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University Daily Kansan/Tuesday, November 12, 1991
OPINION
AIDSawareness
Magic will lead fight against killer disease
When Magic Johnson retired from professional basketball last week, the subject captured newspaper headlines and dominated conversations all over thenation.
But Magic wasn't retiring from the game he helped revitalize because he had tired of it or because it had tired of him.
Instead, the reason was much more serious and went far beyond basketball. Magic was being forced to retire because he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that precedes AIDS.
Suddenly, the man with the famous smile had reason to cry. But he refused to cry, and he pledged to go on.
"I'm going to beat it, and I'm going to
have fun." he said.
And instead of removing himself from the limelight, Johnson vowed to stay in it as an activist for AIDS and "safe sex."
Johnson's announcement has focused new attention on AIDS. The disease cannot be considered something that only happens to homosexuals or intravenous drug users. Johnson's doctors said that he had acquired HIV through heterosexual contact.
And if one of our heroes can catch it, who is immune?
The honesty and frankness that Johnson demonstrated were remarkable. The way he handled the situation is a tribute to the relationship between this public figure and his fans. He proved
that he was more than a point guard for a basketball team.
Just as remarkable is the way the nation has responded to Johnson. The outpouring of respect and good wishes is a sign that the stigma that has been associated with AIDS is waning.
Holly Neuman for the editorial board
Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships. Perhaps now he can lead the United States to a new attitude about AIDS and the people who have it.
Editorials reflect the opinion of the University Daily Kansan editorial board. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the board.
Opinions expressed in guest and staff columns and cartoons are soley those of the author or artist. Views expressed in columns and cartoons are not necessarily shared by the Kansan.
Editorial board members are: Benjamin Allen, Kevin Bartels, James Baucom, Michael Dick, Amy Francis, Clarissa Jackson, Ellen Kuwana, Holly Lawton, Holly Neuman, John Noltensmeyer, Karen Park, Jennifer Reynolds, Jennifer Tanous, Jose Vasquez, Julie Wasson and Frank Williams.
Fans should remember Magic's legacy
Earvin "Magic" Johnson has the AIDS virus. Hard reality has forced awareness into the lives of Americans and their irresponsible sexual prac-
HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, seems easier to understand when it affects someone else, such as homosexuals or intravenous drug users. AIDS is harder to bear when it hits somebody at home and effects a loved one.
Magic Johnson is home to many Americans. During his college career at Michigan State University and 12 seasons with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, Americans have sat at home glued to their television sets admiring his creativity, mental and physical strength, and his smile through it all.
Frank
Williams
Staff
columnist
Youngsters on playgrounds dream as they drive the ball toward the basket of being Magic or Michael Jordan. What do you tell these youngsters about their superstar role model who now has AIDS?
Sports fans everywhere are mourning the loss of one of the best point guards that has ever played the sport. This American's tragic result is
At the 1991 NBA Finals, the media magnified the matchup between Magic and Michael Jordan. In 1989, the matchup was Magic against Isaiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons. In 1987, the matchup was Magic against Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. The team rivalties that Magic's supreme leadership created are gone from the game of basketball.
very similar to that of the great baseball player Lou Gehrig, who was afflicted by a rare nerve disease while at the top of his game.
The world has lost a sports legend from basketball but has gained a gainer in the battle of educating the population about the chances of getting the
"It can happen to anybody. Even
In the third game of the 1991 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls, Johnson embraced teammate Vladi Divac the Vladi made a spectacular offensive play that produced a Lukavic victory.
me," Magic stated at the press conference.
The joy expressed on Magic Johnson's face epitomizes his unselfish power and passionate love for the game of basketball that it's lost forever.
Frank Williams is a Kansas City, Kan sophomore majoring in journalism.
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Thank you to KU for park support
As a representative of the Ryan Gray Playground for All Children, I want to say thank you to Coach Roy Williams, the KU Athletic Department and the KU students. Their support of our efforts to build an accessible playground has been wonderful. We appreciate their help.
Coach Williams and Bob Frederick, athletic director, allowed us to have a fund-raising event, the "Shoot Out for
the Playground, "at "Late Night with Roy Williams." We were able to raise $1.408. Our thanks also to jill Gillidour and Richard Konem of the Athletic Department and to members of Kappa Alpha Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Omega and Pii Phi Gamma Delta for helping us stage the event.
A special thank-you goes to Coach Williams. He donated $10,000 of his winnings from the 1991 Crosby Golf Tournament to the playground. His contribution added significantly to our building fund and to our morale.
We've come a long way in developing and funding this project. With the continued support of the community and special friends like Coach Williams and the KU Athletic Department we know that the Ryan Gray Playground for All Children will become a reality.
