Page 12
Magic's AIDS plight hits Behrend
Men's basketball coach Fred Paulsen talks about former player
b Gre Geibel
The Collegian
Last Thursday, 32 year old
basketball star Earvin "Magic"
Johnson shocked the nation when
he announced that he had tested
positive for HIV and was retiring
immediately after 12 spectacular
seasons with the Los Angeles
Lakers.
The announcement came as a
great shock for those who knew
"Magic" from watching him on
TV, wearing his T-shirts, and
pinning up his posters.
For those that knew him
personally though, it was an even
greater shock.
Fred Paulsen, head coach for
the Lions basketball team, was
once an assistant coach to the
young sophomore guard, and
helped lead the Michigan State
Spartans on to win the 1979 Big
10 Title and National
Championship.
"The first time I heard about it
was last Thursday night at
practice," said Paulsen. "I was
shocked, saddened...l had an
empty feeling in my stomach,"
he continued.
IN THE BLEACHERS
by Steve Moore
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Johnson is viewed as an idol in
all aspects of American society.
From kids in the backyard courts
and playgrounds to the pros in
the NBA, everyone loves
"Magic."
"What you see is what you
get," explained Paulsen. "Earvin
is a good natured, giving person.
He always had something
positive to say. He was the first
one to arrive at practice, and the
last one to leave."
"I say to the guys on the team...'Look, use some common sense,
here is a guy that you look up to and admire...and he's going to
die."
With Johnson's
admission, many arc viewing
him as a hero because he had the
courage to admit it.
"He will always be a hero in
my mind," said Paulsen. "Earvin
will elevate the recognition of
HIV and will be an excellent
spokesperson. I think that he
should be commended for coming
out."
Michael Jordan, age 7
The Collegian
Johnson is the largest public
figure to contract the virus since
Rock Hudson, and because of the
high regard that people have for
Johnson, his coming forward is
likely to have a positive impact
in demonstrating that anyone can
get HIV.
"I really hope that he reaches
the college campuses," said
Paulsen. "There are too many
people out there with the 'lt
won't happen to me'
attitude...even on this campus."
recent
Recent studies have shown that
for every 1000 people tested on
college campuses, seven have the
HIV.
"So that means that there arc
approximately 21 ,people on this
campus that could have the HIV,"
explained Paulsen. "And that's
scary."
Paulsen has incorporated the
AIDS subject into his health
classes, and the students seem to
give it the most attention, but he
still can't help but think that it's
not enough.
"I've brought speakers into the
class that have AIDS, and I can
tell that when the students leave
the class they have been really
affected," remarked Paulsen, "but
after a day or two, I know that
they have forgotten about it."
With "Magic" though, the
-Fred Paulsen
Men's basketball coach
message and situation hits a little
harder.
"I say to the guys on the
team...'Look, use some common
sense, here is a guy that you look
up to and admire...and he's going
to die,'' said Paulsen.
With the recent influx of AIDS
incidences, the need for sex
education or AIDS education in
high school may need to be rc-
Thursday, November 14, 1991
examined.
"We have to have education in
high school," stressed Paulsen.
"Sex isn't new, and everyone
knows all about it. I'm not
condoning it, but let's be
realistic. People have to be aware
of the dangers."
"His mistake is no different
than anybody else's mistake,"
said Paulsen. "It's just that it
happened to 'Magic,' much like it
can happen to anyone."
Johnson didn't get to retire the
way most basketball stars do. He
won't have the last season tour
from city to city.
He won't be giving a farewell
speech reflecting on a great career
and thanking everyone, only to
enjoy an easy life of retirement.
Instead, Johnson's farewell
speeches will be exactly that...to
say goodbye forever.
"The saddest thing is that we
will never get to see him play
again. I will have a hard time
watching the 6'9" 220 pound
'Magic' deteriorate," said Paulsen.
"It just won't he real."