Chicago Tribune - November 10, 2001
Johnson has long since replaced that sadness with joy and taught the world a lot about the value of hope. He has also taught the world a lot about dealing with HIV.
When Johnson broke the news on Nov. 7, 1991, any AIDS-related announcement sounded like a death sentence. AIDS and the HIV virus were still very scary, partly because so little was known. Even Johnson, 32 at the time, had to be told that having the virus was not the same as having AIDS.
Ten years later, Johnson finds himself to be remarkably healthy and quite a bit wealthier. He is heavier than his playing days, but it's mostly muscle, thanks to daily six-hour workouts.
AIDS-inhibiting drugs, and perhaps his attitude, have saved him. "If I would have thought I was going to die," he said recently, "I probably would have."
Instead, he lived like a man who wanted every day to count. He plunged into public appearances, exhibition tours and the 1992 "Dream Team," with whom he won an Olympic gold medal. He commands a chain of Leow's theaters in black neighborhoods and other franchises that include coffee stores, fitness clubs, and restaurants. He owns a 5 percent share of the Lakers and raises millions for youth camps, AIDS research and other charities.
Not every venture has worked. His late-night talk show failed to find an audience that it could keep awake. He announced a return to the Lakers, but did not play in any regular season games. Considering the grim news he faced a decade ago, though, Johnson's flops look like minor bumps in the road.
If there is any danger to Johnson's death-defying decade it might be that he makes life with HIV look too easy to underscore the urgency of the message that this virus still kills. A recklessly promiscuous sex life, such as Johnson admitted to, still can carry dire consequences. AIDS is expected to claim 15,000 American lives this year. Of the 40,000 new cases expected this year, half will be in minority communities.
HIV and AIDS are still scary, though not nearly as mysterious as they were when Magic Johnson was diagnosed. With his 1,000-watt smile and irrepressible spirit, Johnson is a model of the advice given by a good coach: Don't worry about the clock. Just put all you've got into the game.
011110
CT011101
Copyright © 2001 - Chicago Tribune. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Chicago Tribune, Permissions Desk, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 http://www.chicagotribune.com
AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, iMetrikus, Inc., John M. Lloyd Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .