Mistaken Email BCCs May Have Led Magic Johnson to Quit

A good reminder to watch who you BCC on your emails. A sports reporter says it's possible Magic Johnson's sudden resignation as the Los Angeles Lakers' president of basketball operations was partially spurred by unflattering emails about him sent by franchise bosses—ones that he was mistakenly copied on. In a Wednesday radio interview on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Bleacher Report senior writer and Fox Sports 1 analyst Ric Bucher described "critical" emails "about what Magic was and wasn't doing," exchanged between Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka. Bucher said it was "protocol" for Jeanie to CC or BCC Johnson on emails, and "somehow, the exchange between Rob and Jeanie ended up on that string of the blind CC's that were going to Magic."

"Maybe most important … is that there was no indication that Jeanie was backing Rob up in terms of either going to Magic and letting him know this was going on or going back at Rob and defending Magic," Bucher added. "To me … that's what started it." Buss and Pelinka only learned about Johnson's decision to resign as he announced it in front of reporters. "I want to go back to having fun," said Johnson, on the verge of tears. Andrew Holleran at The Spun concludes "he probably wasn't long for the job" anyway. Writes Jacob Rude at USA Today, "At best, this is a bad look for a franchise continuing to make a fool of itself. At worst, it's another sign of the chaotic nature of the front office in which no one will be able to succeed." (More Magic Johnson stories.)