Sometimes the best way to honor an individual is to build a statue in his or her honor. But while he might have been "Magic" on the court, Earvin Johnson isn't truly deserving of a statue.

Instead of an athlete, the university and community should display its commitment to academics over athletics with something like a scholarship.

A statue of the former Spartan basketball standout will be built outside Breslin Center and unveiled Nov. 1.

While no one can argue he was a phenom while he played basketball for MSU - 17.1 points per game, 491 assists and 146 steals during his college career - the man who brought the university its first national championship isn't the best example of what it means to be a true Spartan.

Let's not forget Johnson left school two years early. By erecting a statue of him, the university is passively endorsing athletes who leave school early.

And by choosing Johnson instead of a professor or scholar, the university is glorifying athletics over academics.

Johnson hasn't given much back to the university since he left. Surely his athletic abilities and performance merit recognition, but honoring other athletes who were more dedicated to the university, such as Steve Smith or Mateen Cleaves, would be more appropriate.

Maybe, when the university follows through on this plan, it will spur Johnson into becoming even more of a prestigious alumnus and donating some money to the place that ultimately served as a stepping stone to a 13-year NBA career, complete with five championships.

We aren't saying Johnson isn't a giving person. He's got his own charitable foundation, Magic Johnson Foundation Inc., which according to the soon-to-be-up Web site, is "dedicated to serving the educational, health & social needs of our urban youth."

Thankfully, money isn't an issue. The university, in the midst of massive budget cuts, is not footing the bill for the statue. Instead, it will be funded by private donations, said Trustee Colleen McNamara.

But again, by deciding to use the donations to build a statue of an athlete, the MSU community is putting academics in second place, behind athletics.

Instead, the donors should use the money to set up a scholarship fund in Johnson's honor. It would give him the recognition he deserves as an outstanding athlete and at the same time preserve the commitment to academics the university should uphold.

We realize Johnson is an outstanding athlete and a great person. If MSU wants to honor one of its athletes with a statue, he should definitely be among the top candidates.

But choosing athletics over academics is saying MSU is more committed to competition than it is to learning.