There's an Apple TV documentary series about Magic Johnson out right now. It is really well done, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, it brings back memories of what Magic did in the wake of his HIV diagnosis and how, also in my humble opinion, he was a hero when it came to de-stigmatizing the disease and focusing resources and attention on helping people live normal lives with the disease.
Magic clearly wasn't a saint, but he not only admitted it, but he made it a mission to have some good come out of the negative consequences of his lifestyle choices.
Imagine if Pete Rose used his platform in the wake of his being banned by baseball to educate people about problem gambling. Instead, he focused on excusing or underplaying the seriousness of his actions. Selling autographs mocking his gambling.
If Pete Rose were like Magic, perhaps we wouldn't have gambling so intertwined with professional sports today.
And maybe, like Magic, he would have been embraced by society at large, as opposed to being a polarizing figure up to and beyond his death.
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