Magic Johnson

Los Angeles Wants 2024 Olympics

We've done it twice, we can do it again. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today said he put our hat in the ring for the 2024 Olympics. "I am pleased to confirm our enthusiastic interest in bidding to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games," he wrote to the U.S. Olympic Committee. The bid ... More >>

KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez on His New Album: "I Am Moved By Single Moms, Moved By Junkies"

Each week as Monday night becomes Tuesday morning, KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez maintains a musical vigil over the airwaves. He mixes in everything from hip hop to house, along with smoothly articulated descriptions of these "samples and sounds." Today, sipping Intelligentsia coffee in broad daylight a ... More >>

Dodgers And Marijuana: A New High Encouraged by Sunset Boulevard Dispensary

With Magic Johnson and Guggenheim Baseball Management taking over the team, it's a new era at Dodger Stadium. And what better way to celebrate than to buy you some of those recently reduced $10 tickets for seats way, way up in the top deck and ... get high. Really. There's a dispensary near Dodger ... More >>

Magic Johnson Lied to Dodger Fans About Frank McCourt's Role In Parking Lots

Updated below: Dodgers will lose millions on the parking deal, after they pay McCourt.Magic Johnson stood up on a podium at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday and flat-out lied to Dodger fans.Johnson, the front man for the team's new ownership group, said that ex-owner Frank McCourt was "not involved in an ... More >>

Trayvon Martin's Parents Are in L.A. for Justice Rally -- Along With Al Sharpton, Stevie Wonder

When black Florida teen Trayvon Martin was shot dead by apparently crazed neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman earlier this year, his parents -- Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton -- took on the sudden responsibility, like it or not, of becoming justice fighters against the greater evil of racism in ... More >>

Dodgers Sale Agreement: Magic Johnson Not Allowed to Say Anything Bad About Frank McCourt

This explains everything. Dodgers fans and sports writers have been scratching their heads over why new team co-owner Magic Johnson has been so damn nice to seller Frank McCourt. Because come on -- nobody's nice to Frank McCourt. He's basically the one person in Los Angeles who we're all allowed to ... More >>

Magic Johnson Gets The Dodgers, Frank McCourt Clings To The Parking Lots

​The headline over at the L.A. Times proclaims that the $2 billion sale of the Dodgers to a group led by Magic Johnson will end the "troubled McCourt era."Not exactly. Frank McCourt will hang on to the Dodger Stadium parking lots through a joint venture with Johnson's investor group. That means Jo ... More >>

Boycott The Lots: The Dodger Fan's Guide To Avoiding Frank McCourt

​Thousands of Dodger fans boycotted the team last year out of disgust with Frank McCourt. Now that McCourt has sold the team for $2 billion to an investor group led by Magic Johnson, those fans are celebrating.But there's a rat in the punchbowl: Frank McCourt will partner with Johnson's group to o ... More >>

Dodgers Opening Day Is Already Sold Out

News flash: Magic Johnson and his bidding team won the Dodgers for a record $2 billion last night. And by 4:15 p.m. today, not 24 hours after the big announcement, the team's Opening Day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates is all sold out. So yeah, if there was any doubt left in anyone's mind that ... More >>

Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten Buy Dodgers from Frank McCourt -- But Uh Oh! Frank May Not be Gone

Update on next page: Bidder Joey Herrick on the importance of local owners. Magic Johnson, beloved spots icon in Los Angeles, and his group of investors including former Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten, essentially wrote a $2 billion check Tuesday evening to buy the Dodgers, pre-empting a fina ... More >>

Patrick Soon-Shiong, L.A.'s Richest Man, Joins Steven Cohen in Dodgers Bid

With owner Frank McCourt's April 30 deadline to sell the team rapidly approaching, and with potential suitors--like alleged con man, and L.A. Weekly cover boy, Josh Macciello--dropping like flies, bidding for the Dodgers is getting serious. Hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen gained a new asset in ... More >>

List of Dodger Bidders in the 2012 Sale by Frank McCourt: Wall Street Jerks and Baseball Lovers

Here's the known, and rumored, list 15 of exceedingly rich Wall Street one percenters, fabulously wealthy moguls and hardcore baseball lovers who may -- or may not -- have made secret, non-binding $1 billion bids to buy the Dodgers before the January 23, 2012 deadline expired. 1. Tom Barrack, col ... More >>

Dodgers Auction: Who Should Own the Team?

