As Usual, Magic Tries to Spread Out His Assists

Here’s Magic Johnson, trying to develop a retail plaza in the Crenshaw area. There he is on national television, critiquing the Lakers’ effort and coaching against Utah. Here he is, expanding his movie theater multiplex in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw mall. There he is, in a parking lot doing a man-on-the-street interview for his new television talk show. Here he is, meeting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. There he is, lending support to a proposed NFL stadium in Carson.

If cities had point guards, Magic Johnson would be the starter for Los Angeles. As when he played for the Lakers, he is always near the action.

Sometimes, it’s rougher than being on the receiving end of a John Stockton elbow.

Last week, for instance, it was reported in New York that one reason Jerry West might leave the Lakers is because he resents Johnson’s continuing influence over the organization.

Not true, Johnson says.

With a 5% ownership interest in the Lakers, Johnson has influence but exerts it, he says, only when asked by one of the Jerrys, Buss or West.

Besides, he says, he and West have never been closer. As it becomes increasingly apparent that West’s dissatisfaction with Buss revolves around money, Johnson has endorsed a new deal for the Laker executive vice president.

Causing Johnson greater anxiety are reports of a rift between him and L.A. Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas.

The L.A. Weekly reported recently that Ridley-Thomas is thwarting Johnson’s $62.5-million redevelopment project in the Crenshaw area because of Johnson’s support for Michael Ovitz’s plan for an NFL team in Carson. That is a threat to Ridley-Thomas’ plan for an NFL team in the Coliseum.

Ridley-Thomas said he since has received numerous phone calls from constituents demanding, “Why are you trying to do in Magic?”

To the contrary, Ridley-Thomas said Wednesday, he has been an advocate of Johnson’s effort to renovate the Santa Barbara Plaza but now has concerns about Johnson’s ability to deliver after missing two deadlines.

That doesn’t mean Ridley-Thomas isn’t feeling betrayed by Johnson’s partnership with Ovitz. Johnson was invited to join the New Coliseum Partners, Ridley-Thomas said, but declined.

There is, however, no connection between the two projects, Ridley-Thomas said. As for the suggestion he believes Johnson has turned his back on the inner city, Ridley-Thomas said that is ludicrous.

“No one I can think of who enjoys his celebrity status has tried to do more with his resources,” Ridley-Thomas said.

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Woody Allen, who likes 19-year-olds so much that he married one, wrote in the New York Observer that he had “an epiphany” when he saw Kobe Bryant play in the All-Star game. . . .

But he was amused by the suggestion Michael Jordan is passing the torch to Bryant “like the papacy, where there is a line of accession.” . . .

“If the smoke is light gray, the new Pope is Kobe; if it is dark gray, Grant Hill’s been chosen.” . . .

About coaching, Allen wrote: “The truth is, I always believed that I could have coached the Lakers in the years of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy. And if not me, then certainly my mother.” . . .

Allen couldn’t have done it because he wouldn’t have come to any home games at the Great Western Forum. . . .

Of Los Angeles, he once said, “The only cultural advantage is that you can turn right on a red light.” . . .

George Karl would bring the Clippers instant credibility. . . .

But would Laker players respect a coach whose team they just eliminated in five games? . . .

It might have been different, of course, if Karl had Shaquille O’Neal at center instead of Jim McIlvaine. . . .

The USC-Louisiana State game Saturday in the College World Series features two of college baseball’s best catchers, the Trojans’ Eric Munson and the Tigers’ Brad Cresse. . . .

Cresse is the son of Dodger bullpen coach Mark Cresse. . . .

Jockey Kent Desormeaux appears Monday night on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” sounds the bell Thursday to open the day’s trading at the New York Stock Exchange, throws out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night at Yankee Stadium and tries to win the Triple Crown on Saturday at Belmont. . . .

Desormeaux’s life now is not real quiet.

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While wondering if Pete Sampras will ever have Paris, I was thinking: Pep Boys became Indy’s sponsor and Manny, Mo and Jack finished 1-2-3, I like it that ESPN is televising the spelling bee, my money’s on Terry Bradshaw.