Magic Johnson wrote $50-million check to be part of Dodgers

September 18, 2012|By Houston Mitchell

<p>When Frank McCourt sold the Dodgers earlier this year, the fact that Magic Johnson was part of the new ownership group went a long way toward helping recapture a part of the fan base lost during the McCourt era.</p><p>But one question remained: How much did Magic invest to be part of the group?</p><p>Johnson answered that question in a segment that will appear on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" Tuesday night at 10 p.m. PDT.</p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "magic johnson dodgers check";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33935168&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=33935168&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p>"I wrote a $50-million check," Johnson tells interviewer Joe Frankel. "The largest check in my life."</p><p>Johnson goes on to talk about how he learned the value of hard work and to respect money.</p><p>"I saw my dad go to work every day at General Motors and on his trash-hauling truck. And I understood how he valued every dollar."</p><p>Did Magic ever have second thoughts? "Only when I had to tell my wife. I said, 'Honey, sit down....'</p><p>You can watch an excerpt from the interview above.</p><p><strong>ALSO:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-matt-kemp-impact-20120915,0,7653904.story">Matt Kemp tries to have an impact even with hits scarce</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-cardinals-wild-card-20120916,0,7012291.story?track=rss">Dodgers left game back of Cardinals for wild-card after 5-2 loss</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-cruz-feelgood-20120915,0,4417463.story">Luis Cruz is the Dodgers' feel-good story that just keeps going</a></p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "magic johnson dodgers check";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,9488961041,8261105409"; 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