Magic Johnson Retires, Cites Controversies

In the latest twist in his unprecedented saga, Earvin (Magic) Johnson retired again from basketball Monday--suddenly, unexpectedly and, he says, finally.

Johnson announced his decision in a prepared release, issued through the Lakers, who will open the season Friday night against the cross-town Clippers.

Johnson’s physician, Michael Mellman, said there had been no recent change in the player’s medical status and that health was not a factor in his decision.

“Earvin Johnson’s health has not changed since the day he returned to basketball,” Mellman said at a Forum news conference.

“It was not a medical decision. I have not advised him to not play.”

Johnson was unavailable for comment. He made no public appearances Monday, nor did he contact Laker owner Jerry Buss, team officials or his teammates.

His agent, Lon Rosen, called Laker General Manager Jerry West on Sunday night and told him of Johnson’s decision.

“After much thought and talking it over with Cookie (his wife) and my family, I’ve decided that I will retire--for good--from the Lakers,” Johnson said in his statement.

“It has become obvious that the various controversies surrounding my return are taking away from both basketball as a sport and the larger issue of living with HIV, for me and the many people affected.”

Because Johnson’s contract is guaranteed he’ll receive $19.6 million over the next three seasons.

Johnson retired Nov. 7, 1991, shortly after learning that he had tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS.

However, he soon began planning a comeback, playing in the NBA All-Star game last February, then in the Olympics, announcing a return to the Lakers on Sept. 29.

However, his return was as controversial as it was triumphant.

Dave Kindred, a columnist for the Sporting News, wrote skeptically of Johnson’s claim of having been infected during heterosexual sex. Johnson replied sharply, urging Kindred to make a specific charge so he could sue him, but later acknowledged that he had been hurt by the allegation.

“I thought we were beyond that,” Johnson said then.

Johnson later disclosed that he had confronted a fellow player who had been saying that Johnson was bisexual. Newsday of Long Island reported that the player was Johnson’s onetime best friend, Isiah Thomas.

The NBA Players Assn., after consulting nationally recognized AIDS experts, accepted their assessment that the risk of transmitting the virus through anything connected to basketball was remote. Columbia University’s Dr. David Rogers, vice chairman of the President’s National Commission on AIDS, called the chances “infinitesimal.”

The union distributed brochures to assure players that the risk was minimal.

As the season neared, however, more and more players, and some owners--Phoenix’s Jerry Colangelo was one--began making public their concerns.

“Everybody’s talking about it,” Cleveland Cavalier guard Gerald Wilkins told the New York Times. “Some people are scared. This could be dangerous to all of us but you’re dealing with Magic Johnson so people are handling it with kid gloves.”

Even among Johnson’s Olympic teammates, most of whom were supportive, there were exceptions.

“The Dream Team was a concept everybody loved,” Utah all-star forward Karl Malone said. “But now we’re back to reality.”

Malone was especially dubious of Johnson’s return in a story in Sunday’s New York Times.

“Look at this, scabs and cuts all over me,” Malone was reported to have said. “They can’t tell you that you’re not at risk, and you can’t tell me there’s one guy in the NBA who hasn’t thought about it.”

Johnson played his final exhibition game Friday night in Chapel Hill, N.C., missing nine of 10 shots in a defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That same day, he passed up a light workout without informing Coach Randy Pfund.

Johnson flew home with the team late Friday night but said nothing of his doubts to his teammates.

Saturday, he called Rosen and told him of his decision. They decided to think about it for a day. Sunday night Johnson told Rosen to inform the Lakers.

“I was surprised, sure,” Rosen said.

“I was surprised but nothing could surprise me. The last couple of weeks had been difficult.

“But he’s not upset at all. To me, he seems like he’s relieved. It’s a burden that’s off his shoulders.

“He anticipated (the controversy) but he didn’t believe it would overshadow the basketball and the message he was trying to get out. It was getting to be a carnival-type of atmosphere with all the different controversies. It’s not one specific incident but they keep coming up. That’s what he didn’t anticipate.”

Rosen said Johnson retired again not only because of the distractions but because he found that the game was keeping him away from his family and his work with his own AIDS foundation.

Another controversy involved Johnson’s intention to skip games during the season. A plan to announce his schedule was canceled after Johnson said he could be accused of influencing the season’s outcome in deciding when to play, and that missing games might lead to speculation he had AIDS.

West stopped Laker practice Monday morning at Loyola Marymount and told the players. Johnson’s former teammates wished him well but left somberly and quickly.

“He’s just doing what’s best for him and that’s the bottom line,” said guard Byron Scott, Johnson’s closest friend on the team. “That’s Earvin and that’s what he wants to do and I respect that.”

West said: “This is a very reflective time for the people in our organization because this was so unexpected. But we want what’s best for Earvin. If it’s best for him, God bless him.”

RELATED STORIES: C1, C4, C5