Dodgers ship out MacDougal

Vincent Bonsignore: Magic appears back in his element

Posted:   05/02/2012 09:38:12 PM PDT

Magic Johnson was fed up Wednesday morning, the anger on his face familiar to anyone who remembers his reaction when a Lakers teammate missed a defensive assignment or lazily went up for a shot.

The misconception of Johnson is he smiled and laughed his way through all those NBA titles and MVP seasons with the Lakers. | See photo gallery.

But for those who have had sat courtside at a Lakers game and heard him lay into a teammate who wasn't doing his job correctly, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Amid the good feelings and positive vibes generating throughout Dodger Stadium on the day Johnson and The Guggenheim Baseball Management Team officially assumed ownership of the franchise, someone asked what sort of monetary stake former owner Frank McCourt still had in the team.

It was the third time the subject came up during Wednesday's news conference, much to Johnson's annoyance.

Johnson, sitting at a table alongside partners Stan Kasten and Mark Walter, looked sternly at Walter and, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, told the Dodgers' new controlling partner to explain once and for all how McCourt no longer had any financial ties to the day-to-day operations of the Dodgers. Walter is the main financial thrust behind the Guggenheim's $2.2 billion to buy the Dodgers.

In a seminal moment that put to rest any doubts about Johnson's role in the organization, Walter got up, walked to the podium and explained McCourt no longer has a financial stake in the team.

It was Johnson directing the fastbreak all over again, waving Walter into the lane like he did so many times before with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and telling him to post up hard and fast and with purpose.

Johnson then delivered Walter a perfect pass for an easy bucket.

If you had any worries Johnson would fade into some honorary position now that the sale was complete, that moment removed them.

As soon as his new office is ready to move into, Johnson will report to work, roll up his sleeves and begin the process of elevating the Dodgers back to the stature they once enjoyed.

"I told my (staff), get your track shoes on because I'm a man who gets up early and gets in early," Johnson said. "And I'm going to work all day and all night."

His role, like it was with the Lakers, will be widespread and far-reaching. It might be difficult to explain or classify, but the objective is clear.

"The goal is to win," said Johnson, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers before embarking on a successful career in the business world.

As a Laker, Johnson's brilliance was his ability to do whatever it took to get a victory. If you needed him to score 40 points, done. If you needed a key rebound, force an important steal, dish out a crucial assist or hit the winning shot at the buzzer, he did it.

His role with the Dodgers will evolve into something similar. You might not be able to precisely define it, but his thumbprint will be on everything the organization does.

"He has a drive and a passion and a competitiveness," Walter said. "He took it from sports. It was just a transition."

That's what Kasten was counting on when he lobbied Johnson to join him in his quest to buy the Dodgers.

Kasten, who helped build the Atlanta

Johnson declined, but Kasten told him not to be surprised if he one day circled back to him with an even more inviting opportunity. Nearly two decades later Kasten made good on his pledge by offering a Johnson partnership role in the bid to buy the Dodgers.

In doing so, Kasten knew he'd get a major public relations push. But Kasten also learned he was adding someone whose goodwill enabled him to glide in and out of every important office in town and someone who cares so much about the Dodgers he will do whatever it takes to help push them back to the forefront.

"I gotta tell you, I underestimated him," Kasten said. "Even as a guy I love and respected and admire. I knew he'd be good for this group knowing what he's now into."

As for Johnson's role, Kasten made it clear Johnson will make that call.

"What I told him was, `I would like you involved, Earvin,"' Kasten said. " `And here's how much I want you involved: you define for me how much or little you want to do, and I'll be fine either way.' "

Johnson wasted little time showing how much he wants to be involved by addressing a group of Dodgers employees Wednesday and reminding them of the team's pride and history.

Moving forward, Johnson's voice will ring loud and clear on the marketing side and as the club pursues new corporate sponsors. He will have a prominent role in the improvements to Dodger Stadium and be the chief spokesman when the club reaches out into the public through charity efforts.

When the team is slumping, don't be surprised if Johnson makes a surprise visit to the clubhouse for a pep talk.

When Kasten and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti come to him with an idea on how to improve the on-field product, Johnson and Walter will OK the financial expenditure.

He already has pledged as much to Kasten.

"And I'm the luckiest guy in the world that he's offered that kind of help and that kind of support for me," Kasten said. "And I intend to take advantage of all of it."

As for Dodgers fans, you don't need me to tell you Magic Johnson has always been about one thing: winning. Don't underestimate his insatiable desire to finish on top.

"The resources are there," Johnson said. "The fans need to know we have the money and that the resources are there."

Johnson has the ball again, he's charging up court on a fastbreak and is flanked by the baseball brilliance of Kasten to his left and the financial wherewithal of Walter and three other investors to his right.

Does anyone doubt the Dodgers are going to convert the bucket?