Earvin 'Magic' Johnson

Magic Johnson with High School Coach (amazon.com ())

        46 points, 22 rebounds, and 16 assists as a 15 year old sophomore. Earvin Johnson Jr. was gifted with the nickname "Magic" from his unforgettable performance at Everett High School by a sports writer by the name of Jack Stabley. Witnessing this performance from young Magic Johnson was a first that shocked everyone, but later in his life, there were a lot of controversies that surround and put Magic's basketball career in jeopardy. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. was born on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan. Magic's love for the game of basketball was like no other. And with the talent that he portrayed, was the first round pick in the NBA draft in 1979. With a great future that Magic lived up to, things went downhill for Magic in 1991 where he announced to the press that he had been diagnosed with HIV and his unfortunate retirement. Magic couldn't stay away from the game, and as a result, he decided to come out of retirement to play one last time with the "Dream Team" or Team USA in the Olympics. After he permanently retired from the game of basketball, he decided to write a book, become a spokesman, and created a foundation all to inform young people about safe sex and HIV. Magic will go down as one of the greatest basketball players to play the game. His passion and bravery is what caught everyone's attention. His commitment to help and protect others from safe sex and HIV is appreciated and earned the respect of many people. Earvin "Magic" Johnson was one of the best basketball players to live. He used his shocking news of HIV as an experience and an opportunity to teach younger kids about the dangers of unsafe sex. His bravery to admit to his wrongs and his leadership on and off the court is like no other. It's not what Magic did, it's not his stats, nor his records that make him a hero. It's who Magic is as a person that classifies him as a hero.

        Through the tough times that Earvin "Magic" Johnson faced, he stepped up to take the role of being a leader on and off the basketball court. Magic Johnson used the consequences that put an end to his career as something to push him forward to be a leader to others that need it: "Recognizing that his talent and charisma put him in a good position to help the youth of the United States, Magic became a spokesperson for HIV prevention and safe sexual practices." (Dolan, Sean, and Coretta Scott King. "Magic Johnson."). Magic Johnson knew that even with the struggles that put to end his basketball career; he could still make a difference in people's lives to protect them from unsafe sex. Knowing that people look up to him, Magic wanted to teach and help younger children and young adults about the dangers of sex and that he could create a huge impact on their lives. Since HIV changed his life, he wanted to help other people to prevent them from the troubles that he went through. He always put others as his first priority in his life: "He established the Magic Johnson Foundation to raise funds for community-based organizations that deal with HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs." (Brown, Valerie. "Magic Johnson." Great Lives From History.) Magic showed the world that he isn't self-centered and all of the money that he earned has been put to good use starting foundations and programs to help younger kids. Magic wanted to earn people's respect back from his news of HIV, and did so by establishing an organization to prevent what caused him to lose respect from his fans in the first place. Magic demonstrated the definition of leadership by not giving up on himself through the life threatening struggles that he went through and still goes through every day in his life. A leader is someone whom you can always trust and people look up to. By establishing a foundation and becoming a spokesman Magic earned the title of a leader by always being there for others.

Magic Johnson All-Star Game MVP (puddlesofmyself.com ())

        Contracting HIV provided Magic with much ridicule and scorn from others, but Magic Johnson was brave enough to admit to his faults, and use them as a learning experience to help those in need.. Magic didn't only speak up for his mistakes once, he constantly reminds and teaches younger people that what he did was wrong, and for them to learn from his mistakes: "Johnson's involvement in the AIDS program is sincere. He readily owns up to the mistakes which led to his own tragedy, telling young people, 'It was wrong first of all for me to do the things I was doing. I can't correct that. All I can do is try to save your lives.'" ("Magic Johnson." Magic Johnson). Magic knows the consequences that he faces and must deal with for the rest of his life, but uses it as an inspiration to teach younger kids and to continue to have an impact on their lives. Johnson lost the respect of thousands of his fans to the news of HIV, but he persistently pushes to fight through all the downfall in his life and only focus on the differences and changes that he can make in different people's lives. Magic didn't just show his bravery off the court being a spokesman or an author, but on the court contain HIV, he displayed that his performance on the court wouldn't change the way that he played basketball: "Although he had made his big announcement before voting began for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, fans voted him onto the team. Despite some concern by other All-Star players, Johnson took part in the game and was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring 25 points, handing out 9 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds." (Brown, Valerie. "Magic Johnson." Great Lives From History). Many people were concerned that Magic wouldn't be the same player and lose respect because of the disease, but he proved all of the doubters wrong by being named MVP in the All-Star Game. Not only were all of the fans worried about Magic returning to the hardwood floor, but the players were also alarmed to play with him because of the chance of Johnson transmitting the disease through sweat or blood. Despite the hate that everyone gave Magic, it never stopped him from playing the game that he loved. Even with all of the negativity that surrounded Magic Johnson, he was brave enough to keep doing what he loved the most, which was playing ball.

Announcement of HIV (junction.ie ())

       Magic Johnson was as great as a man off the court as he was on the court. He never let his HIV impact him negatively in any kind of way in the lifestyle that he lives. He continues to push forward on helping to find a cure and to help people's lives knowing he can do so with the role model he portrays. Magic showed his leadership on the court by leading the Los Angeles Lakers to success, and also off the court by becoming a spokesman and starting foundations to help people in need of help and HIV awareness. His bravery to speak in front of the millions of fans he had, knowing with the news of HIV he would lose thousands of them. But to admit to his mistakes and to make a difference in others' lives is also brave and earns the respects and hearts of the people that gave up on Magic. Magic Johnson is a huge inspiration by what he does now as a person. People remember Magic as that Hall of Famer that played for the Los Angeles Lakers or the founder of many different foundations to help promote safe sex and HIV awareness. He is never thought of "that basketball player with HIV". Magic has inspired me because of how great of a basketball player he was and his unique style of playing the game. But that is not why he is a hero. Johnson is a hero because of the effort, and time that he puts in to help others. Earvin "Magic" Johnson will go down as one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. Magic teaches that none of us are perfect and we will always make mistakes in our life. The only way to make up for your wrongs and mistakes is to never put your head down and to keep striving forward and to help others from not committing the same mistakes. Magic Johnson plays the most important role in basketball, point guard. A point guard's responsibility is to pass the ball to give his teammates open looks to score. Just like his job on the court, Magic puts other people first before him and gives them open looks to make their life more successful off the court. That's what makes Magic special, and my hero.

Works Cited

Brown, Valerie. "Magic Johnson." Great Lives From History: African Americans (2010):

40. Biography Reference Center. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.

Dolan, Sean, and Coretta Scott King. "Magic Johnson." Magic Johnson (2001): 8.

Biography Reference Center. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.

"Magic Johnson." Magic Johnson (Biography Today) (2010):

Biography Reference Center. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.