Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; Wednesday, November 13, 1991
"I can't specify the time, the place or the woman. It's a matter of numbers," Johnson writes in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated.
"Before I was married, I truly lived the bachelor's life. I'm no Wilt Chamberlain, but as I traveled around NBA cities, I was never at a loss for female companionship."
Chamberlain, the NBA's all-time leading rebounder, wrote in his recently published autobiography that he has had sex with an estimated 20,000 women.
Johnson also suggests he may still play in the Olympics next summer in Barcelona, although his doctors have told him that the rigors of playing basketball might hasten the onset of AIDS.
"If I'm healthy, I might very well be on the floor for the opening tap at Barcelona," he says.
Johnson disclosed that he found out Oct. 25 that he had tested HIV-positive and missed the Los Angeles Lakers' first three games with "the flu" only because he and his doctors wanted to verify the first tests.
"I never had the flu as the team announced," Johnson says. "I was not trying to deceive anyone. I only wanted to make sure that the insurance company's results were correct."
From Oct. 25 until last Thursday, only a few people knew about the infection -- his agent, Lon Rosen; Lakers owner Jerry Buss and general manager Jerry West; Johnson's wife and his parents.
"It was becoming more and more difficult to keep the secret from the other people who are closest to me -- my teammates," Johnson says.
Just before his news conference, Johnson says he called five of his closest friends -- talk show host Arsenio Hall; his former coach, Pat Riley, now of the Knicks; Larry Bird of the Celtics; Isiah Thomas of the Pistons, and Michael Jordan of the Bulls.
"Larry cried," Johnson said. "So did Arsenio. Isiah just didn't want to believe it. Pat and Michael listened in stunned silence."
Copyright 1991/The Associated Press. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, The Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020.
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Copyright © 1991 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
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