Quoting you here where the discussion should be.
I have several personal Magic anecdotes and lots of reasons to like the player but you learn everything you need to about a person's character in key moments...Earvin sold Isiah out and in a cowardly fashion, it's a bit like someone cheating on you - you might forgive but you never forget and the trust can never be the same
Life's too short for clowns like that...Character people, athletes or otherwise are things to rally around & support...For me, Magic tarnished his legacy when his playing persona reflected friendship & excellence as his virtues
Neither you or I know the whole story. For what we know, there are two versions: 1) Isiah going behind Magic's back and questioning his friend's sexuality, which is what Magic believed or 2) Isiah did nothing wrong when Magic chose to believe what his agent said.
If we go with the former version, both parties were wrong to do what they did, mostly Isiah though IMO.
Let's say the latter version took place. I won't try to rectify Magic's actions here, but it's important to keep in mind what he was led to believe. In a time where homosexuality was taboo and frowned upon, especially in African American culture, he made the mistake of taking his agent's words over his friend's and thought that Isiah spread the rumours of him contracting HIV due to him being gay. People don't make rational decisions when they're hurt. Now, he should've spoken to Isiah about it before selling him out and that's on him, but it's not hard to see where he is coming from.
Btw, no way has Magic's legacy been tarnished, lol. This is the first time I'm hearing it. He's widely regarded as one of the best PGs ever and a great person.
