Danny Ferry Apology Tour Begins With Magic Johnson
On the first day of Lakers training camp in 1979, when Magic Johnson was smiling and happy and his eyes lit up like diamonds in the sun- we knew who he was. On the last day of his career as a Los Angeles Laker, this time as a coach, when he was regretful, resigned, accepting- we knew who he was. Magic Johnson has been champion, teammate, friend. He has been businessman, son, idolized figure. He has been one of the all- time great leaders in professional sports. He knew luxury. He knew adversity. Once upon a time he was the man who was supposed to die tragically. Now he is the man who has fought death at its starting point. The world embraces his presence and his truth. He doesn’t lie. He doesn’t fake anyone. He doesn’t pretend.
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA legend Magic Johnson laughs during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game Legends Brunch at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The world and its billion plus people have a relationship with Magic Johnson unlike any other athlete. They saw him in college. They saw him win titles. They saw him self-implode in the Finals. They saw him win MVP’s. They saw him at 20. They saw him at 40. They saw him in the Olympics. They saw him announce his HIV diagnosis. They say him retire. They saw him in the White House. They saw his business empire expand: theaters, schools, gyms. Magic is beloved in Los Angeles and beyond; good men are supposed to die young. But he is still here.
So when Danny Ferry reached out to Magic Johnson to apologize it was as if he was calling upon Moses. Ferry sought forgiveness for comments he made about Luol Deng that Magic Johnson found so offensive he demanded that Ferry lose his job. Magic wrote on Twitter on September 9th, “Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry should step down after making racist comments about NBA player Luol Deng. The City of Atlanta and the Hawks fans deserve and should demand better from the Hawks leadership.”
Five days later Danny Ferry took a leave of absence. The release of an audiotape contradicted Ferry’s defense that he was just “reading” words on the page. The audiotape clearly showed Ferry speaking in a casual conversational tone, the words clearly his, although he has yet to own up to that part of it.
Fearing a Donald Sterling like exile, Ferry is fighting to remain in the NBA. He is fighting to clear the perception he is racist or if not racist then a person with prejudices that influence his judgment. He is fighting to erase that one moment he would like to take back, the demeaning of Luol Deng’s ancestry. But you can’t erase history or behavior. You did what you did. You said what you said.
Ferry can make amends and Magic Johnson, the beloved one, is a good place to start, even if it seems calculating, straight out of a public relations handbook. Find the most heroic figure and beg for mercy. Nevertheless, Magic’s forgiveness can only go so far. He will not be part of the new ownership group buying the Hawks. He doesn’t represent every single African American NBA fan, especially those in Atlanta, who were shocked and then pissed off by what Ferry said. Magic has his own house. His jurisdiction ends there. Yes, his opinions are of interest because he is a revered figure. But his thoughts have little impact in NBA front offices who don’t need another headache. Sterling and Ferry were enough, thank you. Besides, saying I’m sorry is en vogue these days. Sometimes it takes more than words to repair your reputation, to heal damage. That is something Magic Johnson, who now forgives Danny Ferry, cannot fix.