30.11.06

The Genius Dumbbell Workout

It's in your hands now.
By David Zinczenko, Men's Health; Photo by Brand X Pictures;
Workout photography by Beth Bischoff Dumbbells may be even more useful than a Wet-Nap at a rib joint.
They're small, so you can move them around from one area to another. They're easy to store, so you can exercise at home. They're versatile, so you can work every body part with them. And they're effective: Using dumbbells, you work parts of your body separately (which means the stronger side can't compensate for the weaker, as can happen with barbells). You can substitute dumbbells for most barbell moves, or try this dumbbell-specific circuit.

ExerciseRepetitionsRestSets
Single-Leg Squat8-12 each leg30 seconds2
Dumbbell Clean10 each side30 seconds2
Clock Lunges7 each side30 seconds2
Pushup Position Row6 each arm30 seconds2
Overextension Kickback8 each arm30 seconds2
Supinating Dumbbell Curl12 each arm30 seconds2
Bent-Over Row with Back Extension830 seconds2
Dumbbell Lunge with Lateral Raise6 each leg30 seconds2
Golf Squat10-15 each side30 seconds 2

Single-Leg Squat

Holding two dumbbells, stand with your knees slightly bent and your feet shoulder-width apart. Lift your right leg so that your knee is bent 90 degrees and your lower leg is parallel to the ground behind you. Slowly lower your body until your left thigh is parallel to the ground. Pause, then push your body back to the starting position. Finish all of the repetitions, then switch legs and repeat.

Single-Arm Dumbbell Clean

Squat over a pair of dumbbells and grab them with an overhand grip. Stand and lift both weights up to chest height. Quickly drop underneath the weights and "catch" them on your shoulders, with your elbows high. Drop your elbows, keeping the dumbbells at shoulder level. Push the dumbbell in your left hand straight up. Pause, then lower the dumbbell. Repeat the exercise, this time pressing up the weight in your right hand only.

Clock Lunge

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold dumbbells at your sides. Step backward with your right leg to 6 o'clock, until your right knee is just above the floor and your left thigh is parallel to the floor, keeping your left knee over (not past) your toes. Push back up to the starting position and repeat, this time stepping your right leg out to the side to 3 o'clock, keeping your toes pointed out to the side. Return to the starting position once more, then step once more, this time placing your foot forward to 12 o'clock. Return to the start position, then switch positions and step back with your left leg, moving to 6 o'clock, 3 o'clock, and 12 o'clock.

Pushup Position Row

Get into pushup position with your arms straight and your hands resting on light dumbbells. Spread your feet apart for balance. Tighten your abs as you pull one dumbbell off the floor and draw it toward your chest until your elbow is above your back. Pause, then slowly return the weight to the floor and repeat with the other arm. TIP: If holding both dumbbells feels awkward, try doing the exercise holding only one dumbbell and place your other hand on the floor.

Overextension Kickback

Grab a dumbbell in your right hand and place your left hand and knee on a bench. Place your right foot flat on the floor and bend forward at the hips so your torso is parallel to the floor. Bend your right arm at a 90-degree angle so that your upper arm is parallel with the floor (palm facing your leg). Without moving your upper arm, straighten your arm behind you. As the weight clears your butt, slowly rotate your palm up toward the ceiling so that the back of your hand faces your body when your arm is straightened. Pause, then slowly return to the starting position. TIP: If twisting the weight at the top of the movement feels awkward on your wrists, just do the move without the twist.

Supinating Dumbbell Curl

Hold dumbbells at your sides, palms toward you. Curl the weights up, rotating your wrists inward 90 degrees by the time the weights reach your shoulders. Reverse this motion as you lower the weights.

Dumbbell Lunge with Front Raise

Stand holding a pair of dumbbells at your sides. Lunge forward with one foot as you raise your arms out to the front. Once your front knee is at a 90-degree angle (over your toes) and your arms are parallel to the floor, lower the weights, then push yourself back to the starting position. Repeat the move, this time lunging forward with the opposite leg.

