ABSTRACT
On November 7, 1991, Earvin “Magic” Johnson shocked the world with his announcement that he had contracted HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). The three-time Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association (NBA) retired from the game. After cameo appearances in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game and with the U.S. Dream Team at the Barcelona Olympics, he tried to make a comeback in fall 1992. But the fears of some outspoken NBA players forced him back into retirement. In 1996, Magic was invited to rejoin his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic agreed, in part, because the response from his fellow players was decidedly more positive this time around. Yet, there were still pockets of resistance among the players-and among the general public. After years of research and AIDS education from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC), what could be the basis for this resistance?
