Health It Can Happen to Anybody. Even Magic Johnson.

After testing positive for HIV, basketball's most beloved star retires and vows to become a spokesman in the battle against AIDS

For years he has been a walking -- no, a running, jumping, slithering -- suspension of disbelief. Not just on the basketball court, where he has all but remade the game and brought in a whole new dictionary to cover the moves that bear his monogram -- the "no-look pass," the "triple double," the "coast to coast" drive. And not just in America, but from Bali to the Bahamas, where many kids wear his picture on their chests. Hundreds in Paris were calling out for "Ma-JEEK" when he went to play in France last month, and everyone was preparing for the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!