With those words, they knew who it was. It was Magic. Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the famed point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers during the Dream Team era. He was in town for a visit at Bronson Battle Creek, where his food-service company has a contract, and he said he wanted to give one of his motivational speeches at a local high school while he was here.
For roughly 45 minutes, Johnson spoke to the enthralled crowd of students, and their excitement never calmed.
Johnson began his visit by coming down from the stage and rushing up the aisles, flashing his smile at the kids’ smartphone cameras and posing here and there for pictures with students. Then he went back to the front of the auditorium and told the kids to dream big.
“I grew up the same way as you,” he told the crowd. “I grew up poor. But, ladies and gentlemen, I didn’t have poor dreams. Listen to me, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with your life. Take advantage of this great education you’re receiving right here at Battle Creek Central.”
Later: “Yes, we live in a technology world. But sometimes you have to put those machines down and do your homework. You have to sacrifice things — the parties, hanging out — because you know that you’re supposed to be taking care of business.”
Then he answered questions: Two guys he knew he had to bring his “A-plus game” for were Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. One of his favorite games was when he played for MSU and beat Bird’s Indiana State University team. His Olympic gold medal meant more to him than his NBA championships.
Several kids’ questions were simply, “Can I get a picture with you?” Johnson always said yes, calling the kids who asked down to the front of the auditorium for a pose. When one kid lost his voice to nerves, Johnson walked up the aisle and hugged the kid. At one point, Johnson called down the entire B.C. Central Bearcats basketball team for a picture, and several kids remained sitting on the stage behind him while he finished his Q-and-A.
Near the end, Johnson encouraged the students to apply for his college scholarship, which pays kids for up to five years and gives them yearly trips to Los Angeles, where Johnson himself leads a life skills conference. He encouraged juniors to apply, since this year’s deadline had already passed, but then he said “maybe we’ll extend the deadline just for Battle Creek Central,” encouraging the seniors to apply.
“Make sure you take care of your business,” Johnson said. “If you take care of your business, I’m going to help you out.”
He ended with this: “You can’t be bullying and all that in school. That’s not cool. It’s not about talking about somebody, it’s about uplifting somebody.”
The kids saw beyond the celebrity.
“He inspired a lot of people,” said TaJuan Posey Jr., a 14-year-old freshman. The message that will stick with him is “follow your dreams.”
“It inspired me,” 14-year-old freshman Dennis Watson said. “It inspired me to go to college and live my life for good.”
by
Justin A. Henkley
