Not only is that ludicrous, but Johnson never even suggested he had AIDS. Anybody who has been involved in the NBA for the past 20 years clearly remembers Nov. 7, 1991, when Johnson held the press conference announcing that he was HIV-positive. Before that time, few of us really knew the difference between being HIV-positive and actually having the AIDS virus.

Actually, Johnson is the reason so much of America has become educated to the difference, and has come to understand what it is all about. But that's not until he faced the scrutiny of his family, the media, his friends and teammates and the rest of America. He was ostracized so heavily by so many NBA players that he retired immediately in the prime of his career and missed out on four years.

It cost him not only financially, but it hurt his pride and perhaps cost him numerous NBA records and NBA titles for fear of the unknown.

Instead, he spent the time learning about the disease, and educating America, while in the process spending countless hours raising money for research to make strides. He returned to play 32 games in the 1995-96 season at the age of the 36 and was a shadow of his superstar self. It was sad, but you could never tell by looking at him.

Typically, he moved on to do greater things, which is what made it all the more galling the way these two fools trivialized both Johnson and the disease. True to form, Johnson didn't jump them as much as issue a classy and important statement:

"Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS, and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable. Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies."

It sometimes makes you wonder what the pre-requisite is for having a radio show, particularly in a market the size of Minneapolis, that those guys would be so irresponsible about such a delicate subject involving a superstar of Johnson's magnitude.

Obviously, they don't care, but you would think the station might.

Not only has Johnson been such a staunch advocate and contributor for HIV/AIDS research, but Magic Johnson Enterprises has produced what Fortune says is an $800 million net worth from fostering franchises of Starbucks, Burger King, TGI Friday's, 24-Hour Fitness and others in urban areas chock full of local minority employees.