When Earvin “Magic” Johnson stepped on the court of the Great Western Forum on Jan. 30, he demonstrated the magic of his basketball genius. He gave hope to the millions of people world-wide that have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and he taught everyone a little lesson in living. However, his return is not something everyone was looking forward to.
Flashing his famous smile on the magazine covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated, Magic Johnson proved that those who are HIV infected must learn to live with the virus to keep from dying from it. Johnson decided that the time he has left was not going to be wasted moping about his condition.
Johnson told Time, “They said basketball would kill me. Well, not playing basketball was killing me.”
Fortunately, Johnson still has the love for the game and health needed to be a competitor in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Johnson’s return not only brought a legend back on the court, but also educated everyone more on HIV and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Research shows that the average period for the HIV infection to convert into AIDS is about eight and half years. Also, exercise, instead of weakening the individual, may very well hinder progression of the virus.
Unfortunately, Johnson has spent four and half of those years out of the NBA when he announced his retirement from the league on Nov. 7, 1991.
Despite his return to play for the 1992 United States Olympic Dream Team, Johnson was shunned from joining the NBA for the 1993-94 season when he cut himself during a preseason game. Paranoia and ignorance were to blame for fans not seeing Johnson back in the basketball scene sooner.
Fortunately, people are more informed and educated about the virus than before.
Unfortunately, regardless of the overwhelming research assuring that the virus cannot be spread through casual contact, Johnson must still deal with the contagious ignorance of others.
Time reports that Vernon Maxwell of the Philadelphia 76ers said, ”You get scratched on your hand, and then he might get an open wound. I don’t want to be there with that. I have a wife and kids.”
Another NBA player, who requested to be anonymous, told Newsweek he did not want to play for fear of hurting someone under a death sentence.
Comments like these must be respected, however the insensitivity that they express is upsetting. Johnson is already sacrificing his life for a mistake, why should he have to be punished any further?
Thankfully, others have expressed support in Johnson’s comeback. Charles Barkley of the Phoenix Suns probably said it best when he coined the phrase, ”It’s not like we’re going out to have unprotected sex with Magic on the floor, you know. We’re just going to play basketball, so I think we’ll be OK.”
One hopes that this kind of understanding will soon be found among those who are presently against Magic’s return to the court.
He may be 27 pounds heavier, 36 years-old and four and half years out-of-practice, but the HIV infected Johnson was still able to score 19 points during the 27 minutes he played in his first game back. This achievement in itself is remarkable. Not to mention that his team is 5-1 since his return.
But what is more astounding is the courage Johnson has to live during a time where it would be so much easier to give up. Regardless of whether you are infected with the virus, life must be lived to the fullest each day.
Tomorrow does not always come. Unfortunately, the optimism and enthusiasm he radiates does not infect all.
Hopefully, Johnson will be successful in proving that his passion and love for basketball are more contagious than his virus. And, maybe, we can enjoy the Magic a little longer.
