Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.

My hero that I chose to research is Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. U.S. President George H. W. Bush once said: "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for anyone who loves sports." Today, Johnson is a former NBA Superstar and Hall of Famer. Magic is currently an author, an HIV/AIDS education and prevention activist, and a successful businessman. He started the Magic Johnson Foundation for AIDS Education. Magic is a very active philanthropist.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. was born August 14, 1959 in Lansing Michigan. As a high school player in Michigan, he was offered scholarships for basketball from top-ranked college schools, but Magic decided to play a little bit closer to home. He chose the Michigan State Spartans. He was not inspired to play professional, but to become a television commentator. At Michigan, Johnson was a star! He led the Spartans to a National Championship in the 1978-1979 season. In the NBA, Magic was selected 1st Overall in the 1979 Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Lakers, Magic won five NBA championships, three NBA MVP's, and he was also a 12x All-Star. As an NBA Superstar and Hall of Famer, Magic was named "One of the 50 Greatest Players of all Time." He also won a gold medal at the1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

In the beginning of the 1991-1992 season, Johnson took a physical and found out that he tested positive for HIV. He was then quickly forced to retire. At a press conference, Johnson told media that he would dedicate his life to battle the deadly disease. Magic decided to write a book on explaining and preventing safe sex. In 1991, Johnson founded a development company. The company was to bring entertainment and services to underprivileged inner-city communities.

Magic Johnson is a hero to me because he is a fighter and a basketball enthusiast, like me. He is a fighter for people living with a deadly disease and anyone who is trying to achieve something. When Magic returned to the court for the 1991 All-Star Game in which he won the MVP, still battling with the disease, I think he inspired many people and told them to never give up their dreams. I was not alive at the time, but I have seen some highlight clips on TV and YouTube.