Magic Johnson has a new book coming out When the Game was Ours, and former teammate Isiah Thomas is not happy with what's in Johnson's book. Isiah Thomas told SI.com that he is "really hurt" over criticisms levied by Magic Johnson in a new book chronicling the careers of Johnson and Larry Bird. References to Thomas appear on at least 26 pages of the book, which Johnson and Bird wrote with author Jackie MacMullan.
Isiah Thomas confirmed that author and former Boston Globe reporter Jackie MacMullan attempted to reach him for comment six months ago, but he declined through his publicist to speak with her. Magic Johnson's book tells the inside story of the most important rivalry in basketball history.
Isiah Thomas, 48, is currently the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers. He is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1981 until 1994.
After his playing career, he was an executive with the Toronto Raptors, a television commentator, an executive with the Continental Basketball Association, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, and an executive and head coach for the New York Knicks. During the NBA's 50th anniversary, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
According to a report on SI.com, most of the story involves Thomas, who as captain of the Detroit Pistons served as a primary threat to the championship ambitions of Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers. The book offers revelations that have stunned Thomas. Magic addresses years of rumors by finally accusing Thomas of questioning his sexuality after Johnson was diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
Magic Johnson's biggest accusation in the book is that Thomas was responsible for spreading rumors that Johnson was gay or bisexual after Johnson tested positive for HIV, forcing his retirement at age 32. "Isiah kept questioning people about it," Magic says. "I couldn't believe that. The one guy I thought I could count on had all these doubts. It was like he kicked me in the stomach."
According to SI.com, the book's main source for this allegation is Magic's longtime agent, Lon Rosen, who says Thomas told him in 1991, "I keep hearing Magic is gay."
However, Thomas denies that he gossiped about Magic Johnson. In fact, his own brother, Gregory Thomas, died of HIV, AIDS, drug abuse.
"People who know me and my family and what I stand for will laugh at Magic and his beliefs. I'm tired of getting punched and people using me because they think I'm not going to say anything. Those days are over. Game on."
Magic Johnson's book When the Game was Ours is due out November 4.
Cheryl Phillips
Exclusive to HULIQ.com
sources: SI.com, Wikipedia
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