Earvin Magic Johnson was a tremendous basketball player during his time. He possessed within him a basketball mental toughness that very few opponents could break through in order to stop him on both offense and defense. His play was indicated by a determination and a mental toughness that enabled him to go down in history as one of the great basketball players of all time.

A great quote that represents the heart and soul of Magic Johnson was made by the man himself. He said: “Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates.” That is the type of mental toughness that carries over into a team atmosphere. It creates a sense of unity and thus leads to tremendous outcomes in most games.

Magic Johnson is both a NBA champion as well as an Olympian Champion. He also is a champion for the research of HIV and AIDS. The same passion and mental toughness he possessed and used for the game of basketball he has carried over into the spreading of the word and importance of HIV/AIDS testing and research. Now, he has crosses walked mental toughness into the baseball arena.

Since the news came out, much has been said about the challenges facing Johnson, as if he is heading into Boston Garden with a 3-games-to-2 deficit. But this is perhaps the easiest undertaking of his career. In sports, no one wants to follow a legend, and everyone wants to follow a sap.

Undoubtedly Magic will make the transition from basketball to baseball with relative ease. Why? Because he possesses the traits that allow him to be mentally tough in whatever he becomes involved in. There is no doubt that he will bring back the honor and respect to the Dodgers that they deserve and bring the fans back to support their team that they have always loved. His basketball mental toughness will cross over the barrier into the baseball realm without a doubt. That’s the way mental toughness is.

If you possess it once, you will possess it again and again. Do you have to work on it? Absolutely. Just like anything else you can’t take it for granted. But Magic Johnson has done the work to continue with the same mental toughness he possessed for the game of basketball into all areas of his life. And now the Dodgers will benefit from this great athlete.

A Basketball Mental Toughness Tip from Magic Johnson:

 “If somebody says no to you, or if you get cut, Michael Jordan was cut his first year, but he came back and he was the best ever. That is what you have to have. The attitude that I’m going to show everybody, I’m going to work hard to get better and better.”