In the 80s, the hottest team in the NBA was the Los Angeles Lakers. With a roster that had in its ranks the first scorer of all time in the league but also a player named Magic. How not to be hot?
The same was believed by the 40 to 50 women who waited for the players after each game in the hotel lobby. They did it like crazy for autographs and a player would call one of them to his room, she would not say no. At least that is what Magic Johnson said, stating that the mentality of being an athlete constantly on the road was what got him infected with the HIV virus. "I know I got the virus, but I don't know who got it," he admitted in 1992.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson learned he was positive for the virus in 1991. When he announced it at a press conference the same year, it was as if the public had announced his death sentence. But still, they saw in front of them a magic that did not bend, did not bend, was not discouraged. He was like on the pitch, full of confidence that everything would go well. He also announced his retirement from basketball, but had another match ahead of him. A race he promised to win. And he did.
He knew he was HIV positive but did not have AIDS. His athleticism, his good health, his recognizability, would help him in this battle. But the latter also filled him with a sense of duty. He had to inform the world. Who listened to him, because for 13 years he was his idol.
Magic Johnson wanted to take advantage of this for a good cause. Until then, people mistakenly thought it was a homosexual disease. "I think a lot of people think that only gays can stick to it. "It can happen to anyone, even to me," he said, concluding with an optimistic message, "Life will go on for me and I will be a happy man."
He became the main spokesman for the virus awareness campaign. And he was the one who won the position from the beginning. The same year he retired, fans voted him first to participate in the All-Star Game. Although there were individual reactions from players like Karl Malone, most came on the pitch with him and proved to millions of people that there is no fear of infection from shaking hands, hugging or marking the opponent. A battle had been won. The thousands of people who lived with the stigma were a little freer.
Magic Johnson did not stop there. He was a member of the "Dream Team" that won the Gold at the Barcelona Olympics, indirectly informing the world public about the truths and lies about HIV. There are many HIV-positive people who consider him the most important person in the fight against the stigma, which in itself can help spread the virus.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson was the one who made the start. Others followed for the next thirty years, which Magic spent really happily having turned 62.
Source: edaily