Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson was at Thursday’s UK-South Carolina game at Rupp Arena. Read what Johnson had to say in an interview with Dick Gabriel during the pregame show. …
On his commitment to education and desire to spread the word … “It really is. When you think about trying to make sure that the dropout rate doesn’t increase. When you think about the age now is 16. Everybody is proposing now that they move that age up to 18. And that would be great for everybody. What young people have to realize now is that you have to graduate high school and hopefully go on. If you can’t go to college then get a trade, to make sure you can get a job.”
On why he was in Kentucky today … “I was here because your great governor and the first lady are really concerned about black males. Right now, when you think about unemployment for black males, 30 percent right now across the country. We are trying to get them to not only stay in school but graduate high school and also give them the opportunity to go on to college, because what they need to understand is that your way of going or getting out of the ghetto in your neighborhood is not through basketball and sports anymore. It is about education. President (Barack) Obama has proven that; others have proven that. We are trying to get them motivated, get them to see that someone cares about them, then they can go on to college.”
On his experiences with Kentucky during his NCAA career … “What is funny is I am back here. The last time I encountered a Wildcat, in 1978, Kyle Macy and Jack Givens and Rick Robey they were not too kind to my Michigan State Spartans. We led that game. We were up 27-20 at halftime. We scored the first bucket out of halftime and went up 29-20. (We) thought we were in good position. They came roaring back with their crowd and also Western Kentucky’s crowd. They joined forces against Michigan State. We were playing in Dayton, Ohio, and Kyle Macy – unbelievable right at the end. I think he hit either six or eight straight free throws to beat us and I think it ended up something like 55 or 52. What a game though it was. UK actually taught us how to win it the next year. We were not prepared to win it. But, what a show Jack Givens put on in the NCAA Tournament finals. I think it was 41 points. I said ‘Wow, what a player,’.”
On if he has had a chance to see John Wall play basketball …“Oh yes. And I have the dance down too. Let me just say to all the Wildcat fans: This is probably the best guard we have seen in five or six years to come into college basketball. The thing that I am most impressed with John is his ability to know how to win the game. Let’s take last Saturday at Vanderbilt. The big play was when he stole it, got out front and got the layup. The next big play was of course when he got the blocked shot. Just before that, the same player had just hit a big three, the Vanderbilt player. He had a nice pump fake and got John up (off his feet). This time he stayed down, waited, waited and went up the same time as the shooter went up. That is what impressed me. I have seen this happen over and over again. When the game is tight for Kentucky, he always comes up with the key play, whether it is on defense and then on offense. He is poised, he is very confident in his ability and he is a great leader among these young players that they have here. But it starts with also a great coach. I think he has brought the excitement and the winning tradition back to Kentucky basketball.”
