Magic Johnson Research Paper

He won four championships in the 80’s and would have been even better in the 90’s some people say. I think that if Magic Johnson would have stayed in the NBA Michael Jordan wouldn't have gotten as much accomplishments as he did. Even though magic johnson did come back to play a couple more years, he would have been even greater if he hadn't retire. But some NBA players were scared to play the game with someone who had HIV because they didn't know much about the virus and didn't want to get infected with that virus. Magic Johnson has changed basketball and people will forever know and speak of him. That is how Magic Johnson changed basketball in the

Greg Simpson sat in his dorm room that night and stewed about his rejection. When Simpson hit the Five Star courts the next day he was focused and determined to make a point. Despite being younger than everyone in the sophomore league, he dominated his rivals. He basically pillaged Five Star. When the week was over he was the league’s leading scorer, led his team to the championship earning the MVP honor and was named the top prospect in camp. To top off his week, Simpson threw down a monster dunk in the All Star game, an event that was witnessed by many of the top college coaches in the nation. At that point, Greg Simpson’s name was on the lips of every major college coach in the country. And he was yet to play a high school basketball

Coach Carter was a strong and determined African-American man that coached basketball at an unprivileged gang type school. Students, there were so bad that his first day at basketball practice, one of his players tried to fight him. Carter came to the school not to just coach basketball but to teach the players the importance of education, respect, and team unity.

Jordan burst into the league as a rookie sensation scoring in droves with an unmatchable first step and acrobatic drives and dunks and concluded his career as a cultural icon. Hard work, dedication, and the desire

led him to such heroic feats. Jason McElwain suffers from autism and shares the love for basketball like many others worldwide. It took only four minutes for McElwain to go from a unknown team manager of his high school=s basketball team, into a nationwide inspiration for many. During McElwain=s

His family was poor and always struggled to make ends meet, to make enough money for basic needs. His parents divorced when he was a child. Even though he went through all of these struggles, he stuck with basketball. He stated, "I played when I was cold and my body was aching and I was so tired,". Larry Bird loved basketball. Next, he entered Indiana University and lasted twenty-four days there and then dropped out and tried to go to Northwood Institute near French Lick, Indiana and then dropped out again. Bird started to drive a garbage truck around and do maintenance work around the town of French Lick. He stated "I loved that job. It was outdoors, you were around your friends ... I felt like I was really accomplishing something… I had the chance to make my community look better." One of the greatest players in basketball history almost gave up basketball for being a garbage man. Around the same time, Larry Bird’s father committed suicide. After the death of his father, Larry Bird decided to go to Indiana State University. His first season where he was forced to sit out, they ended the season with thirteen wins and twelve losses. The next season, with Bird, they ended the season with twenty-five wins and two losses. The Boston Celtics selected the Larry Bird in 1978 draft, but he decided to stay in college. The next season with Indiana State University, they won thirty-three straight games and made it to the National

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was his full name. MJ was his nickname, he was known as the man that changed the game of basketball forever and nobody knew that even when he was in high school that he would grow to be the best player to ever play the game. Michael was influenced by his older brother, his brother was much bigger and stronger than him, but Michael made it his goal that eventually one day that he would be better than him, Michael was cut by his high school coach twice, and wouldn’t make the team until his senior year, where he completely changed the game and was unrealistic the way he could dunk it and dribble, and as well shoot the ball. Michael attended the University Of North Carolina. That is when the nation took notice that he was

Attention Grabber: His Airness , Air Jordan, MJ what basketball player comes to mind when you hear this name? By the show of hands who All Knows who Michael Jordan is? Well if you didn’t I’m going to inform you on who he is and his rise to becoming one of the world’s best players.

Inspired by his idol Kevin Garnett, Howard decided to forego college and enter the 2004 NBA Draft. He was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic. He completed his rookie year with

As a result or his hard work, "he finally earned his berth on the varsity squad and--with his burning ambitions in tow--he became one of the most widely-recruited high school athletes in the country ("Michael Jordan")." During the summer before Jordan's senior year, he attended the Five-Star Basketball Camp. There he met Dean Smith, the coach of the University of North Carolina's Tar Heels. Smith encouraged Jordan to come to the school. A few months later Jordan signed his letter of intent and received a full scholarship. The Tar Heels had an outstanding season and went on to play in the NCAA championship against Georgetown University. Jordan hit the game winning shot making his name know around the country. For the next two seasons, He averaged a reputable 17.7 points per game. In 1984, Jordan traveled to Los Angeles to compete with the U.S. Olympic basketball team. With Jordan's help, the team won a gold medal. Soon after Jordan entered the NBA draft and was picked third by the Chicago Bulls. The bulls were the laughing stock of the NBA, but that would soon be changed (Mattern 82-28).

Putting a winning combination of special talent on the college hardwood is one thing. However, meshing a menagerie of especially gifted young basketball players to blend into a championship unit is the ultimate goal. In the world of NCAA Division I hoops, Yanni Hufnagel is known as the ‘wizard of recruitment’.

Coming from a large family, he was the 6th child out of 10. He began his successful basketball career by leading his high school team to the Michigan class A championship his senior year. His nickname “Magic” came from a sportswriter who was writing about his impressive game of 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists. After high school, he attended Michigan St. University. He led the Spartans to a championship his sophomore year and was an all-stater.

It showed that he was tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He could not believe it was true and neither did his agent Mickey. So they went back ,retested, and the results came back as again positive for HIV. They didn’t know how to react. So out of the blue, Magic Johnson, one of the greatest point guards in the NBA announced on November 7th, 1991, that he was retiring from the NBA.(Lincoln 262) Everyone was in shock, even the players. Months and months went by and it was in the middle of the NBA season. Which meant that it was almost All-Star Game time. The All-Star game is a game that is played once a season, and which the best players from each conference in the NBA , according to the fans. The votes came in and Magic was voted as the captain of the Western Conference team.(wiki.org) It was the game that everyone was looking forward to. The game went on and Magic played like he never retired. He racked up 25 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and was named the 1992 All-Star game MVP.(wiki.org) On what was considered to be his last professional basketball game ever, it would of been a great ending to his career. Then was

Magic was the leader of the 1980s showtime Lakers. His versatility inside the court has made him a very beloved player in the NBA, along with his big smile. Magic can play any position assigned to him, from point guard up to the center spot, he can pay it all. But what makes Magic different from everyone is his unique passing skills and keen eye inside the court. He has won championships with Lakers and has been a perennial all-star as well.

When the word "hero" is spoken, everyone has different thoughts. Some will think of super powers like flying and saving people from villains; while others have a certain person they know or have heard of that come to mind who have done something to make a difference in the lives of others but who is a hero to you? To answer this question you must first ask yourself what a hero is; what comes to your mind when someone says the word. When I am confronted with these questions I always have the same thoughts; smart, strong will power, and someone who stands up for what they believe is right.