Highlights
One of the NBA's 30 clubs, the Magic began play in the 1989-90 season as an expansion entry and became Orlando's first professional sports team. Bringing basketball to a city with deep football roots was the brainchild of Orlando businessman Jim Hewitt, who solicited the help of longtime NBA executive Pat Williams during a chnace meeting in church. They pulled off what many labeled as a long-shot. Williams left his job as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers to join the effort and the league granted Orlando an expansion team. The early years were full of losing, but the Magic won the draft lottery in 1992 and their luck changed. They chose Shaquille O'Neal out of LSU. Shaq, as he came...
One of the NBA's 30 clubs, the Magic began play in the 1989-90 season as an expansion entry and became Orlando's first professional sports team. Bringing basketball to a city with deep football roots was the brainchild of Orlando businessman Jim Hewitt, who solicited the help of longtime NBA executive Pat Williams during a chnace meeting in church. They pulled off what many labeled as a long-shot. Williams left his job as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers to join the effort and the league granted Orlando an expansion team. The early years were full of losing, but the Magic won the draft lottery in 1992 and their luck changed. They chose Shaquille O'Neal out of LSU. Shaq, as he came to be known, led the Magic to the NBA Finals in the 1994-95 season. Orlando was swept in the Finals by the Houston Rockets in four games. O'Neal left the team as a free agent in 1996 to join the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in the 2006-07 season, led by Dwight Howard, another all-star center. The club also made news off the floor as the city and county approved the building of a new arena, an issue that had become a political football for owner Rich DeVos.
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Former Orlando Magic player Don Reid to pay $10,000 to one-time business partner
Sentinel Staff WriterA Seminole County jury has ordered former Orlando Magic forward Don Reid to pay $10,000 to a former business partner whom Reid beat up. Reid was arrested Sept. 24, 2004, after choking Dylan Adams, lifting him then slamming him to the floor and punching...Tags: Joint Ventures, Detroit Pistons, National Basketball Association, David Oliver
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Orlando Magic's magical moments: Pat Williams remembers all 20 seasons
Now it can be told. Jimmy Hewitt was giving Pat Williams (above) a ride back to the Orlando airport one day in 1985 when Williams "lobbed the idea of a NBA franchise in Florida." But Pat was thinking Tampa or Miami! "No, Orlando!" was the reply. And, as...Tags: Shaquille O'Neal, Table Tennis, Florida State University, Pat Williams, Football
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Builders host meeting today for those bidding on contracts for Orlando events center
Sentinel Staff WriterCompanies building the city of Orlando's new events center, future home of the Orlando Magic NBA basketball team, will hold a "pre-bid" meeting today for one of the work packages that's open to bidding. The meeting will be at 2 p.m. in the Hunt...Tags: National Basketball Association, Basketball
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Toronto Raptors' Jermaine O'Neal still working to get groove back
SENTINEL STAFF WRITERThere was something very tender and familiar in watching the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. That sentiment flowed from an almost "which egg will hatch first?" quality for two clubs...Tags: Jermaine O'Neal, Sam Mitchell, Basketball, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers
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Orlando Magic beat Bosh, Raptors
Sentinel Staff WriterOrlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy predicted Toronto all-star Chris Bosh could get 40 points, and he was a veritable seer. Bosh got his 40 points, but the Magic had enough to counter the Raptors' forward and win 103-90 Tuesday night in a rematch of the...Tags: Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, Stan Van Gundy, Amway Arena, Rashard Lewis
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Girls basketball team's potential excites new Lake Howell coach
SENTINEL STAFF WRITERWINTER PARK — Andy Sarasty knew Lake Howell had a talented girls basketball team, but that wasn't what made him accept the head-coaching position. It was one memorable comment from assistant principal Lance Abney: "Don't treat them like girls....Tags: Basketball, Volleyball
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Moving to front office not always a slam-dunk for former NBA players
It was two hours before the Orlando Magic's home game with Portland last week, but there was plenty of activity as players on both sides tipped through their pregame routines. Players wearing both suits and jerseys. Near the Magic sideline, General...Tags: Eddy Curry, Shaquille O'Neal, Government, David Robinson, Chauncey Billups
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Nelson leads Magic to 103-90 win over Raptors in first-round playoff rematch
Associated Press WriterORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ Stan Van Gundy predicted at the morning shootaround that Toronto forward Chris Bosh would score 40 points against his Orlando Magic. The Magic coach turned out to be right — and he still got to smile about it. Jameer Nelson,...Tags: Jermaine O'Neal, Sam Mitchell, Hedo Turkoglu, Basketball, J.J. Redick
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LPGA's Annika Sorenstam to take her final bow
Sentinel Staff WriterThe Big Event She's the grande dame of the LPGA Tour and at the end of the week, she will be stepping away from the Tour. After 14 seasons on the Tour, Annika Sorenstam is retiring. Her final LPGA Tour event will be this week at the ADT Championship at...Tags: Golf, Florida State University, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pixar
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Magic prevail against Bobcats minus Dwight Howard
Sentinel Staff WriterDwight Howard has been taking on different personas lately, even dressing up as outlandish characters. On Sunday, he was disguised as a benchwarmer. He could have even passed as a cheerleader -- a big, tall cheerleader, that is. The Orlando Magic have...Tags: Jameer Nelson, Tony Battie, Hedo Turkoglu, Stan Van Gundy, Dwight Howard
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State budget: It's going to get worse
Tallahassee BureauFlorida's cash crunch hit home for Glen Casel during the summer, when he cut supervised parental visits for Seminole County's abused children to save scarce state dollars. Now, two or three families at a time are allowed to visit their abused children...Tags: Health Insurance, Charlie Crist, Medicaid, Employees, Laws
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Progressions
Architecture Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, Orlando, has appointed Timothy Nash senior project engineer. Boards of Directors The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission has appointed Lars Houmann, Florida Hospital, to its board of directors for...Tags: Government, Banking, Longwood (Seminole, Florida), Employees, Lake Mary
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