(5 of 5)
When Harris signaled for Johnson to replace Elden Campbell after 2:21 of the first quarter, the crowd again rose and cheered for Magic's first game as a Laker since June 12, 1991. Even though he missed his first shot, it was just like old times--an assist (the 9,922nd of his career), a right-handed running shot, a left-handed hook and then, with four minutes left in the first quarter, the real indication that he was back. Johnson faked a pass, and defender Latrell Sprewell was so fooled that Magic simply sashayed past him and laid the ball in. "That was a sweet move," Sprewell admitted later. In the second quarter, Johnson entered the game with the Lakers up by only 3 points and came out with the Lakers up by 17, thanks to his four assists and two baskets.
The second half was more of the same, and when the game ended with the ball in Magic's hand, he pumped his fist and flashed that smile. Even more telling than Johnson's individual stats was the team's assist total for the game--an N.B.A. season-high 44. It was Magic's generosity that was contagious, not his illness. The Lakers also set some sort of record for expressions of gratitude. Center Vlade Divac, one of the few current Lakers who had played with Magic, said, "I feel like he never left." Owner Buss was so effusive that he strained a metaphorical muscle: "I feel the same as Louis Armstrong did when he sang Hello, Dolly for the first time. 'It's so nice to have you back where you belong.'" Forward Cedric Ceballos spoke for all the Lakers, and indeed many sports fans, when he said, "When Magic is out there, there is sunshine and happiness." In this age of rampant Cowboyism, sports needs Magic as much as the Lakers and L.A. do.
Two days after the game, Johnson talked about his feelings. "It was like being stranded on a desert island, and you finally get home! I finally had gone home." And when he did go home to Cookie and the kids, what did three-year-old Earvin III say? "He said, 'Daddy, I watched you play!' And that's all I needed right there."
Not so long ago, Magic was the poster boy for how to avoid AIDS. Now he is The Man to show people how to deal with it. "Enjoy life," he says. "Live. I'm not just talking about people with HIV or AIDS, but about people with problems or handicaps or whatever. For people who have HIV, come out and share your life with somebody and make them feel better. Try to hold it among parents or brothers or sisters. People put so much pressure on themselves by holding it to themselves. You carry a lot of weight when you keep it to yourself."
As Magic has reminded the world, the time remaining doesn't matter as much as what you do with that time.
--Reported by Patrick E. Cole and Dan Cray/Inglewood and Daniel S. Levy/New York