Subject: `Magic' Johnson's Tragedy Brings AIDS New Attention Date: Published: 11/8/91 (162 lines) Source: Wall Street Journal. Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. `Magic' Johnson's Tragedy Brings AIDS New Attention ---- This article was prepared by David J. Jefferson and Pauline Yoshihashi in Los Angeles And Marilyn Chase in San Francisco The news that Earvin "Magic" Johnson tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS and is retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers transcended the level of personal tragedy to bring renewed attention to an epidemic that has killed more than 125,000 Americans since 1981. "I will now become a spokesman for the HIV virus, because I want young people to realize they can practice safe sex," a calm Mr. Johnson told a crowded news conference. Not since the announcement in 1985 that actor Rock Hudson was infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, has the public's attention been so riveted on the dimensions of the virus that has infected an estimated one million Americans and as many as another 10 million people world-wide. "Within a five-minute period I've had calls from all over the country," said Nova Lanktree, director of Burns Sports Celebrity Service, a Chicago star-athlete booking service. "People love him so. It's almost like the president got shot." Last evening, AIDS hotlines around the country were flooded with calls. Hotline volunteers said many people who thought they may be at risk of infection were calling for testing information, while others called specifically to voice support for Mr. Johnson and offer donations to AIDS-related organizations. In an era when even the most heroic athletes seem to have feet of clay -- tainted by drug abuse, gambling, surliness toward the public or greed in peddling autographs -- Magic is aptly named. He has always been cheerful, gracious and humble, the perfect role model and advertising spokesman. He is one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived, but he overshadowed the sport. To millions around the world he has simply been a storybook hero. Health experts said the news about the 32-year-old Mr. Johnson serves to give the epidemic a human face, not unlike the Rock Hudson announcement and news of other celebrities who died of AIDS-related complications, including artist Keith Haring, fashion designer Perry Ellis, choreographer Michael Bennett, actor Brad Davis and California tax reformer Paul Gann. Only this time the shock waves will reach youth -- especially minority youth -- who idolize the National Basketball Association icon. As one doctor put it: "Twelve and 13-year-olds didn't have Rock Hudson posters up in their bedrooms." Dr. Mark Smith, vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation in Oakland, Calif., and an expert on AIDS in minority populations, said he was personally and professionally devastated. "I put my three-year-old son to bed in Lakers pajamas last night." Dr. Smith said the news "wrenches us again. Perhaps some good can come of it. Lord knows, I wish we weren't dealing with denial and stereotypes this late in the epidemic. There will be an outpouring of sympathy and support and I hope a new level of understanding." Mervyn Silverman, president of the New York-based American Foundation for AIDS Research, said: "This puts a face and a name on what has been cold statistics. I hope that, out of this tragedy, we have more people paying attention, and especially our youth who feel they're invincible." Pat Christen, executive director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, said Mr. Johnson's "willingness to come forward and state that kids need to practice safe sex and use condoms will go a long way toward promoting AIDS education, and preventing some cases of infection that otherwise might have occurred." Jerome Groopman, an AIDS researcher at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, said he watched the Johnson news conference with a sense of awe and pride at the public responsibility displayed by the athlete. "I feel very bad for him, but he's in a position to help a lot of people who are difficult to reach. The dignity and courage he displayed will help remove the stigma of AIDS. " Mr. Johnson and his doctors said he "is healthy now" and hasn't developed AIDS or a precursor, AIDS-related complex, or ARC. One reporter asked Mr. Johnson if he knew how he had acquired the virus; the athlete referred the question to his doctors, and it wasn't answered. Mr. Johnson, who was married two months ago, said his wife was tested and found not infected with the virus. Addressing the cause of the infection, Kaiser's Dr. Smith said: "As a physician, when a patient comes to me with HIV, I'm interested in how they got infected from an epidemiological standpoint, and in terms of assessing risks. But as a human being, I feel it doesn't matter how he got infected, and I hope the press and public won't spend too much time speculating about that." A person who is infected with HIV but remains symptom-free is often advised to follow a healthful diet and do moderate exercise. His doctors told Mr. Johnson to quit basketball because of the intense level of physical activity it requires. Mr. Johnson will get regular medical monitoring, especially checks of his infection-fighting T-cells. When those T-cells decline to a certain level, many patients start prophylactic treatment with Wellcome's antiviral drug AZT. When T-cells fall further, doctors recommend another drug, aerosol pentamidine, which prevents a lethal pneumonia. Studies have shown that pentamidine and AZT can prolong the life of people with HIV. Besides being a symbol of professional basketball, Mr. Johnson has become a spokesman for a wide variety of products including Converse athletic shoes, Nintendo games, several PepsiCo sodas and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Companies that have used Mr. Johnson as a celebrity pitchman were quick to offer their sympathy and support but vague about future alliances. "We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Magic's illness and retirement from the Lakers," said Gib Ford, president of Converse Inc., which has used Mr. Johnson to endorse its shoes since 1979, and named a line after him. But Mr. Ford said he didn't want to comment on the company's future association with Mr. Johnson until it had spoken with him and his agents. Becky Madeira, a spokeswoman for Pepsi-Cola Co., described Mr. Johnson as a "terrific" person. "He's been great for basketball and great for our business. He's a spokesman, he's a business partner, and most importantly, he's a very dear friend." She said the future of his contract, which expires next summer "isn't an issue now, nor should it be." In addition to his endorsement work, Mr. Johnson is a general partner in Pepsi's distribution business in Washington, D. C. Byron Cook, president of Tradewest Inc., licensee to Magic Johnson's Fast Break Nintendo Game said the announcement "just shows that AIDS has reached mainstream America, and all of us should be concerned about the effects of this terrible disease." Michael Goldberg, chairman of National Media Group Inc., a New York sports-marketing agency, said he has been a sports fan for more than 40 years and couldn't recall a similar shocker. "There's no precedent for this kind of thing, that an athlete of his stature has had something tragic like this afflict him. "This man transcends celebrity stardom. In fact, he invented it to some extent in the modern era. My gut feeling is that he's such a well-loved individual, he's so popular and has led such an exemplary career both on and off court, that this won't affect him in a negative way. I see his endorsers rallying to his side." Arthur C. Kaminsky, president of Athletes & Artists Inc., a New York sports-management company wasn't so sure. "We're on uncharted territory on this one," he said. "Where we've seen athletic careers go down the tubes before were cases based on personal things. Madison Avenue is very skittish about some things," especially if there's excessive speculation on how Mr. Johnson acquired the virus. HIV is most often transmitted through sexual intercourse or intravenous drug use, and to a much lesser extent today, contaminated blood. [This article is made available here by Dow Jones Co. for the personal and non-commercial use of callers to this bbs, in the hope that it will be of some help to those who are suffering from the disease and others who are seeking to help them.]