During the NBA basketball finals, Magic Johnson has been a major part of the television coverage.
He has been commentating during halftime of the games and doing a ton of interviews.
None of the sports interviewers have asked Johnson about the commercials he is doing for, Jackson Hewitt, a tax refund anticipation company, or for Rent-A-Center.
The commercials run heavily in urban areas and target working poor. I've written a couple of articles about Johnson's involvement in the tax refund anticipation business. No response from Johnson or the people around him.
Magic has been successfully able to lead a double life. The sports networks are allowing him to project a positive, "nice guy" image while he raking in big dollars peddling products that exploits the poorest members of society.
Johnson's recent interviews have been of the softball variety. I hope some sports journalist has the courage to ask Johnson about the commercials and endorsements and let him give his side of the story.
That is a story I would like to hear.
PREVIOUS HUFFINGTON POST COLUMNS ABOUT MAGIC JOHNSON AND THE TAX REFUND INDUSTRY.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-mcnay/magic-johnson-and-the-tax_b_184180.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-mcnay/an-open-letter-to-magic-j_b_190126.html
Don McNay, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CSSC is the founder of McNay Settlement Group, a structured settlement consulting firm, in Richmond, Kentucky.
He is the author of Son of a Son of a Gambler: Winners, Losers and What to Do When You When The Lottery. You can write to Don at don@donmcnay.com or read his award winning column at www.donmcnay.com.
McNay is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
