Magic Johnson announces that he is HIV-positive and retires from the NBA.

Magic Johnson, whose real name is Earvin Johnson Jr., is a former professional basketball player and one of the most iconic figures in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, USA. Johnson is known for his exceptional skills as a point guard, his versatility, and his charismatic personality both on and off the basketball court.

College Career: Magic Johnson played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans under coach Jud Heathcote. He led the Spartans to an NCAA championship in 1979, where he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. His performance at Michigan State helped him become a top prospect for the NBA.

NBA Career: Johnson was selected as the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He made an immediate impact in the NBA, winning the NBA Finals in his rookie season with the Lakers. Johnson was known for his exceptional passing ability, court vision, and versatility, often playing multiple positions on the court.

Showtime Era: Magic Johnson was a central figure in the “Showtime” era of the Lakers during the 1980s. Alongside players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and Michael Cooper, he helped the Lakers win multiple NBA championships. His style of play and flashy assists made the Lakers one of the most entertaining and successful teams in the league.

Championships: Over the course of his illustrious career, Magic Johnson won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.

Rivalry with Larry Bird: Magic Johnson’s rivalry with fellow NBA legend Larry Bird, who played for the Boston Celtics, is legendary. The two players faced off in three NBA Finals during the 1980s, and their rivalry is often credited with helping to popularize the NBA.

Versatility and Records: Magic Johnson was known for his versatility, as he could play as a point guard, shooting guard, or even as a forward when needed. He recorded numerous triple-doubles (double-digit statistics in points, rebounds, and assists) throughout his career.

Retirement and Comeback: In 1991, Magic Johnson shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement from basketball due to testing positive for HIV, which was initially believed to be a life-threatening condition. However, he returned to the NBA briefly during the 1995-1996 season.

Business Ventures: After his playing career, Magic Johnson became a successful businessman. He has been involved in various ventures, including owning a share of the Los Angeles Lakers, opening movie theaters, and investing in urban redevelopment projects.

Philanthropy: Johnson has also been actively involved in philanthropy, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as various other charitable initiatives.

The 1918 influenza epidemic spreads to Western Samoa, killing 7,542 (about 20% of the population) by the end of the year.

In New York City, the Museum of Modern Art opens to the public.

Jokela school shooting in Tuusula, Finland, resulting in the death of nine people.

In New York City, the Museum of Modern Art opens to the public.
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The first Melbourne Cup horse race is held in Melbourne, Australia.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most well known annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November and is known locally as “the race that stops a nation”.

The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition, with the first race held in 1861. It was originally over two miles but was shortened to 3,200 metres in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system. This reduced the distance by 18.688 metres, and Rain Lover’s 1968 race record of 3:19.1 was accordingly adjusted to 3:17.9. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3:16.3.

The race is a quality handicap for horses 3 years old and over, run over a distance of 3,200 metres, on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse. The minimum handicap weight is 50 kg. There is no maximum weight, but the top allocated weight must not be less than 57 kg. The weight allocated to each horse is declared by the VRC Handicapper in early September.

The Melbourne Cup race is a handicap contest in which the weight of the jockey and riding gear is adjusted with ballast to a nominated figure. Older horses carry more weight than younger ones, and weights are adjusted further according to the horse’s previous results.

Weights were theoretically calculated to give each horse an equal winning chance in the past, but in recent years the rules were adjusted to a “quality handicap” formula where superior horses are given less severe weight penalties than under pure handicap rules.

The Museum of Modern Art opens to in New York City.

Magic Johnson announces that he has been infected with HIV and then retires from the National Basketball Association.

The Gaither Report calls for more American missiles and fallout shelters during the Cold war.