Last year's basketball reality series was the surprise hitReal Training Camp: Denver Nuggets. It helped increase Denver's stature among fans and propelled them to a Cinderella playoff berth. This year's basketball reality show is a one-time documentary of the Magic's offseason. Could it work the same, um, Magic? Why don't more teams put together similar shows?

The documentary,Under the Lights: Magic Makeover, has footage of the major decisions made by GM John Weisbrod and his staff this summer, from the draft pick to the free agent acquisitions to the blockbuster Tracy McGrady trade. How did they know it would be a good idea to film it? Or did they just film everything to see what happened?

Reality TV shows, according to Dallas owner Mark Cuban's web site at blogmaverick.com, are all a form of Survivor, as a large number of non-actor contestants get whittled down to a single winner. That was similar in approach to whatTraining Campdid but it is not at all whatMagic Makeover is about. This is not a reality show as much as a chronicle of events and some video of the decisions as they happened. The performers aren't non-actors trying to remain in a group but managers trying to reach a decision.

It'll be interesting but it's not a reality show. It's a documentary in the style of something the History channel would do.

For more information about the documentary, see Team Notes and Newslines below.

TEAM NOTES
Paul Kennedy, part of Sunshine’s Magic telecast team, hosts UNDER THE LIGHTS: MAGIC MAKEOVER, a 60-minute documentary-style video which chronicles the Orlando Magic’s summer of 2004. The episode premieres Saturday, September 18, at 6 p.m. to Sunshine’s 6.1 million viewers statewide with several replays scheduled through late October.

The Second Annual Garrity Bass Classic is Sunday, September 19.

The Orlando Business Journalwrites: The Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce presents the Orlando Magic Tip-off LuncheonOct. 22, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando. Scheduled to appear are players Steve Francis, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, Head Coach Johnny Davis and General Manager John Weisbrod. For more information, call (407) 835-2448.

NEWSLINES

The Lakeland Ledgerwrites: Auburndale's Tracy McGrady, two-time NBA scoring champion, will host a celebrity softball tournament, benefiting the Tracy McGrady Foundation and area hurricane relief efforts, at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.The game will be held at Cracker Jack Stadium. McGrady, formerly of the Orlando Magic and now with the Houston Rockets, has invited numerous celebrities to participate in the fund raiser -- from comedian Steve Harvey, singer/ producer P. Diddy and Miss USA Shandi Finnessey to past and present NBA stars such as Baron Davis, Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning and Spud Webb.

Tim Stephens ofThe Orlando Sentinelwrites: Perhaps the most interesting part of the one-hour show are workouts by UConn star Emeka Okafor and high-school phenom Dwight Howard.Okafor's workout was impressive, but Howard seemed to wow everyone associated with the team. Seeing conversations between Director of Scouting Dave Twardzik and Director of Player Development Otis Smith lend clues as to which direction the Magic would go. When Howard leapt to slap a spot on the backboard 12 feet, 4 inches high, jaws dropped.