At first, it sounded like a death sentence.

Magic Johnson delivered a sobering announcement nearly 20 years ago that he'd retire from the Lakers after contracting HIV. 

Now it's a testament to how Johnson has successfully fought the disease and become a spokesman for the cause.

So much so that ESPN will air an hour-long documentary on March 11 at 9 p.m. Eastern time, titled, "The Announcement."

"Was I scared? No question about it I was scared," Johnson says during the documentary. "I wasn't scared to announce it. I wasn't scared of the media. What I was scared of is … would I see them again?"

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-- Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com.