Magic cast a spell over L.A., and the city hasn't recovered.
Do a Google search of him, and you don't know where to begin. Player. AIDs activist. Business entrepreneuer. His foundation.
Since it was as the 6-foot-9 point guard of five NBA title teams, nine NBA Finals appearances, three times the league MVP and Finals MVP asn 12 All Star Games that most know him as No. 32, it's easiest to start there. The Michigan State star was the first overall pick in the '79 draft, coming off an NCAA title. His energy and enthusiasm caught everyone after his first game, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit a last-second hook shot to beat the San Diego Clippers, leading Johnson to run around the court, high-fiving and hugging everybody. Chuck Hearn gave him the nickname "Buck," as in young buck. And in his last game of that season, when coach Paul Westhead had him jump center and replace the injured Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Philadelphia, Johnson put up his incredible 42 point, 15 rebound, seven assist and three steal game in a 123-107 win over the Sixers and Julius Erving.
What more could he do beyond that?
Owner Jerry Buss gave him the 25-year, $25 million contract. In the '82-'83 season, he demanded a trade, but Buss fired Westhead instead, replacing him with Pat Riley and a new "Showtime" started with the '82 title. Titles against Boston and Philadelphia -- the stuff of legends. Johnson would become the NBA's all-time assist leader.
After the '91 team lost to Chicago and Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals, Johnson missed the first three games of the '91-'92 season with a "stomach ailment." Turned out, he had the HIV virus, and on Nov. 7, announced his retirement. And the beginning of a whole new career.
He still was voted into the 1992 All-Star game, and led the West to a 153-113 win and All-Star MVP. He played on the '92 Olympic "Dream Team."
He tried a comeback to the Lakers in '92-93 but called it off before the regular season started. He wrote a book, started some businesses, worked for NBA as a color commentator, coached the Lakers at the end of the '94 season to see if he liked that, then had one more comeback in him. For the '95-'96 season, he'd be a power forward. At age 36, he played the last 32 games of the season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. The Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. Then he quit for good.
In 905 NBA games, he scored 17,707 points, 6,559 rebounds and 10,141 assists, translating to career averages of 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 11.2 assists per game. His 138 triple-double-games are second only to Oscar Robertson's 181.
He's got the Magic Johnson Foundation. He tried to host a TV talk show.
It's just a matter of time before he becomes the mayor of L.A. The campaign can start at the Magic statue outside Staples Center.

First runner up:
==Sandy Koufax, Dodgers (1958-66, first three seasons in Brooklyn)
In a recent book published by ESPN's Jason Stark citing statistics to show he's the most overrated and underrated players in baseball history, Sandy Koufax comes up as the most overrated left-handed pitcher. He had six good years after six not-so good years, Stark basically reasons. Those Dodgers fans holding their hands over their ears refuse to listen. The iconic Koufax also created a magic in the city during the '60s that, in a way, mirrored what John Kennedy was doing in the White House. Dodger Stadium was Camelot in the early '60s.
Koufax, from 1963 to 1966, won three Cy Young Awards, unanimously, when only one award was given. Four no hitters. A record 383 strikeouts in 1965. Holds the single-season record for most shutouts by a left-handed pitcher (11), breaking previous record (9) set by Babe Ruth in 1916. He retired in 1966, after the Dodgers lost the World Series, with a career mark of 165-87, a 2.76 ERA and 2,396 strike outs, entering the Hall of Fame in 1972 on the first ballot, the youngest ever elected at age 36.
Koufax is also notable as one of the few outstanding Jewish athletes of his era, deciding not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because game day fell on Yom Kippur.
An online movement at BaseballSavvy.com continues to have a Koufax statue erected outside of Dodger Stadium.

Second runner up:
==Bill Walton, UCLA basketball (1971-'74), Clippers ('85, also in San Diego from '79-'84)
When he played at UCLA, he wouldn't talk much because of a stuttering problem. Now adays, as a broadcaster for ESPN, he won't shut up. His bio on his own website only includes this one paragraph about his college days:"Bill Walton is a three-time recipient of the NCAA Player of the Year Award, 1972, '73 and '74. Walton is a 3 time All-American College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. He was named to the Pacific 8 All-Conference first team 3 times and was conference player of the year for three consecutive years. At UCLA Walton was a scholar-athlete who also earned Academic All-American honors three years in a row. He graduated with honors with a B.A. in history." He wasn't allowed to dunk, which probably made him a better shooter. He was no doubt the greatest passer for a big man in his era. And the game he had against Memphis State in the '73 NCAA final -- 21 of 22 shooting for 44 points -- is the stuff of legends. He guided the Bruins on a record 88-game win streak, which ended during his senior season. His one major regret is losing in the '74 NCAA semifinals to North Carolina State in double OT.
The San Diego native was able to play a pro season in his hometown. After leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the '77 NBA title, he was off to play for the Clippers. He followed them up to L.A. when, as usual, foot problems curtailed his production. After a nice career as a sixth man with the Boston Celtics, Walton went into the Basketball Hall of Fame and was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. Some still believe him to be the greatest of all time in college basketball circles as well.

Third runner up:
==O.J. Simpson, USC football (1967-'68)

Simpson had only two years to make a name for himself at USC, and all he did was finish runner-up in the '67 Heisman race (to UCLA's Gary Beban) even though he led the nation with 1,451 yards and 11 touchdowns, including this legendary 64-yard run against UCLA. He won the award in '68 by rushing for 1,709 yards and 22 touchdowns.
He also ran track at USC, on a sprint relay team that broke the world record at the NCAA track championships in Provo, Utah in June 1967.
In an SI.com college-football specific list of the top players linked to a certain number, he's the top choice for No. 32.
Then he was off doing things in the pro football world (he's in the Hall of Fame, setting a single-season rushing record in Buffalo), the business world, the movie world and the criminal world. Oh, and this past week, Albertson's supermarket released a special box of its own Frosted Flakes featuring the USC Heisman winners. All of 'em, except Simpson. Leading to the question: Is there a cereal out there you're not supposed to have with O.J.?

Fourth runner up:
==Marcus Allen, Raiders (1983-'92)
From his Pro Football Hall of Fame bio, it notes that the '82 NFL rookie of the year gained 12,243 yards rushing, 5,411 receiving and scored 145 touchdowns. So why did owner Al Davis loathe him so much? At the time of his retirement following the 1997 season, he held the single-season record for most rushing and receiving yards combined (2,314), second in consecutive 100-yard games, and was third in career-combined yardage. During his 11 seasons with the Raiders, the Heisman trophy winner out of USC was named to the Pro Bowl five times. He added a sixth appearance in 1994, as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Allen’s performance in Super Bowl XVIII when the Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 earned the then-second-year player game MVP honors. In that game he rushed for 191 yards and scored two touchdowns, one a Super Bowl record 74-yard gallop. You can still see it if you close your eyes.

Other No. 32s:
==Kelly Hrudey, Kings ('89-'95)
==Steve Patterson, UCLA basketball ('67-'71)
==James McAlister, UCLA football ('72-'73)
==Dave Winfield, Angels ('91)
==Nikki Blue, UCLA women’s basketball ('03-'06)
==O.J. Mayo, USC basketball (2007- )

Sports Illustrated's pick for the all-time No. 32: Johnson, over Jim Brown, Koufax, Shaquille O'Neal (Miami), Steve Carlton, Julius Erving (ABA's Nets), Franco Harris, Karl Malone, Simpson and Walton.

Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: