Magic is back and pounding the court

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, June 25, 2002 | 9:58 a.m.

Running -- OK, jogging -- up and down the court, calling out plays, flipping the passes that earned him the nickname "Magic" and trying his best to entertain the estimated 500 fans who showed up to the Cox Pavilion Monday night.

Sure, Earvin "Magic" Johnson was a few steps slower than when he was guiding the "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles.

But Magic was still Magic, delivering a triple-double performance while guiding his own All-Star team to a 133-93 rout of OSG Phoenix of Japan in the World Pro Basketball Challenge.

"I have a lot of fun," Johnson said. "I think anytime I get out on the court, my love for the game (is there).

"I still love it and I still play a lot. And I want to win. That's in everything I do and especially at basketball."

The Magic Johnson All-Stars will play Team Europe, a 90-63 winner over Taiwan United, on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The tournament concludes Saturday.

Johnson finished with 15 points, 13 assists and 13 rebounds

It was fitting that he scored the game's first basket, a layup, after both teams looked a bit ragged on their first few possessions.

Whenever Magic scored, grabbed a rebound or delivered one of his trademark passes, the fans responded enthusiastically.

"Let's go, Magic," they yelled. "Magic, you're my hero," they shouted.

At halftime he already had a triple-double: 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while playing 18 of the 20 minutes.

By then, the All-Stars led 57-42 behind former L.A. Clippers guard Darrick Martin, who scored 14 of his 17 points before the break, including 4-of-6 3-pointers.

Johnson sat out the fourth quarter, with his team nursing a 90-70 lead. Chris Mullin scored all 11 of his points in the second half.

Ex-UNLV guard Corky Ausborne led the Phoenix with 25 points.

Johnson's traveling team plays about 20 game a year and his purpose is to help young players such as forward Andre Larry and ex-NBA players such as Martin and Anthony Miller get back to the league.

Johnson, a three-time NBA MVP (1980, 1982, 1987) and 12-time All Star will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September.

He playfully clapped his hands at the mention of his induction.

"It's wonderful," Johnson said. "It closes everything.

"The book is finally shut now. That was the last piece to the puzzle. I'm really looking forward to that. It's not only for me, it's for my mother and father. For all the coaches who ever coached me and all the players I've ever played with."

More than 10 years after he stunned the world on Nov. 7, 1991 by announcing he was retiring because he had contracted the HIV virus, Johnson looked slowed more by age (42) than illness.

To maintain his health, Johnson works out every morning by weightlifting, running or playing basketball, and he takes six pills a day.

"I'm living good," Johnson said. "God has blessed me with good health.

"The medicine has done its part. I'm doing my part by working out every day. So health-wise, I'm doing wonderful. There is no problem there. I haven't changed anything in 10 years. I'm not going to. I'm going to continue to do this and work hard."

These days, Johnson still serves as a Lakers vice president and focuses on his many business ventures.

He owns 34 Starbuck's coffee franchises, five movie theaters, two T.G.I.F. restaurants and three (soon to be four) 24-Hour Fitness franchises.

Recently, he acquired the 47-store Fatburger chain.

On top of all that, he has a record label and an upcoming movie called "Brown Sugar," which will be released in October.

Soon, he plans on building more shopping centers to revitalize economically depressed urban communities.

"I'm happy about all of it," Johnson said. "These are the things that I do every day besides (play games)."