Ervin "Magic" Johnson was one of the bggest stars in basketball at the time. The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the best teams in the NBA, and were always contenders for the NBA crown.
This year had been different. This had been Chicago's year - the Chicago Bulls had just won their first championship against the Lakers and we were still celebrating - we know how to celebrate in Chicago and there was a lot to overcome to be the best. There were nay sayers all around who wondered how we had beat the Lakers because they had such an incredible track record.
The day that Magic announced his press conference, there was speulation all around that Magic was going to retire, and that Michael Jordan had pushed Magic out of the game. Retiring didn't seem implausible. Magic had finally married his long time and long suffering girfriend, Cookie. He had dated her forever, and she had faithfully endured broken engagments, called off weddings, cheating, scandals, baby mammas - now he was getting his act together and he had settled down. It seemed sure that he would retire. There was also the rumour that he had AIDS.
As Magic approached the podium, it was clear that this was a solemn ocassion. He wasnt wearing his trademark flashy grin, and he was surrounded by very serious looking men. Magic stepped up to the poium and got right to it - "Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I wlll have to retire from the Lakers today".
We were watching on a large screen TV that was used for screening shows - everybody took a collective breath - you could hear everyone in the room exhale. The owner of the company was so distraught that he went home for the day. It was pretty overwhelming news for many people. Many older people had not been personally touched by HIV and AIDS. That wasn't the case with me.
I am only a few years younger than Magc, so the disease wasn't that foreign to us. I knew people who had died from AIDS, a member of my family whom I loved and still miss had died. Several friends, co-workers, at that point in time that diagnosis was a death sentence. Medical advances were not in place yet that would save his life.
While most players were enightened, some refused to play with Magic, some were concerned about the physical contact, some with the rumours about his lifestyle. Magic tried to return, but it didn't go well and his doctor felt that he was not helping himself maintain his health, so his brief comeback was short-lived. Its a testament to Magic's access to excellent heathcare and undeniable diligence that he is still with us and fighting the good fight.
In my experience people were not that interersted in being careful - they lived like they woud live forever when there was plenty olf evidence to the contrary...
People are still getting caught up today and even though there have been miraculous advances, people are still dying of AIDS, and catching HIV. You have to be diligent, because in this day and age, love can be deadly...
