European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday february 18, 1992 the stars and stripes c Page 25 magic s 32 retired he May not be by John Nadel Inglewood Calif. Apr the magic Johnson Era officially ended when the los Angeles lakers retired his Jersey and displayed it High above the forum court along with the jerseys of four other former superstars. The new magic Johnson Era might begin any Day now. A a in a looking Forward to playing in the olympics. I Hope if i do decide to come Back you wont be upset if we do this All Over again a Johnson said sunday at the conclusion of the emotional 45-minute retirement ceremony. Johnson was honoured at halftime of the lakers game against the Boston celtics. After the game which the celtics won 114-107, Johnson repeated what he a been saying recently a that he might return to the lakers. Sounding like a Man who Hasni to made up his mind Johnson said head announce a decision shortly. A today might have been the most difficult Day because he was Here and i was Here a Johnson told reporters referring to injured celtic Star Larry Bird. A a in a gone and he a right around the Corner. We re going to play one on one when asked about using the word gone Johnson said a a in a retired so in a gone what can i say if that changes then ill be Back. Ill Tell you in a coming Back. You old timers you know i change my about the retirement ceremony he said a it was the right time. If it Sticks this was the right time with Boston and Larry Here. It was great the intensity and the excitement was Here because of Larry and the when asked when hell announce a decision Johnson said a sometime this week hopefully. If it does no to come this week then next week. I have to meet with my team of doctors. If i do come Backie have to come up with a Good game plan maybe you done to play Back to Back games a Johnson had a Quick answer when asked if the time he a taking to reach a decision might be selfish As far As the lakers Are concerned. A i never told them in a going to be Back. I told them to go on without me a he said. A a in a not sitting Here trying to hold them under a gun. This is just life. If i come Back i Hope they accept while stressing that he Hopes Johnson does the right thing for himself. Laker coach Mike Dunleavy said he Hopes Johnson announces a decision Johnson first mentioned publicly the possibility of his _ ii player a a sides determined that sundays retirement ceremony returning As a professional on Jan. 29. But All should go on As previously planned. A deep Down in our hearts we believe that he will be Back a said Sam Perkins who had 21 Points and 13 rebounds in a losing cause sunday As the lakers lost their third straight game to fall to 29-21. But Laker Trainer Gary Vitti said a was much As i want magic Johnson accepts a present from Larry Bird As lakers announcer Chick Hearn looks on at forum. Him to come Back its not a Good environment for Vitti in comments published in sundays edition of the san Diego Union Tribune said he was very concerned about Johnson a Well being. A no. 1, you Are predisposing him his body by making him tired All the time from travelling and the playing and the intensity at which he plays to get to his level a said Vitti who was named 1991 Aba Trainer of the year. Johnson was honoured a week after his most valuable player performance in the Aba All Star game a 29-minute Effort in which he had 25 Points nine assists and five rebounds. It was the Only game Johnson has played since he announced his retirement on nov. 7 because he had tested positive for the virus that causes aids. A a everything a going great a he said. A right now things Are going too Good. Its kind of scary on that Side. I Haven to had a bad Day its just been Johnson 32, wore no. 32 for the lakers for 12 seasons. He led them to five Aba championships and to the league finals on four other occasions. He has been selected As the a bad a most valuable player three times and map of the Aba finals three times. In addition he a the leagues career assists Leader. Johnson joined Jerry West no. 44elgin Baylor no. 22wilt Chamberlain no. 13 and Kareem Abdul Jabbar no. 33 As lakers who have had their jerseys retired and displayed High above the court at the forum. All were present sunday. A people ask me All the time what do i miss most about playing a Johnson said during the ceremony. A a it a not the playing part i miss the most. Its just being one of the boys. A you never know How great it is to be one of 12 Guys a Johnson said his voice cracking with emotion. While Abdul Jabbar addressed the sellout crowd of 17,505, tears streamed Down Johnson a checks. A a there a a whole lot of emotion in this moment Quot Abdul Jabbar said. A it was a Long time ago we welcomed this Young Man on the court. He a taught us a lot. All of our lives Are touched by him. A the most important thing for me is Earvin made me realize i was having a Good time. That a kind of difficult some times you know. A a thank you Earvin. I love you. Good Bird sidelined because of a bad Back received a standing ovation from the crowd. A a in a not the one retiring Here a very soon a said Bird a longtime rival and Good Friend of Johnson a. A your outstanding play was never More evident than during the rivalry Between the lakers and celtics. You la always be a part of our family. Celtics prevail Over lakers by the associated press Inglewood Calif. The los Angeles lakers rallied after a stirring halftime tribute to magic Johnson but they make up for a poor first halt losing 114-107 to the Boston celtics on sunday. After trailing by As Many As 22 Points in the second Quarter and beginning the second half Down 63-47, the lakers closed to 104-103 with three minutes remaining in the game. But they went cold a As they had been in the first half a in the closing minutes and the celtics pulled away. Robert Parish had 21 Points 18 in the first half and 11 rebounds for Boston which ended a three game losing skid. Kevin Mchale and Reggie Lewis added 19 Points each for Boston. James worthy led the lakers who be lost three straight with 24 Points Sedale Threatt had 22 and Sam Perkins 21. In other games sunday clippers 107, Trail blazers 106 Portland Ore. A James Edwards sunday in the Aba Baseline jumper with 5.7 seconds left and Danny Manning a season High 31 Points capped a 10-3 game ending run for los Angeles against Portland. The Victory gave the clippers a 3-0 record since Larry Brown took Over As coach at the All Star break and snapped a 13-game Home winning Streak for the Trail blazers who played without Allstar guard Clyde Drexler because of a sprained big toe on his left 118, Bucks 104 Orlando Fla. A Jerry Reynolds scored 21 Points and led a 10-2 fourth Quarter spurt that helped Orlando hold off Milwaukee for the magic a first Victory in 10 games against the Bucks. The loss was the 10th straight on the Road for the Bucks who Haven to won away from Home since beating Minnesota 92-91 on Jan. 2.hornets 126, Miami 109 Charlotte . Charlotte never trailed in a game interrupted by two fights and two ejections getting 28 Points and 13 rebounds from Larry Johnson to beat Miami. Johnny Newman scored 20 and Dell Curry 19 As Charlotte had seven players in double figures. Miami which also had seven players in double figures was led by Bimbo Coles with 16 Points and Glen Rice with 15. Willie Burton of Miami was suspended on monday for one game and fined $6,000 by the Aba and Newman of Charlotte was fined $1,500 for one of the altercations during sundays 112, Kings 106 Sacramento Calif. Antoine Carr made his last 10 shots and scored 15 of his 21 Points in the second half lifting san Antonio past Sacramento. Sean Elliott scored 23 Points for san Antonio which had to play most of the game with Center David Robinson on the Bench with foul trouble. Robinson had nine Points and nine rebounds. The Kings were led by Mitch Richmond and Wayman Tisdale with 24 Points top Washington Baltimore a Rumeal Robinson scored a career High 28 Points and the Atlanta Hawks used a 9-0 run in the closing minute s to beat the struggling Washington bullets 117-110 monday. Kevin Willis had 19 Points and 16 rebounds for the Hawks who have won two straight for the first time since the season ending injury to leading scorer Dominique Wilkins. Atlanta is 4-5 since Wilkins ruptured his right Achilles Heel Jan. 28. Ledell Eackles making his first Start of the season led Washington with a season High 30 Points and Pervis Ellison had 25 Points. The bullets losers of 13 of their last 16 games were without injured Forward Harvey Grant and Center Charles Jones who was in Arkansas with his ailing Mother