Bent-Over Row with Back Extension

Stand with your knees flexed and hold a pair of dumbbells at arm's length by your thighs, with your palms facing behind you. Bend forward at the hips until your torso is almost parallel to the floor and the weights are hanging directly beneath your shoulders. Now pull the dumbbells up toward your chest until your elbows extend pass your torso. Keep your arms stationary as you return to a standing position. Lower your arms and repeat.

Golf Squat

Hold one dumbbell with both hands at arm's length in front of your body. Keep your torso upright and lower your hips until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor. Pause 1 second, then rise to a standing position as you rotate your upper body to the left and lift the weight toward the ceiling, keeping your arms straight as if swinging a golf club. Lower the weight as you return the starting position. Repeat, this time rotating to your right.

Top 10 worst sports uniforms

Dave Golokhov / Askmen.com
Like it or not, we live in a superficial world. How you look and how you dress is taken as a representation of your self.

Photo gallery ...
Ugly sports uniforms



And with so many eyes gazing and glaring, one should always want to look his or her best. That's not always the case, however — particularly in the sports industry.

Before the puck is dropped, the coin is tossed or the first pitch is thrown, each team suits up in a uniform that will inevitably exude a certain impression.

So, considering that sports franchises spend millions of dollars on their players, stadiums and marketing, shouldn't they shell out a couple of bucks to ensure that their athletes look as sharp and confident as possible?

Here's a list of the top 10 teams who cut corners on uniform creativity, and left their players imprisoned in the most unappealing jerseys in sports.

10. Newcastle United FC (home)
Jersey lifespan: 1894-present

The creator of the Newcastle United jersey didn't have a very colorful imagination; his gray thinking turned out a uniform that alternates between thick black and white stripes.

It's unclear whether he was inspired by the outfits of early 1900s jailbirds, hockey and football referees, or simply zebras. Whatever the case, none of these are really prime images to be affiliated with.

9. Golden State Warriors (home/away)
Jersey lifespan: 1962-1971

Nate Thurmond sports the old Golden State Warriors threads of the 60s. (Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE / Getty Images)

A team's uniform is supposed to ooze with confidence and instill a bit of fear in the opponent, but the Golden State Warriors' cheesy mid-'60s concoction did quite the opposite. The predominant color was a cheddar-yellow and the trim was blue. With a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge on the front and a trademark San Francisco trolley on the back, this stitched postcard was more welcoming than it was threatening.

8. Miami Dolphins (alternate)
Jersey lifespan: 2003-present

The color orange has high visibility and is eye-catching, but the all-orange Miami Dolphins' third jersey is more repelling than appealing. The few that do find the orange coloring young, hip and attractive, are usually turned off by the decision to use a clashing mint green as the complementary color. The only thing saving the Dolphins from looking like one giant Orange Crush ad is the fact that their helmet is predominantly white.

7. Denver Nuggets (road)
Jersey lifespan: 1976-1998

The world of sports has not been the most welcome place for the gay fitness community, but the Denver Nuggets tried to break the ice. With a red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple stripe across the midsection, the Nuggets jersey bore a striking resemblance to the rainbow flag over a 20-year period. Although their look has since evolved, throwback Nuggets jerseys can still frequently be seen at gay and lesbian pride events.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (alternate)
Jersey lifespan: 1996-1999

This jersey looks like the product of a collaborated effort by a third-grade class. The theme of lightning is translated into a lame graphic of a storm, with a wave on the lower part that tucks in. Around the team logo is what might be the worst depiction of rain in the history of mankind, which can easily be mistaken for pieces of masking and electrical tape. But the tacky maraschino cherry on top has to be the yellow lightning bolts on the arm sleeves. As they say, when it rains, it pours.

