Earvin Magic Johnson, 2009

Twenty years ago, Magic Johnson stunned the world when, in the same arena where he had won five NBA championships with the LA Lakers, he announced that he was HIV-positive and would be retiring from basketball. The Announcement, a ESPN film by director Nelson George that will premiere on March 11, looks back at the difficult decision process that led to that day, as well as its impact on Johnson's career and general attitudes about the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The documentary, narrated by Magic Johnson, tells the story of how he decided to tell the world he was HIV-positive, effectively becoming the new face of the epidemic.  

Director Nelson George hopes to make people aware that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is not over. People are still contracting the virus, people are still dying, but the issue no longer attracts the attention that it did twenty years ago. That is one of the reasons that Dr. David Ho, who has been involved in Johnson's care from the beginning, is proud to participate in this film. "Magic Johnson's courage twenty years ago did a lot to build awareness of the epidemic. It is important that people understand that it is not over. We continue working to find a vaccine, better treatment, and even a cure."

The Announcement premieres Sunday, March 11, 9-10:30pm EST on ESPN.