LOS ANGELES -- Magic Johnson had the title he'd always wanted. He had the power to guide one of the most important franchises in sports, carte blanche.
Anything he wanted to do as President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, he had the power to do. Fire the coach. Trade any player. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss told him that repeatedly.
But the only thing he really wanted was to go back to being Magic Johnson.
Beloved civic leader. International celebrity. Lakers legend. Basketball ambassador.
It's awesome being that guy. And Magic Johnson is great at it.