Magic's Kingdom

In the end, Magic may not need all that help. His huge respect for teamwork sometimes misleads us. It's not that he has more faith in his teammates than in himself; in times of team breakdown—last year's playoff series with the Suns, for example—he can single-handedly wrest control of a game. He may be the last great example of selfless play, but he also has enormous confidence in his own abilities and dreams.

Earlier this year, a contractor was installing a basketball hoop on the tennis court that adjoins Magic's hilltop house. Would Magic want the hoop on the ravine side or the street side? What did it matter, Magic wondered. In that case, the contractor, said, the street side would be best because Magic wouldn't lose the ball in the canyon on missed shots.

"Put it on the ravine side," Earvin said to the contractor. "Magic Johnson doesn't miss."

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