Earvin Johnson: Creating new Magic with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the urban community

Magic Johnson is one of the most inspirational humans in the world. Magic's acts of humanity and community building has touched the lives of millions in the United States and around the globe. In a world were most of our athletes are heavily criticized for poor business and community efforts Magic Johnson often displays a healthy alternative to negate the athlete stereotypes. 


Magic is a natural perfectionist a leader and a winner in every aspect of his business and professional career. For years Magic has been busy with efforts to revive of some Americas most hard hit communities by creating jobs and offering college scholarship programs to local residents. The Magic Johnson Foundation started in 1991 has had a significant impact in Americas urban communities in Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta and through out the United States. The foundations motto "we are the communities we serve" not only speaks of the foundations efforts in the communities but unites the foundation with the communities they serve. 


Most recently Magic took his community leadership and business savvy personality to new heights, helping front a group of new owners in purchasing the Los Angeles Dodgers. The proud new owner of the Dodgers once the face of the NBA is now a Major League Baseball owner. 


Now for those wondering how this will play out, remember Magic doesn't touch a single project with out putting forth his best effort. His more than just a baseball owner his a fan of the game. Opening day Magic watched Matt Kemp hit a two run home run and could barely contain himself after the home run bomb the new owner peaked his head into the dugout to congratulate Matt Kemp. "The Dodgers have their Kobe, and his name is Matt Kemp" he said.

In today's buzz of social media Magic is not only a social icon but he is also a professional never asked to pull up his pants, straighten his tie, wear a belt or proper dress shoes. Magic is more than just a sports icon his a leader, mentor and role model for young entrepreneurs. Earvin's "Magic" moments on the court may have created a sports icon but since 1991 it's been Earvin Johnson's efforts off the court in local communities and classrooms that has made him a mentor and role model.  


Magic Johnson Foundation:


• In 2011 the Magic Johnson Foundation began to celebrate their 20th anniversary
• To date the Taylor Michaels Scholarship program has provided over 350 youth with resources and support
• By year’s end 2011 our Community Empowerment Centers (CECs) will have impacted over 245,000 disadvantaged youth
• The CECs have provided direct services to over 250,000 students in 16 urban markets
• CECs have awarded over $3 million dollars in hardware and software grants
• CECs Awarded over $250K in online learning scholarships
• The CECs have hosted over 300 students at Technology Boot camps
• CECs have improved the Academic Performance of over 6,500 youth
• Through the “I Stand with Magic” campaign over 89,000 people have signed up in the online campaign fight against HIV/AIDS 
• Through the "I Stand with Magic" campaign, the Magic Johnson Foundation has provided free HIV/AIDS testing to more than 38,000 Americans in 16 major cities. Additionally, the program has educated nearly 280,000 people about HIV, risk factors associated with the disease and the importance of HIV testing 
• Since 2003 our partnership with AIDs Healthcare Clinics has tested over, 3,750 adults and identified positive results for over 1000 testers 
• The Magic Johnson Foundation Annual Kid’s Mardi Gras started in 1997 has hosted over 16,500 disadvantaged urban youth 
• The Magic Johnson Foundation Annual Holiday Party has hosted over 45,000 youth and distributed over 300,000 toys since 1994


Magic Johnson Foundation website: http://magicjohnson.com/foundation/

Follow us on Twitter @JMCSPORTSBOOK or feel free to leave a comment below
Twitter link: http://twitter.com/#!/JMCSPORTSBOOK

Washington Huskies: Tony Wroten Declares for NBA Draft

University of Washington freshman player Tony Wroten declares for NBA Draft and will decide to hire an agent. Declaring or checking into the draft is one thing but hiring an agent leaves him with no choice but to move forward toward his NBA career. The real question NBA insiders and fans need to be asking is can Tony Wroten a player who is projected as an unfinished raw product successfully make the leap from college to NBA.


Wroten's game is explosive his athletically gifted. Last season Tony was awarded Pac-12 freshman of the year honors while averaging 16 pts, 5 rebs, 4 ast and 2 stls per game. Over the years Washington has produced some of the best young Point Guards and Shooting Guards to grace the NBA Nate Robinson, Brandon Roy, and Isaiah Thomas have been phenomenal. 

