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Praises for Jay Z on the Red Carpet at the Barclays Center Opening

What's The 411 TV on the red carpet on the occasion of rapper and entrepreneur Jay Z's inaugural concert at the opening of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, CEO Magic Johnson Enterprises and former NBA Allstar, stepped on the red carpet to thunderous applause and shout-outs. Speaking to What's The 411 TV's correspondent, Crystal L. Henderson, Magic shared his good feelings about the opening of the Barclays Center. Magic stated that the Barclays Center is not only good for Brooklyn, it is good for New York City. Magic also compared the impending rivalry between the Brooklyn Nets and the NY Knicks to the Los Angeles Lakers and the L.A. Clippers.

The best line of the night came from Magic when Crystal asked him what's his favorite Jay-Z verse. Magic gave that great laugh and smile that he is famous for and said, "...no, no, hey, I love him; I think Jay Z's the best. I would do him a disservice by trying to rap; that's not what I do, I own things, that's what I do."

The celebrity-packed red carpet also included: Attorney Star Jones; Tyson Chandler (Center-NY Knicks); Joe Johnson (Guard- Brooklyn Nets); FOX 5 News Anchor Rosanna Scotto; Brooklyn Nets Jerry Stackhouse (Forward/Guard); Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Avery Johnson; NY Giants Wide Receiver Victor "Salsa" Cruz, Deron Williams (Guard- Brooklyn Nets); WABC-TV News Anchor Lori Stokes and John Calipari, Head Coach University of Kentucky Men's Basketball.

New York City community leaders in attendance were Bertha Lewis, President of The Black Institute and former CEO of ACORN; and Geoffrey Davis, Founder and President of the James E. Davis Stop The Violence Foundation.

All used enthusiastic accolades to describe Jay Z's business acumen.

Watch Video of Barclays Center Opening

Geoffrey Davis Ecstatic About Opening of Barclays Center

VIDEO: Community activist, Geoffrey Davis, an early supporter of the Barclays Center's development delighted to finally see the arena open

On the Opening of the Barclays Center, Geoffrey A. Davis, President and Founder, James E. Davis Stop The Violence Foundation, told What's The 411's Barbara Bullard, "This is amazing, this is amazing, Brooklyn Nets, we're here to support our home team, we're going all the way, tonight it's Jay Z, a Brooklyn legend, we're supporting Jay Z all the way,....Brooklyn, Barclays Center Number one."

Davis further elaborated about the arena's impact on the community, "Oh, it's going to bring jobs, it has brought jobs, its bringing jobs, it's bringing excitement; look at all the people, it's bringing a whole different aura, which is Brooklyn, it's putting Brooklyn back on the map where it belongs, Brooklyn number one."

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