LA Dodgers: 5 Things Magic Johnson and Co. Must Do for the Future

Now that a new group of owners, headlined by basketball legend Magic Johnson, have bought the Los Angeles Dodgers for the eye-popping sum of $2 billion, what should they do to better the franchise moving forward?

Disgruntled Dodgers fans, who were angry with former owner Frank McCourt, may be back to buying tickets and bleeding Dodger blue.

The hype surrounding the Dodgers certainly jumped to a new high when it was announced that a group headlined by Johnson would buy the team. However, there are some steps that Magic should take to ensure that the hype stays moving toward the future.

Here are five steps Magic should take while embracing his new role as part owner of the Dodgers.

1. Get a TV Deal Done

Undoubtedly, after buying the team for the gargantuan sum of $2 billion, Johnson and his fellow owners need to reach a TV-rights contract that will support that amount.

Reportedly, the two bidders for the TV-rights are Fox and Time Warner.

The Los Angeles Angels made a huge splash in the offseason by signing free agent first-baseman Albert Pujols to a gigantic $240 million contract. The fact that the Angels got a TV contract with Fox Sports worth roughly $3 billion over 20 years really softened the blow of their big free agent signings.

At the end of their current TV contract, Johnson and company will have to try and make a similar deal happen.

2. Follow the Other LA Team's Lead

The Los Angeles Angels generated the biggest buzz this offseason by spending money.

Going after high profile free agents, Albert Pujols and pitcher C.J. Wilson, got the community and fans excited.

The new owners of the Dodgers have proven they aren't afraid to spend money (hint hint—$2 billion). So the Dodgers will now have to follow suit.

This may start by locking up Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw.

Kershaw is currently on a two-year contract worth $19 million.

By winning the NL Cy Young award last season, Kershaw has proved to the organization that he's the real deal.

If a multi-year extension is reached with Kershaw, it will likely dwarf the contract reached recently by the San Francisco Giants and pitcher Matt Cain.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers have to let fans know they are serious about competing into the future. Extending Kershaw's contract, while surrounding Matt Kemp with some respected bats will be a must.

3. Make Appearances

As an owner, you never want to divert the focus off of your team and onto yourself.

Nonetheless, if Magic Johnson can generate buzz by attending as many Dodger games this season as he can, fans will take notice.

Attending a sporting event is just that—an event. Fans enjoy being in the same building or stadium as celebrities.

If you're at a Phoenix Suns game and Muhammad Ali is sitting courtside, you take notice. If you are at a Los Angeles Lakers game, you expect to see Jack Nicholson cheering on his favorite team. Going to a New York Knicks game? Prepare to see Spike Lee.

Magic can generate a buzz that few people in sports can. He's a legend, plain and simple. Fans in Los Angeles adore Magic.

So when basketball season comes to a close, and Magic is no longer working as an NBA analyst, he should make himself a familiar face at Dodger Stadium.

Make it an event to attend Dodgers games in the future.

4. Attempt to Create "Dodger Nation"

There's something special about a team that resonates throughout the country.

Fans in "Red Sox Nation" can certainly relate.

At interleague games, the chants of "Let's Go (Insert home team here)" often switches off in a battle against chants of "Let's Go Red Sox." It's just the way Red Sox Nation works. Unless they're playing a game in the Bronx, it never feels like the Red Sox are truly playing on the road.

If Magic Johnson and company can bring in fans not just from LA, but from all over California and all over the country, it will only generate more revenue.

"Dodger Nation" has a nice ring to it, I have to admit.

5. Attract More African-American Athletes to the Sport

This has been a hot button issue for a while now. Why aren't there more African-American baseball players?

Well truthfully, basketball and football have a ton more players that young African-American athletes can look to and emulate.

In baseball? Well the Dodgers already have one of the most high profile African-American athletes in the sport with Matt Kemp, but the list of black athletes in baseball isn't a particularly long one.

There has certainly been an influx of black athletes in baseball recently, but they are still a huge minority in the sport.

There's Kemp, Torii Hunter, Andrew McCutchen, Brandon Phillips, Chris Young and a few others. And those players are not slouches, those are All-Star caliber players. Yet, baseball just doesn't have the appeal that basketball and football do in the African-American communities.

Fox Sports has already touched on this, but Magic Johnson may be the man to inspire African-American athletes to play baseball.

It's certainly ironic when you take into account that Johnson is one of the best basketball players of all time, but he may be the man for the job.

As for right now though, Johnson and company should focus on fixing the Dodgers.

The historic franchise deserves to have something go right for a change.