Coach Mack
I still remember where I was and who I was with on the evening that Magic had his press conference. I’m quite sure that what happened after Magic’s announcement put in perspective how important the announcement really was. I was a thirteen year old kid; playing football for the local park district’s football team; the Red Raiders. A few of us players were heading to the coach’s office and as soon as we entered the door, we were told to be quiet. Coach Mack wanted complete silence as he turned up the radio to hear what the commentator was trying to say. We all heard him when he said it; but when Coach Mack flopped down in his seat, lifted up his baseball cap, and shed a couple of tears; I knew it was really real. Magic Johnson was about to die; I was thinking. The simple fact that Coach Mack showed any emotion was enough confirmation for me and it also made everything surreal. Coach was a man’s man. Old school, no non sense type of guy; didn’t joke that often, didn’t smile much either. Had the same sweatshirt and jogging pants on everyday; wore a whistle around his neck and walked like he needed a hip replacement. He was all about football and trying to help mold us city kids into to respectable, productive men. And best believe, if he was crying, somebody was dying or dead already. This leads me to my next question and I know you probably asked yourself this once before also.
Does Magic Johnson still have HIV?
I mean that’s a logical question; based on the fact that after his initial announcement and a couple appearances here and there, we haven’t heard Magic talk much about his ordeal with HIV. After making a very personal situation public, you would think he would also share his battles, failures and triumphs; if not for public interest, at least for those who may be going through the same thing as him and may used his experiences as inspiration. That and along with the fact that he is always on TV looking good and healthy; has lead many to believe he doesn’t have the virus. The general consensus is that because this man is rich and famous, he was able to go to somebody, somewhere and obtain the cure for AIDS. I hate to admit it, but I kind of believe that theory too. It is has been long believe, especially in the Black community, that HIV/AIDS was a man made virus; used to impede the progress of reproduction in black and brown communities. So is it coincidence that Black Women are now the number one carrier of the HIV virus?
This being the 20 year anniversary of his announcement, Magic took the time out to discuss the rumors surrounding his illness, the dilemma he face with being an advocate and the increasing rate of victims that have arose within the minority community. “I’ll hear people say every so often that having HIV must not be so bad—just look at Magic and how well he’s doing,” says Johnson, who has remained AIDS-free. “I’m blessed that the medicine I take really worked well with my body and makeup. It doesn’t work like that for everyone. A lot of people haven’t been as fortunate as I have.”