Yesterday was Magic Johnson's 30 year anniversary of announcing he has HIV

[BleedGopher]

This was one of those moments when the world stopped. He single handedly changed the face of HIV. I think many/most of us figured he'd die within a year or two of diagnosis. He likely would have if he had contracted it a year or two earlier.

I had a very weird moment watching his press conference as I was living in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the time standing next to infamous Gopher big man Mitch Lee who was playing for the Tulsa Zone of the CBA. The Zone practiced at the health club our family belonged to and I was right next to him watching the TV with the press conference. I don't recall if Mitch had a champagne cup shaved into his head.


Go Gophers!!

 

[gopher7]

The treatment that ultimately saved lives came out in 1996 I think. Even today that is still the gold standard. Still can't cure it though.

 

[Winnipegopher]

The greatest thing it did was normalize HIV/AIDS. Can still remember my Dad saying "wouldn't have thuoght Magic Johnson was gay."