Magic Johnson, Mark Cuban agree on support of gay athletes

Leave it to TMZ to get former Lakers legend and the face of Dodgers ownership, Magic Johnson, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the record in support of gay athletes.

In the wake of Johnson giving interviews in support of his gay son, Earvin Johnson III, the celebrity gossip website asked pointed questions of the basketball great.

“If that ever happened, I would support them 150 percent,” Johnson said when asked what he’d do if a player on the Dodgers announced that he was gay.

“First of all, as an owner, you really have to support the person, you really do, and then help educate the public,” Johnson added. “And that’s really important, to say, ‘We stand with this player, we’re going to support this player.’ Once the organization and the owner does that, then everybody else has to say, ‘OK, we’re going to support them,’ or you just say, ‘Hey, we’re going to deal with it.’”

TMZ then tracked down Cuban, a never-camera-shy billionaire who has often been on the other side of issues from the Lakers. Cuban was in total agreement with Johnson.

“Exact same thing,” he replied when asked to respond to Johnson’s assessment of supporting and protecting a gay athlete. “I would do it the exact same way.

“I’ve been saying the same thing for years. There will be somebody who comes out. It’ll be a great moment for sports. I would be honored if he was on my team .... All professional sports have had their homophobic missteps along the way, it’s a new era, a new generation and the player would be accepted.

“I applaud Magic for being willing to step out and show leadership like he always has.”