Magic Johnson: “Jackie paved the way for me”
Earvin “Magic” Johnson had a couple heroes growing up in sports. The Dodgers part owner helped unveil a statue for one of them Saturday.
Johnson spoke and was part of the festivities as the Dodgers unveiled their first ever statue at Dodger Stadium, a sculpture of Jackie Robinson on the 70th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier, and in that moment Johnson felt extreme pride.
“Jackie paved the way for me,” Johnson said. “Between Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali, they opened the door for me to be an owner of the Dodgers. Jackie paved the way for that. I couldn’t be an owner of the Dodgers without Jackie breaking the color barrier and playing in Major League Baseball.”
Johnson said without Robinson, Ali and sports legends such as Frank Robinson, who was also present and spoke at Saturday’s statue unveiling, he would’ve never been able to accomplish what he has.
He was so proud, in fact, he said he felt happier Saturday than he did when his own two statues went up. It was especially moving to him that sculptor Branly Cadet and Dodger manager Dave Roberts, both African-Americans now forever tied to the Dodgers and to Jackie, were part of the special occasion.
“You know that Jackie is just smiling in heaven right now saying, ‘Wow,’” Johnson said.
To Johnson, Saturday was a moment a long time in the making.
Johnson said the first thing the Dodgers’ ownership group wanted to do “was to bring the fans back.” The second thing was to improve the team.
“Check, check,” Johnson said. “The third thing we wanted to do was to make sure we put money into the stadium…check, again. The next thing we wanted to do was to honor Jackie.”
He can check that off the list now, as well.
Johnson said years ago when the Dodgers’ ownership bought the team, controlling owner Mark Walter pulled Jackie’s wife Rachel to the side and told her they would honor Jackie with a statue.
“And he backed it up,” Johnson said. “The man said we’re going to do a statue. We’re going to do it. And here we are.”
And now, there’s only one more box to check.
“That’s winning a World Series,” Johnson said.
