25 years ago today, Magic Johnson shocked the world.
I shared my memories of that day on Twitter....
Today is the 25th anniversary of Magic Johnson announcing he was HIV positive & retiring from the Lakers. Lots to remember about that day...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
I grew up watching the Showtime Lakers and Magic Johnson is my favorite athlete of all-time. I was a sophomore in high school...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
After school ended I walked across the street to the Palm Springs Mall, where my mom worked as a hairstylist. (I usually asked for money)...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
It was my mom who broke the news to me about Magic. She said, "You're going to want to sit down for this." I couldn't even process it all...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
I was with a few friends and told them too. We were all kind of walking around in a haze. We had like an hour before the press conference...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
In the interim we ended up walking back to school for some reason, and broke the news to John Carlos (yes, 1968 Olympics John Carlos)...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
Carlos was the track coach and in-school suspension guy at my high school. We ended up back at the mall & watched the presser at Foot Locker
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
It was weird enough to process that Magic's career was over, but it got real dark when it sank in that this was likely a death sentence...
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
I'm not sure I had an idea at the time other than that within 5 years Magic would be dead. But during his presser he was so positive!
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
We had some sort of presentation in European History the next day, and my friend Essy ended it was "Peace to Magic Johnson." Still stunned
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
I cried watching the 1992 All-Star Game on TV. Still the greatest All-Star Game in history, to me. It was great to see Magic smiling
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
But there is no way I thought Magic would be around for the long term. Yet thanks to an unyielding will of positivity, here he still is
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
I want to go back 25 years ago & tell 15-year-old me that Magic would still be alive, AND be part-owner of the Dodgers. Head would explode.
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016
I'd also hope to have found a way to advise against 'The Magic Hour,' but all miracles have a cost. And what a small price to pay
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) November 7, 2016