Magic Johnson is among the most phenomenal passers in the league’s colorful history. His penchant for feeding the ball to a teammate in as flashy a manner as possible made him highly entertaining. But what truly helped Johnson surpass his predecessors was his charisma and his rivalry with Larry Bird.
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Together, the duo of Bird and Johnson became synonymous with the 80s. Before Michael Jordan became the king of the league, Magic Johnson and Bird ruled the NBA. They were the athletes who took the NBA from being a bottom-feeder league to one of the most popular in the country.
But unfortunately, it all ended in 1991. During a team’s insurance policy test, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV. Back then, the awareness surrounding this disease was minimal. Magic and his wife cookie both at first thought he had AIDS. Yet, cookie decided to stay by her husband’s side.
Cookie stayed with Magic Johnson even after HIV diagnosis
In the book When the Game Was Ours, the aftermath of Magic’s diagnosis was written about in detail. Once he found out he had HIV, Johnson rushed home to meet cookie. But somehow, Cookie correctly speculated what her husband had.
In the book, she claimed that she kept thinking he had AIDS and her biggest concern was that her husband might die because of it. But despite it all, she chose to stay with him.
“The moment Earvin “Magic” Johnson stepped into his house he knew his wife had already figured out his news was devastating. “She knew me too well,” he said. He told her what Dr. Mellman had said and then fell into her arms. Cookie experienced a range of emotions: shock, fear, anger, disappointment, concern. “At that time, any discussion of AIDS meant you were going to die,” Cookie said. “I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. For a minute, I felt like I was going to pass out.” She sat down and held her husband, and then did what she always did when she was frightened or in trouble: she prayed. “I wouldn’t blame you if you left,” said Magic through his tears. “Are you crazy?” Cookie answered. “I am staying. God will get us through this.”
Magic’s infidelity led to the tragedy
As a Laker superstar, Magic Johnson was one of the most desired men in the country. Wherever he went. women wanted a piece of him. And mostly, Johnson was more than ready to offer them what they desired.
This promiscuity is what led to Magic catching the virus. It was this life of debauchery that ended his career abruptly. But fortunately, Magic survived it all. He changed his ways and became an advocate for awareness of the disease.
