The Announcement.

I remember arriving home one afternoon to find my older brother huddled along with other friends discussing the day's shocking news. Magic Johnson had announced his retirement because he was infected with the HIV virus. I was heartbroken. It was the first time I had been introduced to the disease and as an eleven year old I was trying to grasp what it all meant. It is great to know that it has now been 21 years since that announcement and Magic is thriving health-wise. He has fought the virus with the same fearless attitude and leadership he displayed on the basketball court. ESPN's 30 for 30 series continued its great franchise last Sunday by airing The Announcement, a film that takes you through Magic's career before and after he announced that he was infected. There was an analogy used during the movie that I felt was right on point. One of the interviewees stated that the announcement was to the sports world what the JFK assassination was to The Nation in 1963, a shocking and sad moment.