| There are any number of perspectives from which Magic's MVP year might be viewed
-- his increased scoring, his surprisingly deft outside touch, his continued
domination of the NBA's assist category, his performance in the clutch -- but
often overlooked is his intelligence, his grasp of every nuance of the game.
Remember the larger point Isiah Thomas was trying to make a few weeks ago, that
racial stereotyping tends to result in the labeling of only white players as
"smart"? That stereotyping may influence the way in which Magic is perceived.
His style of play usually conjures up adjectives like "flashy" and
"enthusiastic," both of which are accurate, rather than "intelligent," which
is more subtle but even more
accurate.
--From "Your Ball, L.A.", Sports Illustrated, June 22, 1987, by
Jack McCallum |
