Recently, Sir Charles expressed his disappointment about the current state of college basketball. Labeling it a “travesty” and “disgrace” due to college athletes not being compensated for the revenue their sport brings in. He believes that basketball and football players have more chances to make money than other college athletes. However, some players amass incredible wealth despite shortened playing careers. Like the and only Magic Johnson.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend is a testament to the potential wealth and success that can be achieved even with an abridged career in basketball. Despite being silent about the dire situation with college athletes,  Magic Johnson cheered on his alma mater’s football team.

Magic Johnson will always be one of the Spartans

Magic Johnson is a venerated alumnus of Michigan State University. During his time with the Michigan State Spartans, Johnson was already  one of the finest players in the country. His time with the Spartans led to him being selected 1st overall in the 1979 NBA Draft. The basketball star’s fondness for football is a well-known affair too.

On Twitter/X, he happily celebrated the victory of his alma mater against Carnegie Mellon University.

He posted a tweet encouraging the Spartans to carry out their business at Spartan Stadium during their upcoming matches. Of course, avid fans are well aware of Magic’s interest in football.

Recently, when the Washington Commanders were put up for sale, Magic furthered his interest in football. He put his money where his mouth is and with a joint deal worth $6.05 billion, a team of investors including Johnson, purchased the NFL franchise.

Read more: Turning Billion Dollar Heartbreak Into $6,000,000,000 Triumph, What Are the Teams Owned by Magic Johnson?          

Michigan State retired Magic’s jersey for his two-year stint with the college. As such, it makes sense that Johnson is enthusiastically involved in his alma mater’s affairs. However, another NBA legend has highlighted a different side of collegiate sports.

College sports are in ‘Travesty” and “Disgrace”

Charles Barkley has been critical of the environment that the NIL has created for college sports. The 1993 NBA MVP expressed that the world has gone in a direction that’s damaged the incredible opportunity of a free education that college sports offers.

The Auburn alumnus expressed his strong disapproval of the NIL’s effect on college sports, calling it “a travesty and a disgrace.”

His anger was clear in his words; he declared that it is wrong to ruin something so wonderful with such a flawed system that can’t pay all the players. He further suggested that this will result in some universities and programs becoming insignificant.

While Magic hasn’t commented on these matters yet, perhaps he believes in tackling the issues from the inside. The co-owner of multiple sports franchises, Johnson would certainly have an interesting perspective on fair renumeration of college athletes. What do you think?

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