5. Chicago White Sox (home)
Jersey lifespan: 1976

Fashion statements are fairly limited in the sport of baseball. You can customize the color of your glove, you can wear a Livestrong wristband or you can move the bill of your cap off-center. Well, the '76 White Sox decided to push the envelope, fitting their team with shorts instead of pants. The navy blue cutoffs were combined with knee-high socks, quickly turning the White Sox into the league's laughing stock. Even though they donned the shorts just once, this uni will be etched in the minds of baseball fans forever.

4. Nashville Predators (alternate)
Jersey lifespan: 2001-present

There are few colors recognized by the human eye that are more revolting than the shade of pus. That didn't deter the Predators from sampling that tone for their third jersey. On the front is a sabertooth tiger poking his head through a triangle. And you thought Quentin Tarantino's thinking was bizarre.

Sean Burroughs sports the Padres' camouflage uniform. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

3. San Diego Padres (alternate)
Jersey lifespan: 2003-2004

Sometimes in sports, teams perform so poorly that they want to hide. The San Diego Padres tried to do the next best thing by wearing a camouflage jersey; what they didn't realize was that baseball games are played in a stadium, not a jungle. Instead of blending into the background, they stood out like sore thumbs in their army fatigue outfits. Some might call it innovative. I call it ugly.

2. Vancouver Canucks (home/away)
Jersey lifespan: 1978-1985

Sports jerseys are always a quick fix if you're in need of an easy Halloween costume, but the 1978-85 Canucks looked like they were trick or treating 365 days a year. Their jersey's three predominant colors of black, yellow and orange/red borrowed the color scheme from the October 31st holiday, and they couldn't shake that pumpkin theme for almost a decade.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (alternate)
Jersey lifespan: 1976-96

The key to this horrendous outfit was not the burnt orange jersey or the white pants. It was the helmet. On it is a buccaneer who is either winking, has something in his eye or has lost his eyepatch. Furthermore, he's holding a dagger in his teeth, and he's topped with a pirate's hat that's about to blow off. Seems like our one-eyed friend is about to walk the plank.

The ugliest uniforms ever

People do look and do pay attention to how you fashion yourself. So when you step into the public eye, try to look your best — especially if you're entertaining thousands of sports fans.

25.11.06

Tiger's wife sues magazine over fake nude pics

Tiger's wife sues magazine over fake nude pics

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) - Tiger Woods' wife has filed a libel lawsuit against an Irish magazine over a satirical article that included fake nude photos of her and claimed she appeared on porn Internet sites.

A Dublin law firm acting for Elin Nordegren filed the lawsuit in the Irish High Court on Nov. 16, the court's principal registrar, Ciaran Kelly, confirmed Friday.

The article was published in The Dubliner magazine in September when Ireland hosted the Ryder Cup. A headline described the U.S. golfers' wives as "Ryder Cup filth" and the story claimed that Woods' wife "can be found in a variety of sweaty poses on porn sites across the Web." It also insulted the wives of golfers Chad Campbell, David Toms and Jim Furyk.

Woods denounced the article on the opening day of Ryder Cup practice. He said he wouldn't tolerate the insults toward his Swedish wife, whom he married in Barbados in 2004.

"My wife, yes, she has been a model prior, and she did do some bikini photos," Woods said at the time. "But to link her to porn Web sites and such is unacceptable, and I do not accept that at all. Neither does our team.

"My wife, we're in it together," Woods added. "We're a team, and we do things as a team. And I care about her with all my heart."

The magazine's publisher, Trevor White, offered a qualified apology in September.

White said the article "was written as a satirical piece and in the context of the entire page the publishers believed that readers would not be left thinking that there was any truth in the assertions, it being an absurd parody of the inaccurate tabloid publishing generally. If any contrary impression was given, it certainly does not intend for this, and the publisher unreservedly apologizes."

Eason's, the major bookseller and magazine distributor in Ireland, withdrew September copies of The Dubliner from its shelves after receiving a flood of complaints from customers.

24.11.06

Wenger admits to improper conduct

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted a Football Association charge of improper conduct after an incident with West Ham manager Alan Pardew.

