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| | From:  steelerlyn (Original Message) | Sent: 6/6/2003 5:44 PM |
Michigan State has decided to have a bronze statue of Ervin "Magic" Johnson constructed on the campus grounds. It will be in the area of Breslin Center, the basketball facility that was built after Johnson led Michigan State to a national championship. As most of you know, Magic went on to the Lakers and was/is a star. The people who built the Michael Jordon statue and several other famous stars will be doing this, with private funds. Noone in Lansing loves Magic Johnson more than I do, BUT it seems to me there should be some criteria, like to have a statue or a plaque or whatever, erected in your honor you should have at least graduated from Michigan State University. We have MANY stars in the NFL, NBA, etc as does any other school. Don't you think there should be some criteria? Plus, those statues are huge! What about Mateen Cleeves? He is an almost nobody NBA wise but he led MSU to the 2nd national championship. And unlike Magic, he graduated from MSU. He deserves a statue too. But the campus shouuld not ber overrun with statues. Then there is Steve Smith, and he also graduated And what about Ron Mason, there is no hockey coach on the college level who won more games than he did and what about Jud Heathcote, he was magic's coach....it could go on and on. Lyn:) To me, it devalues the diploma. What do you think? |
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| | | From: Speedy | Sent: 6/6/2003 6:08 PM |
You make a good point, Lyn. The guy should at least graduate from the school to get such an honor, unless he donates some Megabucks. But I think what's going on here is that Michigan State is trying to ride Magic's coat tails. Magic won the school a championship, went on to be not just an NBA star, but one of the all-time greats. Because he's in LA, he rubs elbows with the stars like Jack Nicholson, Dyan Canon, etc., and he has international fame. The dude is a bona fide celebrity. The university wants a piece of that. That's the reason for the statue... they don't want the world to forget where he came from. Mateen Cleeves... what has he done? Won a NCAA championship? Is that all? Big deal! Other than NCAA basketball fans, no one cares. Even in international ball, they don't care about America's collegiate players, only about the pros. That's why he's not getting a statue. It looks like the school is doing a generous thing by honoring Magic, but what they're really doing is more to serve their own benefit. |
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Steve Smith is the one who donates mega bucks and regularly. I have never read about Johnson donating anything. Magic was married here also, on the MSU campus at Kellogg Center. I would hate to believe what you say is so but I know it is Mark. The university is riding on his coattails. Everything is all about money. Lyn:) |
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| | | From: CaliEd | Sent: 6/7/2003 8:12 PM |
Lyn Magic does some things in the Lansing community. He's been on TV here more than a few times in connection with some things he's done back there. What he's done for the school, though, I couldn't say. And of course they are riding his coattials. As a college basketball program, MSU owes alot to Magic (as well as Smith, Cleeves and Coach Izzo), so why shouldn't he get a plaque/statue? Cali Ed |
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Ed, I never said that Ervin Johnson should not get a statue. I put this up for discussion because I know that many of you regular posters are from CA and probably are interested in anything he is doing. I am not sure if you read my first post, but from your reply I would say no, you didn't. I am questioning the criteria that goes into making a decision like this. Michigan State University, like most all Universities in this country, has produced MANY famous players in the NBA, NFL and also in baseball. Michigan State University has also produced a few nation wide known coaches. Why not name a building after him? And as far as him doing things for the community of Lansing...............the only thing I know of is he put up a movie house. When he was around here he used to have basketball camps for rich kids etc but to my knowledge that is all. Steve Smith has given thousands to MSU. I guess it is all about fame and money and Johnson has more of that than anyone else from here. I guess the football stars have to take a back seat unless they went to the town of the beautiful people and can rub elbows with the "right" people. Ervin Johnson was a poor kid, he made something of himself. |
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Me thinks you shouldn't be dissing the Magic Man. LOL! Go Lakers!!
Diehardsteeler
We have MANY stars in the NFL, NBA, etc as does any other school. Don't you
think there should be some criteria? Plus, those statues are huge! What
about Mateen Cleeves? He is an almost nobody NBA wise but he led MSU to the
2nd national championship. And unlike Magic, he graduated from MSU. He
deserves a statue too. But the campus shouuld not ber overrun with statues.
Then there is Steve Smith, and he also graduated And what about Ron Mason,
there is no hockey coach on the college level who won more games than he did
and what about Jud Heathcote, he was magic's coach....it could go on and on.
Lyn:)
To me, it devalues the diploma.
What do you think?
"Like the Sea that takes up in its bosom and dissolves innumerable elements
poured into it from innumerable rivers, to socialism is the task reserved of
solving one and all the problems that have come floating down the streams of
time and have kept man in internecine strife with man."
Daniel De Leon (1852-1914)
Visit the Steelzone: Http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/diehardsteelzone/
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All universities and fans are proud of their players who go on to be megastars, whether they graduate or not. These super stars puts their schools in the limelight and any recognition and honors they get such as statues, arenas or street names they deserve and are beneficial to their respected school, town and state. Michigan State has Magic Johnson, Indiana State Larry Bird, North Carolina Michael Jordan and here at West Virginia University we have Jerry West. I could go on forever. I'm very proud of all the atheletes and coaches from WVU as I'm sure every one here is equally proud of their "home town heroes" Ray |
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Yes, Ray you are right. I think as you say all of us could go on and on about the superhero football, basketball, hockey, baseball, etc that have attended a university close to us. And as you say and I second it, we are proud of all of them. Lyn:) |
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Magic Johnson cemented his legacy by not only
winning a Collegiate National Championship but also going on to win numerous NBA
Championships. Mateen Cleeves so far has done very little in the NBA and
that ultimately will be how he is remembered unfortunately other than in the MSU
family.
Diehardsteeler
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 10:23
AM
Subject: Re: Magic Johnson
Magic
Johnson
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| From: steelerlyn |
Yes, Ray you are right. I think as you say all of us
could go on and on about the superhero football, basketball,
hockey, baseball, etc that have attended a university close to
us. And as you say and I second it, we are proud of all of
them.
Lyn:) | |
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| | | From: CaliEd | Sent: 6/8/2003 9:28 PM |
Lyn I did read your post. You mentioned "criteria", and I think that fame is the primary criteria here. I agree with what Ray said about that: it isn't so much about how much you've given back (though I think a little bit would be in order), as to the type of "fame" you bring to the school. But that's just my humble little opinion!  Cali ed |
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I tend to agree with what all of you have said regarding this topic. And Ed, you are right, fame and money are the criteria. There are some out there who want to attend the same school Johnson did, with the end result being more students from various parts of the nation and world attending MSU = more money for the school. Lyn:) |
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Lyn, you're right again. Magic should have finished. That paper means he finished from MSU. He didn't. Too many big time players stay so little time. Money talks, and he got a bundle of it. Let him buy his statue! |
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LOL that is funny Robin LOL!~ |
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| | | From: BryHamm | Sent: 6/14/2003 1:22 PM |
I've got to believe that in addition to what everyone has said so far, it is also a recruiting ploy. Nothing like having a high school senior walking across campus and seeing this monstrous statue of a VERY famous basketball player staring at you. - Bryan |
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Well I'll probably get blasted for this but I don't believe someone who is a non-graduate should be honored in that fashion at an institution of (HIGHER_LEARNING) It is after all a university not a semi-pro basketball camp to develop players for the NBA. If you want to honor him as an athlete put a plack up in the gym that he played ball in or something not a statue on campus. |
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