Over 20 years ago, Earvin “Magic” Johnson seemingly could do no wrong. He had that Midas touch that many would come to adore or envy. It seemed like everything the Lansing, Michigan native touched would literally turned into gold. He had it all. He had the fame that comes with being a worldwide megastar as the ringleader of the Los Angeles Lakers’ vaunted “Showtime” championship teams.
Along with that kind of glory, also came untold wealth, access and a free flowing lifestyle off the court that screamed of recklessness and lack of caution. To Johnson, life was one big party. That unmistakable and charismatic smile the 6-foot-9 Johnson wore on his face always seemed to illustrate he was having fun. And he was.
But after a decade of running solo in the land of the stars, Johnson decided to ring in another type of joy: he tied the knot with college sweetheart, Cookie. He was settling down. With a young son already in tow, Johnson and Cookie were thrilled to find out they had a baby on the way. Life was good.
All of Johnson’s dreams were being lived out in glorious fashion. A nightmarish medical finding then turned Johnson’s perfect world into one of fear, chaos and uncertainty.
A routine life insurance physical brought the Johnson Express to a crashing halt with the diagnosis that the NBA star had contracted the HIV/AIDS virus. Because there was so little medical information about HIV/AIDS other than it produced flu-like symptoms and it killed people, Johnson was forced to retire from the sport he loved.
When Johnson announced his retirement the world watched. Good, bad or indifferent, it also unmercifully judged him.
From the outside looking in, to his basketball peers and to other people, Johnson had been given an immediate death sentence. But in ESPN Films’ latest docu-drama, “The Announcement,” which is scheduled to originally air on Sunday, March 11, Johnson, as we see today, didn’t crumple up and wither away.
Instead of taking on the woe-is-me mentality and wrapping himself around a long state of depression, Johnson clamored to his faith in God, his support from Cookie and his family, and stepped his game up against the deadly disease much like he did on the basketball court.
“I think that Cookie and I got strength from our church family of West Angeles (Church of God in Christ), and Bishop Charles E. Blake,” Johnson told reporters at “The Announcement” film premiere at L.A. Live Stadium 14 in Los Angeles. “Cookie is a prayer warrior, so she was praying every day. God has blessed me, no question about it. So he played a part-just as powerful as or more powerful than the medicine. They go hand in hand.”
Produced by Nelson George, “The Announcement” is must-see television. Please feel free to bring your handkerchiefs, towels or something to keep your eyes dry because they won’t be when you watch this NBA Entertainment Production. The film brilliantly captures the essence of Johnson as a basketball showman, a corporate pitchman, and as perhaps the most vocal and visible spokesperson on HIV/AIDS.
And just like in the manner he assisted his teammates into being better basketball players, Johnson has found a way to encourage and uplift other people who are afflicted with HIV/AIDS, whether it’s from public speaking engagements or getting folks educated through his Magic Johnson Foundation.
“I had a positive attitude,” Johnson said. “And I had a great support system, my wife, my mom, dad, brothers and sisters, close friends and the Lakers family as well. And then you got to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to be here.’ And every day, I said I was going to be here. I’ve had a positive attitude through it all.’”
Like Johnson’s many highlight reels, “The Announcement” is revved up with high energy and raw emotion. This is the real meat and potatoes of the film. Sure, just about everyone knows about Johnson’s flash and dash leadership skills that turned the Loa Angeles Lakers into the most talked about team in the NBA.
“The Announcement” does a splendid job of highlighting Johnson’s illustrious basketball career in snippets throughout the film. More importantly, though, “The Announcement” excellently captures the tidal wave of emotions of an icon that sees his world go from the mountaintop view to that of an individual who finally addresses his human failings and his relentless commitment to not allow others to follow in his path.
On November 7, 1991, it seemed as if the world had stood still for a few moments when Johnson shared his shocking revelation of contracting HIV/AIDS and subsequent forced retirement. Grown men broke down and cried. People wept everywhere. To some, it felt like a dagger had been cruelly struck through their hearts.
But what appeared to be a curse turned into a blessing to so many people who have benefitted from Johnson’s desire to educate as many people as he can about HIV/AIDS. Johnson didn’t lose his ability to smile through his personal ordeal.
He got up, dusted himself off and is now helping other people to find their own joy in life. Cookie Johnson said she and her husband clung to their faith in God to get them through the whole ordeal. It also helped that Magic kept a bright outlook on life.
“He’s a very positive person,” Cookie Johnson said. “Earvin is always up for a good fight and a good challenge as you have seen on the court. It did not take him long to decide that, ‘I’m not going to let this thing beat me. I’m going to fight it to the end. I’m going to do everything I need to do to fight this thing.’
“He actually encouraged me at the beginning. The most important thing for me is that I have God in my life, and I know that when I prayed and God said he was going to take care of us, I knew he was going to take care of us. When you put God first and foremost, all other things fall into place.”
Though his wondrous career was aborted, Johnson has found his second calling in trying to prevent others from having their live cut short by becoming the most visible spokesman on HIV/AIDS awareness. Due to Johnson’s continued success in business and philanthropic endeavors, many people assume Johnson either doesn’t have the disease anymore or that he is doing so well that the abrupt attention once given to HIV/AIDS, has now become somewhat of an afterthought.
In the “The Announcement,” Johnson reminds people let’s that HIV/AIDS is still here. It still kills people. Johnson doesn’t want anyone to forget that. He hopes the film can help illustrate those points.
“I want them to take away that I never gave up,” Johnson said. “I went public because I wanted to educate people and save people’s lives. Sometimes when you make a mistake, it hurts people. And those who love you, it hurts them. I also want them to take away when you are in a position to also help others that’s what we should do.”
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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