Pro-Bernard Parks Mailer Touts Endorsements From Dead People, Misspells Magic Johnson's Name

Whoops: Earvin "Magic" Johnson's name is misspelled on a pro-Bernard Parks mailer​Unlike in Chicago, dead people can't vote in Los Angeles elections. But they can make endorsements, judging from the latest mailer to hit the streets in the hotly contested campaign between L.A. Councilman Bernard Pa ... More >>

LAX Concession Aftermath: Alan Rothenberg Resigns From L.A. Airport Commission

Alan Rothenberg​Alan Rothenberg resigned today from the Los Angeles Airport Commission, in a move that should make it easier for the commission to award airport concession contracts.Rothenberg was the source of a conflict of interest that forced the commission to recuse itself on the first round o ... More >>

Are NFL's Chargers Coming To L.A? Rumors Abound That Staples Center Owner Phil Anschutz Has Taken A Stake In The San Diego Team

Los Angeles Chargers?​Updated with Earvin "Magic" Johnson's comments on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. First posted at 11:32 p.m. Tuesday. Laker legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live! early Wednesday that he's teamed up with the Anschutz Entertainment Group to bring an NFL team t ... More >>

A Magic Johnson Theatre Era Ends

Its South Los Angeles flagship was a game changer in black business and film

Connecticut Lost Money On Investments With Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson with Nancy Pelosi: His real estate invesments haven't paid off for Connecticut.​L.A. basketball royal Earvin "Magic" Johnson has been in the news lately for his decisive in-the-paint financial moves, including dropping his Starbucks franchises and selling his slice of the Lakers. ... More >>

Magic Johnson Sells Back 105 Starbucks Locations

Flickr user Atomic PopeMagic Johnson, in statue form​ Former Laker star Magic Johnson is selling off some business assets. Johnson recently sold his 4.5 percent ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong -- a longtime Lakers season ticket holder -- for reasons that hi ... More >>

LAX Concession Clash: Councilman Bernard Parks Hands $30 Million To Magic Johnson's Company

Ka-ching! Magic Johnson cashes in.​Overturning the wishes of LAX staff, a five-member council committee on Monday awarded an airport retail contract worth $30 million a year to a business group that includes Magic Johnson. Councilman Bernard Pa ... More >>

Should Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Be Included Among Staples Center's Statues Of Local Sports Heros?

​USA Today columnist Mike Lopresti wonders aloud why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not among those local sports heroes honored with statues outside Staples Center. Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, Oscar De La Hoya and Chick Hearn are there. But no Kareem. Lopresti writes: " ... When the famous Lakers-Ce ... More >>

Movie Reviews: The Invention of Lying, Whip It, Zombieland, Paranormal Activity

Plus, Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, In Search of Beethoven and more

A Little Something for the Lakers Fans: Great Songs About Our Team

It might be a hellish commute tonight with a host of Lakers flag-sporting vehicles anxiously crawling across the freeways in the hopes that their drivers can get home in time to catch the first game of the NBA Finals, where the Lakers square off against Orlando's Magic at 6 p.m. Instead of stressin ... More >>

Movie Reviews: American Violet, Crank: High Voltage, Sleep Dealer

Also, Every Little Step, Lymelife and more

Movie Reviews: The Haunting in Connecticut, Three Monkeys, 12 Rounds

Also, The Education of Charlie Banks and Spinning Into Butter

Pan African Film Fest gets deluxe new digs and a stellar lineup to go with them

Movin' on up

Weiss' 50 Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2008 (#50-26)

Over the next two weeks, myself and a very talented cadre of contributors will be emulating the book above. Unlike said tome, it won't cost money and you'll get free MP3s--which, presumably, serve a tangible purpose. Now go cry into your near-beer, Phillip Ardagh, you lovable rogue. 50. Redman ft ... More >>

How the Hell Is It June Already?

What to do in L.A., May 30-June 5

Pan African Film Festival Under Cover

Festival closes with dirty secrets, fly fashion

Remembering the Time: Minor Epiphanies Gleaned Upon Re-Watching Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" Video 17 Years Later

In honor of poor Teddy Riley. Nothing says "epic video" more than a hourglass filled with shifted sands. Nothing. I'm fairly certain that "Remember the Time" is actually an alternative history suggesting the importance of New Jack Swing to the ancient Egyptians. Hieroglyphics that were o ... More >>

Valentino, Luchadore You!

What to do in L.A., Feb. 8-14

Cinema, Comedy, Children's Festival and more

Film Reviews: Chalk, The Ex, 28 Weeks Later and Delta Farce

2007 Pan African Film Festival, Week 2

Rock Out

14th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival

Let’s Roll!

Fun with gravity on our city’s finest grassy hills

Live in LA

Materialistic Fetishism Reconsidered

(A last-minute gift-giving guide)

Dopest Throwback Jerseys Spotted

El Encuentro Mágico

Laker great stakes claim as Nuevo Ali

Chief of Police — It’s Never Been My Total Identity

Web exclusive: the L.A. Weekly’s interview with Bernard Parks, candidate for the 8th Los Angeles City Council District

Outside in L.A.

Good works — and good prices — at the ECF Art Center

Game Over

An interminable time-out at Santa Barbara Plaza

Slush

Magic's Deep Pockets

The Accidental Populist

Magic Johnson gives some back

91 Timeline

Councilman Fouls Magic

Ridley-Thomas fumes as Johnson passes on Coliseum

One World

The Sixth Pan African Film Festival