Magic Johnson speaks on Commanders bid: ‘I need a Super Bowl ring’

Magic Johnson put his palms collectively as if to hope and flashed his signature charismatic smile. Appearing on NBC’s “Today,” the NBA legend opened up for the primary time Tuesday about being a part of a gaggle that bid for the Washington Commanders — and the way a lot he desires to purchase the workforce. 

Johnson is a part of an possession group led by billionaire Josh Harris. The group has submitted a proper bid value $6 billion to purchase the Commanders from proprietor Dan Snyder.

“I got a ring in every sport, but I need a Super Bowl ring,” mentioned Johnson, who can also be a minority proprietor in MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and MLS’ Los Angeles F.C. “And I might like to be the proprietor of the Commanders to not solely do nice work on the sector, however [to do] the work we might do with the town.

“I think if they bless us — Mr. Snyder blesses us — the opportunity to be an owner, it would be an emotional day for me. My father just died, so it would be a great moment for the Johnson family as well as Josh Harris, who is the lead partner in this, to take that franchise and take it to the next level.”

Washington’s NFL franchise has not gained a Super Bowl because the 1991 season. 

Johnson mentioned he’s excited in regards to the bid and famous he could be one other Black proprietor for the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken overtly in regards to the league’s want to see extra variety within the possession ranks. 

Michael Jordan is the one Black majority proprietor of knowledgeable sports workforce (the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets) throughout the NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL, although reviews have indicated not too long ago that Jordan is trying to promote his stake within the franchise. 

The NFL has two minorities — Buffalo’s Kim Pegula (who’s Asian) and Jacksonville’s Shad Khan (who’s Pakistani) — who’ve a controlling possession stake in groups. The league additionally performed an proprietor variety report that discovered 8% of principal house owners and restricted companions had been folks of coloration, in accordance with Front Office Sports. The Denver Broncos have Black minority house owners in F1’s Lewis Hamilton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Starbucks CEO Mellody Hobson.

Harris, who’s White, has lengthy been rumored to have an interest within the Commanders. His candidacy to buy the workforce appeared to strengthen final month when reviews emerged that he added Maryland-based billionaire Mitchell Rales and Johnson to his group. 

Harris is the managing proprietor of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and he additionally owns minority shares within the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and the English Premier League’s Crystal Palace F.C. 

The Commanders have been in the marketplace since no less than November and Snyder has obtained no less than two formal gives for the workforce. Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has additionally reportedly submitted a $6 billion bid. 

Johnson appeared on NBC’s “Today” — the present that unveiled the Commanders rebrand in February 2022  — to speak in regards to the NCAA event and lift consciousness to forestall the unfold of the respiratory syncytial virus, higher referred to as RSV. 

But he was additionally requested about his curiosity within the Commanders. 

“Yes, our bid is in, we hope that we win,” Johnson mentioned. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. … So, we’ll see what happens with Mr. Snyder making that decision. But we’re excited about it.”