Jody C. Anderson Chairperson, the Ryan Gray Playground for All Children
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Domestic policy, good; international travel, bad
Bush should concentrate on national problems
President Bush's popularity is skidding, and the pollsters say it' because he's not a homebody. His critics complain that instead of tending to domestic troubles he's gaddings about the globe being president of the world. And his advisers are wondering what he should do about it.
What he should do about it is simple enough. He should make a speech and level with everybody. Maybe something like this:
"My fellow Americans, as well as you millions of undocumented workers:
"In recent days, I've been criticized.
The foreign-travel thing. People say I should spend more time with the domestic thing.
"So I'll tell you why I travel. I like it.
Land an airport in Asia or Europe
just about anywhere. Greeted by
foreign leaders happy to see me. Think
I'll give them money. May I will."
*Nice palace. Good lunch. Talk about treaties and trade agreements and arms agreements and the diplomatic things that most of you don't understand. If you did, you'd be bored. But I like them. Treaties and agreements: neat. Sign them and everybody shakes hands and they take pictures and it's part of the history thing.
"Then you go to the airport and wave goodbye and jet to the next country. And they're happy to see me. Think I'll give them money."
"But what happens if I stay here in the White House all the time? Tell you what. The domestic thing. The crime thing. The economy thing. The tax thing. The deficit thing. The unemployment thing. The crumbling-cities thing. The cost of health care thing. The drug thing. The homeless thing.
"Take the crime thing. Thought I had that settled. Willie Horton, Bad, Policemen, good. Liberal judges, bad. Tough judges, good. ACLU, bad. NRA, good. Mean streets, bad. Street lights, good.
"Tough problems. Yes. And what makes them tougher is that there isn't much I can do about them.
*Can't sign an arms-reduction agreement with a Chicago street gang. Can't trust 'em. Sign it, walk away and they start shooting again. So do you how do the crime thing?*
Mike Royko Syndicated columnist
Lock your doors. Become a Republic can. Move to a suburb. Safer out there.
"The economy thing. It's a money thing. Some people don't have enough. Don't spend. Spending is good. Makes jobs. Jobs are good. Create paychecks. More spending. More jobs. More jobs, more taxes. No jobs, no paychecks. No paychecks, no money. No spending. No jobs.
"The unemployment thing. Bad.
Best thing to do is get a good job
become a Republican and get rich
Then you have money and your economy
is good. Thought I explained all
that in the campaign.
"Health care. That's part of the compassion thing. I've got it, the compassion thing. Sickness is bad, health is good. Been sick, didn't like it. Been healthy, felt good.
"Health care, all for it. Best thing when you are sick. Nurses, doctors, medicine, the full-treatment thing. Everybody should have it. Unless you die and you don't need it. Death, bad. Alive, good."
"But who's gonna pay for it? Can't have the socialism-medicine thing. Doctors don't like it, cuts their profits. Make less profit, spend less, pay less taxes. Bad for the economy. AMA doesn't like it.
"Try running. Running is good. So is walking fast. Keeps the weight off. Won't get sick as much. Running and walking. Better than socialized medicine.
"The education thing, Illiteracy,
bad. Knowledge, good. Dropouts, bad.
Job training, good. Go to have long-
range planning. Everybody graduating
by 1986. Everybody reading the
Wall Street Journal by 2000. Everybody
doing computer programming by
2002. Every mom and dad in the PTA by 2004. But got to have personal
responsibility. No smoking in the hallways.
No sleeping in study hall. No food fights. Drive 15 miles an hour on school days when students are present. The safety thing. Applies for teachers, that's good. Part of the health thing.
"That's it. Planning. The vision thing. Got to go now. Plane waiting. The foreign-affairs thing. Got to fly away and see a shek. Thinks I'll give him money. Hope he'll give me money. Can use it."
■ Mike Royko is a syndicated columnist with the Chicago Tribune.
KANSAN STAFF
HOLLY LAWTON
Editor
JENNIFERREYNOLDS Managing editor
TOM EBLEN General manager, newsadviser
Editors
Editors
News ... Erik Schutz
Editorial ... Karen Park
Planning ... Sarah Davis
Campus ... Eric Gorski
Sports ... Mike Andrews
Photo ... Brian Schoenli
Features ... Tiffany Harness
Graphics ... Melissa Unterberg
KATIE STADER Business manager
RICHHARSHBARGER Retail sales manager
JEANNE HINES Sales and marketing adviser
Business Staff
Campus sales mgr. Bernie Braye
Regional sales mgr. Jennifer Claston
National sales mgr. David McWhitley
Co-op sales mgr. Lisa Keeler
Production mgrs. Jay Steiner,
Wendy Stercz
Marketing director. Mimi
Creative director. David Habeger
Classified mgr. Jennifer Jacquini
Business Staff
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Loco Locals
by Tom Michaud
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