The West Ham boss has denied a similar charge after a confrontation between the pair during the Hammers' 1-0 win at Upton Park on 5 November.

Wenger refused to shake Pardew's hand at the end of the game and left without speaking to the press.

Both managers have requested personal hearings at an as-yet unconfirmed date.

Wenger said he "felt provoked in a disrespectful way in my area" by Pardew's enthusiastic celebration of Marlon Harewood's late winning goal, for which he later apologised.

"It was a small incident when two managers had a disagreement on a heated incident," said Wenger a week after the game.

"I will not demand a hearing because for me the incident is over.

"I said I regret having reacted so all the rest now can only be boring and a waste of time. "

20.11.06

Top 10 sports flubs

Dave Golokhov / Askmen.com

As the theme from Cheers states, we all want to go where everybody knows our name. Sometimes, though, people might recognize your name for the wrong reasons.

Professional athletes are often remembered as icons, heroes and superstars. But off-field transgressions, such as run-ins with the law or other scandals, can sully a career a la O.J. Simpson or Pete Rose.

Off-field episodes can ruin a rosy recollection just as quickly as an on-field mishap. An infamous blunder or an ill-timed mistake can overshadow a successful career and quickly morph that positive memory into a negative one.

Here's a list of 10 athletes who flubbed on the field and would like to get to a place where everybody doesn't know their name.

10. Leon Lett
Defensive tackle, Dallas Cowboys

Leon Lett was a two-time NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle and he was an inside force upfront on the Cowboys defense during the '90s. Lett finished his career with 22 sacks and seven fumble recoveries, but statistics often fail to measure the effectiveness of a defensive tackle.

Reason to forget: On top of a few drug-related incidents off the field, Lett also smeared his good name with a couple of on-field bloopers.

During Super Bowl XXVII — the Cowboys were commanding the Bills — Lett recovered a fumble and proceeded to run it back for a touchdown. He thought he was alone and started showboating and waving the ball around; a hustling Don Beebe, a receiver for the Bills, caught up to him and knocked the ball out. The touchdown would have set a Super Bowl record for points scored, but instead it went harmlessly out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.

The second blunder occurred the following season, when the Miami Dolphins were lining up to kick a game-winning field goal. The Cowboys were ahead 14-13 and blocked the attempt. With seconds remaining, some players started celebrating, but Lett unnecessarily went to recover the football. The Cowboys would have had possession had he left it, but he went for it and lost his grip. The Dolphin's recovered with just enough time for them to set up another field goal attempt, which they made good.

9. Joe Niekro
Pitcher, Minnesota Twins

Joe Niekro, brother of hall of famer Phil Niekro, was a successful knuckleball pitcher in the Major Leagues. Joe finished his baseball career with 221 wins, one of the best totals ever for a knuckleballer, and he is the winningest pitcher in the Astros' history. Joe and Phil are also the most successful combination of pitching brothers in baseball history.

Reason to forget: In 1987, Joe Niekro was pitching for Minnesota when he was approached by the umpire after throwing an uncommon slider that curved like a rollercoaster on the way to home plate.

The umpire found a nail file, which Niekro was quite obviously using to scuff the baseball along with a small piece of sandpaper. Niekro claimed that he was filing his nails between innings and forgot to take it out of his back pocket. Nobody believed his story and he was suspended for 10 games.

While serving the suspension, Joe poked fun at himself by appearing on Late Show with David Letterman with a power sander, an apron and pockets crammed full of sand paper and emery boards.

8. Mitch Williams
Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Mitch Williams walks off the field after serving up Joe Carter's World Series-winning home run. (MLB Photos / Getty Images)

Mitch Williams was an MLB closer who pitched for six teams in 11 years. Williams finished his career with 192 saves, an All-Star appearance and was in the NL Cy Young race in 1989 and 1991. He was particularly effective in the three years he spent in Philadelphia, where he averaged 34 saves per season.

