Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Miami Herald, Inc.; Thursday, December 12, 1991
Yvette Ousley, Herald Staff Writer
"I learned so much from Magic, watching him play," said Young, senior captain of Northwestern High's Bulls basketball team. "I just kept thinking, 'How am I going to go on in relationships with females?' and whether I was going to get caught up in something like this."
Tuesday, Young joined nearly 60 youths at the G.W. Carver YMCA in Liberty City to sign a four-by-eight-foot card saluting Johnson. The white card had a red ribbon draped across the top that read, "YMCA celebrating 100 years of basketball" followed by "Thanks for all the Magic." Inside, the card read, "From all of your fans and friends, we will miss seeing you on the courts but our cheers for you will never end." A huge poster of Johnson was on the opposite cover.
The event marked the beginning of a two-week AIDS awareness and prevention presentation program sponsored by the YMCA. As part of the program, the card will be taken to youths enrolled in 10 YMCA youth sports and after-school programs throughout the county.
The goal is to inform students about the dangers of AIDS and to obtain at least 1,000 signatures on the card, which will be forwarded to Johnson.
About 5,600 youths are enrolled in the YMCA youth sports and after-school programs countywide.
"We are trying to wake kids up because the statistics on AIDS are devastating," said Keith Cross, executive director for the Carver YMCA. "We know children are sexually active and irresponsible. So the idea is to take the message to where the problem is."
So far, AIDS has killed 130,000 Americans. An estimated one million people are HIV infected.
Kiandra Maycock, 15, who was at the G.W. Carver YMCA, said Johnson needs support. "We're trying to reach out to him and show him that the youth are trying to make a difference," she said.
The idea for the card signing was generated by Shawn Patch, athletic director for the Southwest YMCA, and parent Ann Goudie. The two noticed the kids were greatly disturbed by Johnson's announcement that he is HIV positive.
"We wanted to give them a chance to thank Magic for all the years of service and for all the joy he has given kids," Patch said. "We hope it makes them more aware that it can happen to anybody and learn a little."
The card was made by Blue Magic Printing in Kendall. It will be shipped free of charge by UPS to officials at the Crenshaw YMCA in Los Angeles, who will present it to Magic during a special ceremony in January. The card signing will be extended to children enrolled at YMCA youth sports and after-school programs in the following locations:
Ludlam Elementary, 6639 SW 74th St., at 3 p.m. Friday.
Campbell Drive Elementary, 15790 SW 307th St., at 3 p.m. Monday.
International Jose Marti, 450 SW 16th Ave., at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
World Trade Center YMCA, 90 SW Eighth St., at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Colonial Drive Elementary, 10755 SW 160th St., at 3 p.m. Dec. 19.
Austin Younts YMCA, 18191 NW 68th Ave., at 3 p.m. Dec. 20.
For more information, call Shawn Patch at 665-3513, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
CAPTION: PHOTO Omar Jones was the first to sign the giant card for Magic Johnson.
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