20 Years Ago Today: Johnson's Shocking Moment

CLEVELAND - Going into the 1991-92 NBA season, all I cared about was getting thrilled and wowed by the great Michael Jordan, who entered his 8th pro season set to lead the Chicago Bulls to a repeat of their first ever NBA championship. That title, won just four and a half months earlier, came at the expense of the L.A. Lakers.

As it turned out, it wasn't the Lakers' worst defeat of the year by a long shot.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson's press conference announcing he was HIV positive and as a result, was retiring from pro basketball. It was a seminal day in the world of sports as well as the epidemic known as AIDS, which results from the contraction of HIV. Needless to say, Johnson's fellow hoopsters were stunned as were his countless fans all over the planet. For a man as skilled, accomplished, charismatic and beloved as he was, the news was almost too much to process. His shocking disclosure, made worse by the fact that Johnson's illness stemmed from unprotected sex with women other than his wife, brought forth national debates and widespread education of this serious disease. It would soon transform him into the most high profile spokesman in its short history as he developed a foundation to help others gain treatment and education.

The several months after Johnson's announcement were filled with ups and downs. There was a pall of unhappiness cast upon the NBA during the early stages of the '91-'92 season and loads of sorrow for Johnson, who many expected to die in just a couple years. Just 32 years old at the time, no one expected him to make it to age 40. Right now, he is 52 years of age. That's a supreme miracle, but it's also evidence of a very wealthy man with unlimited access to the best medical care on the planet.

He was voted to participate in the 1992 NBA All-Star game even though he was no longer a player, then famously dominated the game with 25 points and 9 assists and authored several highlight moments. He also won the game MVP while leading the West to a blowout victory. In the summer of '92, he was a member of the vaunted Dream Team that won the gold medal at the Olympics in Barcelona. In between all of this fun, he was constantly faced with whispers from fellow players who expressed reluctance and resistance to playing on the same court with him out of fear for themselves. It seems odd now, but back then it seemed at least fair to be afraid.

In the 20 long years since that unbelievable day, Magic has re-defined himself and made a nation hopeful and wiser about that deadly illness. Proof that good things come from bad events.