Reason to forget: Williams was nicknamed Wild Thing because his control of the baseball could be errant.

In Game 6 of the 1993 World Series the Phillies were trailing 3-2 in the series and Williams received the call in the ninth inning to preserve a 6-5 lead. He didn't have his best stuff on that night and allowed two of the first three hitters to get on base before Joe Carter came to the plate. With the count 2-2, Carter connected on a World Series walk-off home run, which essentially ended Wild Thing's career.

7. Steve Smith
Defense, Calgary Flames

Steve Smith was a solid defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers and a key contributor to three Stanley Cup seasons. He was sound in his own zone and is often overlooked as having an offensive aspect to his game, averaging more than 38 points per season in his first eight years in the league. He was also an All Star in 1991 and played nationally for team Canada that same year in the Canada Cup.

Reason to forget: Every hockey player dreams of playing in Game 7, but Smith's tale is more of a nightmare.

It was period three of Game 7 of the divisional final versus the Calgary Flames, a bitter rival. The score was tied 2-2, the clock was waning and all the marbles were still on the table.

Smith, behind his Edmonton net, went to pass the puck up the middle, but it bounced off his goaltender and into the net. He immediately dropped to the ice in disgust and the goal cost the Oilers the series.

6. Roberto Baggio
Forward, Italy

Roberto Baggio is among the many Italian soccer greats to step onto the field. In 1993, he was the European Footballer of the Year and was the first and only Italian FIFA Player of the Year. He was a key component on three Italian World Cup teams and scored 27 goals for his country.

Reason to forget: In 1994, after a listless beginning to their World Cup, the Italians made a run to the finals. Baggio was quiet in the group stage, but finally saved the day against Nigeria in the Round of 16 match, scoring a late tying goal and the winning goal in extra time.

In the final, Italy met Brazil but both teams didn't score a goal in regulation or extra time and, for the first time, the World Cup was to be decided on penalty kicks. After four rounds, the Brazilians led 3-2 and Baggio needed to score to keep the Azzuri's hopes alive.

He stepped up to the ball, booted it over the crossbar, completely missing the net and offered himself as a scapegoat.

5. Jim Marshall
Defensive lineman, Minnesota Vikings

Jim Marshall was a two-time Pro Bowler and a key constituent of the Vikings' ferocious defensive line, better known as the Purple People Eaters. He started an NFL-record 270 consecutive times for the Vikings at defensive end and set another NFL record with 29 fumble recoveries.

Reason to forget: In 1964, in a game versus the 49ers, Marshall recovered a fumbled ball and immediately bolted 66 yards into the end zone and threw the ball away in celebration. The only problem was that he actually ran the wrong way, returned the ball into his own end zone and the play resulted in a safety. He didn't notice his gaffe until a player from the 49ers hugged him in the end zone.

From that point on he was known as Wrong-Way Marshall.

4. Eric Cantona
Forward, Manchester United

Eric Cantona lunges at a Crystal Palace fan. (AFP / Getty Images)

Eric Cantona was one of the main reasons for Manchester United's return to powerhouse status in the '90s. With him in tow, United won four League championships in his five seasons and in 2001, he was voted as the team's player of the century. He scored 64 goals for United in 144 appearances and earned the nickname The King.

Reason to forget: In 1995, in a match against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off for harsh challenge on Richard Shaw.

On his way off, Cantona went after a mouthy fan in the stands and gave him a WWE double-leg drop-kick to the chest.

Cantona was suspended for nine months, forced to serve 120 hours of community service for an assault conviction and paid a fine of 20,000 GBP.

3. Scott Norwood
Placekicker, Buffalo Bills

Scott Norwood spent seven seasons as the placekicker for the Bills and he was a steady presence: He made 72.3 percent of his field-goal attempts. During that span he overtook O.J. Simpson as the franchise's all-time leading scorer. Norwood finished his career with 670 points and became a critical component of an offense that was able to move the ball up and down the field.

