Earvin Johnson the Magic of Basketball

I can't believe I'm here. Just three months ago I learned I had the HIV virus. As soon as I heard the news I stopped playing basketball. When I announced my retirement on November 7. I never even imagined that I would be able to play today.

The game is almost over now, I've just hit a pair of three pointers and I'm feeling great. Now Isiah Thomas is bring the ball up the court to the East. One of his teammates is in the way I wave him aside. I want it to be just Isiah and me one more time. There's nobody else around, before you get the reputation of being really good, you got to go through everybody one on one and show them your best stuff.

Here comes Michael Jordan bringing up the ball, he's grinning, I want him to. Again I clear everybody out of the way, the crowd is screaming. They love this, I love it too. I'm waiting for Michael to drive to the basket, to fly up with one of his incredible super 4)dunks, but I'm playing him tight and he surprises me, pulls up short for the jumper, clang off the rim, more noise from the crowd. People ask if these little battles are rehearsed, sorry I'm not that smart, who could have thought this up.

With 30 seconds left in the game I get the ball one last time, I'm about to drive for a lay-up but Isiah's all over me. I toy with him a little, same as he did with me. Now I step back behind the three-point line and throw up a long rainbow. I'm falling back so I have to shoot it a little higher and a little harder than usual, feels good to me and yes swish, another one. The fans are roaring, everybody is stunned, three three-point shots in a row , who says I can't still play this game?

Fourteen seconds left but nobody picks up the ball, suddenly I'm surrounded mobbed by all the All Stars on both teams, they're showing me their affection, their support and I'm holding back the tears. I don't think I ever felt more exhilarated than I am right now or more loved. Those three-pointers were great, but this incredible ending is the best moment of all.