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10 Years after Hearing "Death Sentence," Magic Johnson ThrivingNovember 7, 2001 Ten years ago -- Nov. 7, 1991 -- many thought that one of basketball's most dazzling players had been handed a death sentence. Magic Johnson stood at a packed news conference at the Forum, the scene of his many triumphs with the Los Angeles Lakers, and announced he was retiring at 32 because he had AIDS. Now, he takes AIDS drug cocktails that allow him to focus on business, and not just the business of staying alive. "I feel wonderful," Magic Johnson said last week. "Everything is great, wonderful. I celebrate life and I live every day. Every day is a holiday for me. Nov. 7 won't be any different." "The medicine has done its thing. I think I've done my part," Johnson said. "And God has done his part. It's mind over matter, too. I've never felt I would be sick or get sick. I thought I would be here." At the time of Johnson's announcement, many people did not understand the difference between being HIV-positive and actually having AIDS. Johnson -- who believes he got AIDS by having unprotected sex with women -- exercises daily and still plays basketball. And he is in excellent health, according to Dr. Michael Mellman, Johnson's personal physician for the past 20 years. "There's nothing experimental, nothing high-tech," Mellman said of Johnson's medication. "Anyone who can afford health care can afford what he's doing. He's as healthy as he looks," Mellman said. Since his disclosure and two attempted comebacks following his retirement, Johnson has immersed himself in the business world and his family -- his wife, Cookie, and three children. None has tested positive for the virus. But Hattie Babbitt, executive director of AIDS Action, worried that Johnson's condition may give the mistaken impression that the drugs are a cure. "They do have side effects, and they tend to lose their effectiveness. His healthy appearance may lead young people to incorrectly believe it doesn't matter if they get infected," she said. Associated Press 11.07.01; John Nadel  This article was provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update. |
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