Reason to forget: Norwood's whole career is typically summed up in two words: Wide Right.

In Super Bowl XXV, the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses by the Bills, Norwood had a chance to win the game with a 47-yard field goal attempt.

In the pregame warm up, Norwood aimed for the right upright and the wind hooked the ball between the uprights. During his attempt with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he again aimed right; this time the ball remained straight and he missed.

The Bills lost 20-19.

2. Marty McSorley
Defense, Boston Bruins

Marty McSorley, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, was one of the toughest defensemen in NHL history. He was a nasty enforcer and served as a protector for skill players such as Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. When Gretzky was traded from Edmonton to Los Angeles, he refused to accept the trade unless McSorley was packaged with him. McSorley ranks as the fourth most penalized player in the NHL with 3,381 minutes.

Reason to forget: In 2000, as a member of the Boston Bruins, in what would become his final NHL game, McSorley chased down Vancouver's tough-guy, Donald Brashear, in the waning moments and hit him in the head with his stick. Brashear fell to the ice and suffered a Grade 3 concussion.

The incident was one of the ugliest in NHL history and earned a one-year suspension as well as 18 months of probation from a court in what was the first trial ever for an on-ice attack by an NHL player.

1. Bill Buckner
First base, Boston Red Sox

Bill Buckner played 22 seasons of Major League Baseball and was named to one All-Star team. Billy Buck was known as one of the better contact hitters and led the league four times in the at-bats per strikeout ratio; he finished first in doubles twice and he won the National League batting title in 1980. He was also solid on defense and finished his career as a first baseman with a fielding percentage of .992.

Reason to forget: In 1986, the Red Sox finally looked like they had a chance to end the Babe's curse as they held a 3-2 series lead over the New York Mets. The Red Sox took a two-run lead in the top of the 10th in Game 6 only to see the Mets fight back in the bottom half of the inning.

After the pesky New York batter Mookie Wilson fouled off several Bob Stanley pitches, he grounded a ball toward Buckner, which rolled under his glove and into right field. The painful error cost the Red Sox the game, momentum and eventually the World Series.

Dark Spotlight

Most people like all of the glory that comes from being in the spotlight, but there is a downside to it. Being the focus of attention means that you have to deal with more criticism than the average person, and often a good name can get dragged through the dirt. A name entails a reputation and it is important to take care of it if you want to be remembered for the right reasons.

7.11.06

The day Magic Johnson changed the world

Elliott Kalb / Special to FOXSports.com

Every generation, it seems, has a moment in time in which something happens that affects everyone.

For folks a little older than me, there was a November day in 1963, when news of President Kennedy's assassination shocked the world.

For my generation, it was a November afternoon in 1991, 15 years ago when a different shocking announcement literally changed the world.

The announcement, of course, was that Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, was retiring because he had tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. This wasn't just any basketball player, or any retirement. And this wasn't just any disease.

At the time, the announcement sounded very much like a death sentence for Magic. At the time, it was. One headline the following day to a sidebar story on Magic was chillingly succinct: "Magic's life expectancy uncertain." That article began this way: "Now that Magic Johnson has been diagnosed as having the virus that causes AIDS, he could live for as little as months or for as long as a decade, physicians said ..."

On a subliminal level, it was the end of a lifestyle that many men (not just professional athletes) engaged in. No longer would it be possible to have multiple sex partners without thinking of — or paying — the consequences. The same week that Johnson announced that he had tested positive from having unprotected sex with women, Wilt Chamberlain (one of the very best players in NBA history) was promoting his book, in which he claimed to have had sex with 20,000 different women. AIDS had been in the public consciousness since 1981, but at the time it was largely viewed as a disease that only homosexual men contracted.

"Every person remembers where they were when they found out," New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said recently. "He told me and Mark (Aguirre) and we talked and cried."

Even other NBA players who were in the league at the time who weren't close friends with Johnson were still stunned by the news.

