“Because of the H.I.V. virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers today.”

By Mike Monteiro, November 7, 2011

Twenty years ago today we thought Magic Johnson was going to die.

And not in a “someday” kind of way. But quickly, and unavoidably, and painfully. In 1991 you did not live with HIV, you died of AIDS. And AIDS was a strange disease which affected homosexuals, drug addicts and Haitians. We weren’t sure where it came from. And we seemed all too eager to look down on those who were afflicted by it. Ronald Reagan seemed to believe that you could catch it by mentioning it.

So when the best ball-player of his generation announced, in the prime of his life, that he had HIV it was a late-coming wake-up call. How the fuck does a member of the Showtime Lakers get HIV?!? This was a disease shady people got. Not Magic! And yet there it was.

But Magic didn’t die. He persevered. He spoke out. He continued his life. He even came back and played for a while! Most of all, he made people face the issue. Magic was the turning point. Am I glad he got it? Fuck no! I wouldn’t wish that shit on anyone. But I admire the courage with which he carried himself. No, still carries himself. He made a shitty situation a teachable moment.