking about and are one of those people that think that if you made a ton of money, you'd never complain or be unhappy, right, little boy?

I don’t like to talk about myself online, but I will say that I’ve personally hired over 50 people, and sat in on committees to hire probably over 300 employees (including some analysts). I feel I have some ability to contribute to this discussion.

You've demonstrated no ability whatsoever and a fundamental failure in understanding human nature. Like I said, you're one of those people who thinks that if you had enough money, all your problems would disappear, don't you?

First, being an analyst (I don’t know what your area is), is generally a skill-set which can be transported to other businesses.

Not what I do, and it requires an accurate ability to predict the financial success of companies, employees and products in our field. You're responsible for what you say will happen, and I'm very good.

We have hired analysts from other companies, often very different companies, and many have been successful with us. We have had others move on as well, and I assume they have done fine in their next job. My point here is that you have the flexibility to simply quit and find other opportunities.

Sometimes people like their job, but not their boss or co-workers.

For people who want a job in an NBA front office, those positions are quite limited. If you are their CBA expert, their cap guy, or Director of International Scouting, you can’t show up at Pillsbury and expect a similar opportunity. Moreover, I have read that it is especially hard to break into this business, and for many it’s their dream job. As I said, employees like these cannot afford to try to risk screwing their own career, because they hope they can stick it to the boss without anyone finding out.

You're again assuming that people are screwing their career by doing this when it can't be linked to them and/or they can just get moved to another area when their boss gets fired.

Second, I will mention to anyone reading this, treat your own career with respect. Don’t try to screw over the boss or your fellow employees over personal grudges - even if you think they deserve it. In fact, don’t even talk badly about them, at work or especially in an interview. We make calls to former employers. Hiring committees are looking not just for successful producers, but team players that won’t cause problems (and make more work for them down the road!). This is particularly important if you have a specialized skill-set, or have a single field in which you’ll be happy. You can’t afford to go around screwing people over, and claim you deserve a pass because it’s human nature.

And here's what I'll mention to you, don't make foolish posts on the internet about Taco Bell when you have no understanding whatsoever of human nature and likely are getting screwed by your own employees due to having a moronic idea of human nature. Good leadership includes sophisticated empathy, and you definitely don't have it.

[Richfield]

Cyclops, you're coming off as one of those employees (if you're working) that really does need that hug. Nothing to be ashamed of for sure, but understand the older generations grew up under different circumstances, and aren't going to necessarily understand or respect your desire for any type of attention.

I don't know who you're trying to convince of anything at all, but I assume it's good odds that adults reading are not buying any of it, based solely on the way you speak and conduct yourself in your responses. You're giving more and more of yourself away with each additional post and erasing all doubt of people's first impressions. I don't know how to get you to understand that your posts are working against you. You're giving your perceived enemy more ammo to work with. But instead of using it, shrink is trying to share a point of view that might help you some day, or not, it doesn't actually matter. Either way it's free advice and you continue to shoot yourself in the foot in regards to the impression you're likely trying to portray. It's a train wreck and instead of somebody letting you know as much, they're just going to watch and shake their head. I thought somebody should tell you before you go any lower. shrink seems to have struck a nerve or two which is okay, and you'll be okay, and so will shrink. That's okay, it's a nearly anonymous forum and you will be your own harshest judge in the end. Chalk this one up to youth and move on. The only person fighting this battle is you, with yourself. And you're losing.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Good luck!

[basketballwacko2]

People in power have a right to assert their authority. They have the right to do whatever they want and get away with it. We peons just have to live with it.

Or go get a different job, if your skills warrant it.

I've walked away from a number of good paying jobs in my day. I won't take a hostile or negative work environment. I have a number of skills that are valued in the market. Putting up with some hateful over baring sack of bovine excrement of a boss is not worth it.