"I was with Portland at the time, real early in my career," Robinson recalled. "I heard about it before the press conference, and just prayed that it was just a rumor. I didn't believe it. The only thing comparable to me was hearing the news that Len Bias had died suddenly. You just didn't want to accept the news. I felt for him."

I watched Earvin's press conference from Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks had a game that night. To say the entire Garden was deflated was to put it mildly. I remember being surprised a few months earlier, in June at the 1991 NBA Finals, when I had read an article that talked about a healthy but aging Magic Johnson possibly playing only one or two more years. It didn't seem possible, as Magic had finished 1991 as second in the MVP voting to Michael Jordan.

Magic in both times sad (at his announcement that he was HIV-positive in 1991) and happy (at a recent ceremony in which Lakers owner Jerry Buss received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame). (Getty Images/AP Photo)

I had been part of the television network coverage for the 1991 McDonald's Open — an international basketball competition featuring an invited NBA team (this time, the Lakers) against champion clubs from other countries. I learned that Magic Johnson was a very popular figure in Europe — far bigger than I had imagined. He was one of the most famous — and popular and beloved — figures in the world. All I could think of when watching the Nov. 7 press conference on television was the movie Pride of the Yankees, when a dying Lou Gehrig told the Yankee Stadium crowd, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth." I heard the words coming from Magic, about how it could happen to anyone. I heard Magic say that he's going to go on, and beat it. I heard how he vowed to become a spokesman for the disease.

I admired how he stood up and announced his fate to the world. I admired his courage, but thought it was an act. He couldn't have been so upbeat. How could any 32-year-old newly married man with so much to live for be so upbeat announcing this news?

But he was ... and has been since that day 15 years ago.

Soon after his retirement, I had a chance to work with him when he became a television analyst. He put everyone at ease. He talked to everyone on a personal level. How could I hope to have a conversation with one of the most powerful and recognizable figures in the world, for instance?

Magic made it impossible to be anything but your best friend. He remembered your favorite NFL team. He shared stories about his wife telling him he was gambling too much at the casinos. Even Magic had fears and worries about parenting toddlers, and worrying about their safety. If Magic noticed that all of a sudden, someone was taping and labeling his water bottles, he never let on.

And he did more than just talk basketball, or fight the disease for himself. He did more than any politician could have done to raise money and increase awareness for the HIV/AIDS pandemic. There's only been one athlete (Muhammad Ali) that comes close to doing as much for the worldwide community as Johnson has accomplished. The difference is that Magic has gotten bigger (literally and figuratively) after announcing his HIV. Ali — still a revered and beloved worldwide figure — shows the effects of Parkinson's disease. Magic still has his voice, and his body, and his smile.

Earvin has revitalized neglected communities by bringing Magic Johnson Theatres and retail centers into inner cities. He opened a series of 24-hour Fitness Magic Johnson clubs in minority areas. He had done everything from launching a platinum recording artist to hosting a talk show. His Magic Johnson Foundation raises money to fund community-based organizations serving the educational, health, and social needs of children residing in inner cities communities and HIV/AIDS organizations specializing in education, prevention, and care.

"It will be hard to find a person who has gotten more out of every single day of his life," said longtime friend Thomas.

According to the Center for Disease Control, at the end of 2003, over a million persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, with 24-27% undiagnosed and unaware of their HIV infection. CDC has estimated that approximately 40,000 persons become infected with HIV each year in the United States. No longer is it the shocking apparent "death sentence" that it was not a generation ago. There are powerful combinations of drugs that have allowed patients — with far less resources than Johnson — to lead normal lives, while managing their HIV.

I am not a person that lives their life believing in preordained fate. Yet it is hard to believe anything else other than Magic Johnson being destined to test positive for this disease for a reason.

Magic has spent the last third of his life in the public eye fighting his HIV, after spending the previous 15 years thrilling the world on the basketball court, both at the college level and in the NBA. This is one anniversary — and one life — that should be celebrated every year.