As a Seattle/Tacoma native I remember Isaiah Thomas and Nate Robinson as kids. Isaiah Thomas aunt and my mother were close friends. I even worked for his grandmother cleaning local area apartments. So I love the talent of our local area products and I give my full support to Seattle area athletes. Many here in the Atlanta area call me a homer because of my Seattle area passion.


The difference between Nate Robinson, Isaiah Thomas and Tony Wroten is Nate and Isaiah waited past their freshmen years. They developed a body of work while playing at UW leaving college as more developed and polished athletes.Brandon Roy was an all pro top 5 athlete when he entered the draft in 2006.  Roy was named Pac-10 player of the year and received All-American honors at the end of the season, while also being a finalist for the Wooden, Naismith, Oscar Robertson, and Adolph Rupp awards. Wroten well he is more famous for the free throws he missed during the first Pac-12 tournament game in UW history. The missed free throws were not unusual Wroten was only a 58.3% free throw shooter during his short stint at Washington. 

Wrotens decision making is also questionable at best often drawing unwarranted fouls or gambling on defense in tight pressure situations. Most of Wroten's flaws can be polished and worked on with good coaching and work ethics. This is why Wroten should reevaluate his decision to leave college and head to the NBA. Now of course the money is good but if he doesn't improve in these areas, why forfeit college for the NBA Development League?  

Especially when your as talented and gifted as Wroten, if he stayed and polished his skills while in college he has a chance at rewriting Washington Husky history and creating a lottery type draft pick position in the 2013 NBA Draft. I wish Tony Wroten all the best in his career, it takes a lot of work to get to the top of the Mount Rainier and if he keeps working on his RAW talent he can be a great player. If you end up playing for the Atlanta Hawks i'll be the reporter in the locker room with the Tony Wroten UW jersey on. I just believe in one more year for the Seattle area native turning pro. 

For comments and future updates please follow on Twitter @JMCSPORTSBOOK 
I am also U.S. Southern Correspondent for www.israelsportsradio.com listen to our podcast and follow, or share with a friend....


Israel Sports Radio link: http://israelsportsradio.com/

Twitter link: http://twitter.com/#!/JMCSPORTSBOOK

Fantasy Basketball and Football Legend

I received my championship t-shirt this morning from my friends at http://www.myfantasyleague.com/ yep that's me champion once again. So now I possess Yahoo!, NFL.com, ESPN.com and MyFantasyLeague.com championships. Yes that's right I am one of the best. The greatest fantasy player of all time, okay we'll maybe not that great. I am not in the Fantasy Sports Trade Association Hall of Fame or anything but somebody please tell Megan Van Petten I am ready for my close up.

On a more serious note, I would really like to thank the guys at My Fantasy League for the cool t-shirt. This is one shirt I am putting in my office. Many sports fans don't know fantasy sports has been around since early 1950's first started by Bill Weikenbach when he started Superior Tile Summer Invitational Homerun Tournament. In August 1963, he had the first draft of the GOPPPL – the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators league. Over the last 60 years Millions of fans, athletes, and celebrities have participated in Fantasy Baseball, Hockey, Football, Basketball you name a sport it has a fantasy component. 


I doubt fantasy pioneer Bill Weikenbach had any idea that a game he created would have so much appeal to sports fans world wide. Personally I would like to thank him along with Rotoworld and STATS LLC for keeping us up to date with fantasy news and updates. True pioneers of the game know that in today's digital high tech world you don't have to buy a store magazine to get the news on the latest athletes or injuries thanks to Rotoworld. STATS LLC provides most of the up to date live scores and stats you see today on major sports websites. 


Charlie Weigert is today's fantasy sports pioneer. His the reason fantasy operating sites were granted the right to use player names and statistics in their games without having to pay rights fees to the leagues involved. Court case  CBC Distribution and Marketing  v. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. True heroes, true inventors, true fantasy games, played by real people. 


If you have a fantasy league and looking for an extra member feel free to comment to this post and leave a message or contact me on Twitter @jmcsportsbook http://twitter.com/#!/JMCSPORTSBOOK


 Events: Check Clenaure Carter out on http://israelsportsradio.com/ April 3rd 2012 talking MLB, NBA, and NFL news and updates. Israel Sports Radio the only sports radio serving the Middle East.....