Magic changed the game
The news was shocking, sad and confusing. I had watched the press conference on TV, then headed for the Delta Center that Friday in 1991 to cover the arena’s opening night. The Jazz had begun the season with three road games, but this was to be the ribbon-cutter in Salt Lake.
Magic Johnson had just announced he was HIV positive.
It seemed unreal. Magic was the most vibrant player in the NBA. Now he had been handed what many felt was a death sentence. The Seattle and Jazz locker rooms were hushed. When I first asked Karl Malone if he’d comment, he refused. But after we talked a few minutes he said, among other things, “What can you say to the guy? That he’s going to be all right? It’s not going to be all right. What can you say to him?”
Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of Johnson’s announcement. And you know what? It’s all right. Not as good as if nothing happened, but still, Johnson has gone on to live a normal life.
I also went into the Sonics locker room, which was a quiet as the Jazz’s. Most interesting to me was that Seattle forward Michael Cage said as he watched Johnson’s press conference on TV, he was “amazed at him.” Among other things, Cage said Johnson’s candid admission “is going to change the world.”
Johnson said then that it was a promiscuous heterosexual lifestyle that caused him to contract HIV. And while that’s not a good blueprint for millions of young fans, this much is: Johnson admitted mistakes and advised viewers on avoiding HIV. He made HIV awareness everyone’s concern, not just a certain segment of society.
Two decades later, he’s a successful businessman, worth an estimated $100 million. He has become an example of how to deal with long-term conditions. Johnson used his fame to educate others on avoiding the disease. But mainly, he gave hope to those with a frightening and then-mysterious affliction, something many didn’t dare imagine in 1991.
