Magic Johnson

"There is winning and there's losing and in life both will happen. What is never acceptable to me is quitting" (Magic Johnson). Who would've known one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history would have retired after just 12 years due to testing positive for HIV. Earvin Johnson Jr., later known as Magic Johnson was interested in basketball at an early age and spent hours on the court. Many of his neighbors used to call him the june bug because he hopped from court to court. During Magics high school years and NBA years he managed to achieve many accomplishments on and off the court. Magic Johnson is a very inspirational person and a hero because of his hard work and compassion.

Magic wins NBA championship (complex.com ())

Magic Johnson's tenacity and initiative towards basketball has made him into the inspirational legend he is today. As a result of his hard work, he managed to win the Most Valuable Player award his rookie year at the young age of 20, along with five championship rings throughout his career. Johnson's hard work inspires people at all ages to play basketball. His inspiration is found even more so among teenagers who are looking to compete at higher levels or earn potential scholarships. "As a sophomore at Lansing Everett High School, Johnson led his team to the Class A state tournament quarterfinals. The next year the team reached the semifinals, and in Johnson's senior year, they won the championship"(howard). Without Johnson on his sophomore team, they would have undoubtedly never made the quarterfinals. His skill only improved with time as shown by his accomplishments year after year. "Leaving college after two years, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979"(Howard). Johnson's dedication for basketball led him to greater heights and straight into the NBA after two years of college. He was able to be the best of the best after only two years into his college career.  Johnson's will and tenacity towards basketball has inspired the lives of many people, of all ages.

Magic spreads HIV awareness (masslive.com ())

After retiring from the NBA, Johnson's compassion lead him to representing and spreading AIDS awareness. "Soon after he announced he was HIV-positive he established the Magic Johnson Foundation to promote HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness"(Jones 3).  The drive that once took him to new heights in basketball had been redirected towards the prevention of what seemed to be his Achilles heel. His positive outlook towards HIV showed that there was a bright side on even the bleakest of situations. "Especially coming from me: I am living with this virus. I don't want [my kids] to ever have it, so I have to tell them . what can happen to them if they do the same thing I did"(Frontline). Even with the stigma around HIV/AIDS, Johnson is willing to openly state he had HIV to help spread his message of HIV prevention as much as possible.  Even off the court, Johnson is an inspiration to the people.

Even other NBA role models look up to him (azquotes.com ())

Magic Johnson made a legacy for himself that many people look up to. Without the hard work and dedication he put into his life he would not have been the person he is today.  One of his more memorable quotes was "all kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them"-Magic Johnson.  Johnson inspires kids all around the world whether it be on television or watching him live. A person deserving of the title called hero is not one that excels in the best conditions or situations.  They take the worst of situations and make the best of them.  As a person that has been his best in all cases, Magic Johnson is one deserving of not just being a hero, but a legend.

Works Consulted

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson." Sports Stars, Gale, 1994. Biography in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1628000085/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=0de6fcce. Accessed

May 2017.

Jones, Maegan. "Magic Johnson - Off-court Battle." Aids, Hiv, Awareness, and Disease - JRank Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2017.

"Magic Johnson Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Advameg, Inc, 2017, www.notablebiographies.com/Jo-Ki/Johnson-Magic.html#ixzz4g1p232nS. Accessed 5 May 2017.

"NBA Encyclopedia Edition." NBA.com: Magic Johnson Bio, NBA, 2017, www.nba.com/history/players/johnsonm_bio.html. Accessed 5 May 2017.