The NBA has told the United Negro College Fund that it may
not hold Magic Johnson's 10th annual charity game July 30 at The
Great Western Forum, and "that Johnson may not be involved in any
way," according to this morning's N.Y. POST. The NBA has ruled
that, under the terms of the lockout, Johnson, as Lakers part-
owner, "may not interact with NBA players in any official
capacity" and that team-owned facilities may not be used "by
players for any reason." Johnson's agent, Lon Rosen, said the
game will go on, but at a different location in Southern CA.
Rosen added that Johnson "understands this (ruling) from the
owners' side" (Thomas Hill, N.Y. POST, 7/11).
P.R. PROBLEM LOOMING?: Carlis McGhee, a development
director with the UNCF in L.A.: "I think [the NBA is] going to
have a very serious media problem. We stand to lose a million
dollars. People are still very upset about the baseball strike.
It's not right that a charity has to suffer because of this kind
of politics. This is a shame. Our students can't go to school
because the NBA can't get it's act together?" According to
McGhee, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Shawn Kemp, Alonzo Mourning,
Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond, Nick Van Exel, Ed O'Bannon and
Jamal Mashburn have all agreed to play. Leonard Armato said
Shaquille O'Neal might also play. The nine previous charity
games -- all held at The Forum "and billed as 'A Midsummer
Night's Magic" -- generated $9.1M for the UNCF (N.Y. POST, 7/11).
