CLEVELAND - The greatest point guard in basketball history was shut down on this date, 17 years ago.Earvin Johnson, known forever as simply "Magic," held a shocking and emotional news conference in Los Angeles announcing that he was retiring from the pros "because of this HIV virus that [he] attained."
Needless to say, it took the sports and entertainment world by storm.
Johnson, just 32 years of age at the time had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS after a routine physical to start the 1991-92 NBA season, which would have been his 13th as a pro. This stunning development convinced him to retire and devote his life to AIDS prevention and awareness.
The multi-talented point guard had built a legendary career on the hardwood. Five NBA championships and 3 MVP awards highlighted his accomplishments as well as a much publicized rivalry with fellow star Larry Bird.
Johnson ended the previous season just five months prior to this announcement, losing to the great Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls in the 1991 NBA Finals. Magic was still placed on the All-Star ballot for the '92 game (in spite of being retired) and managed to deliver a virtuoso performance which earned him game MVP honors. A brief comeback materialized in January 1996, but Johnson wasn't even close to the same player he'd been in his glory days and he retired for the final time after the Lakers' playoff run ended.
When Johnson made that horrific announcement all those years ago, nearly everyone felt that his HIV-positive status was essentially a death sentence. Most folks didn't live very long after contracting the disease, but because Magic is still alive nearly two decades after the fact, many have accused him of never actually having the disease.
Understandable.
In any event, I am happy that Mr. Johnson has become a successful entrepreneur and continued to live well and and stay healthy. In just nine months, he'll be 50.
Now that's real magic.
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