Dear Magic:

I just want to tell you that you are the greatest point guard I have seen in my mere 21 years of existence. You were truly an innovator to the game of basketball and you certainly helped the NBA in its most troubled times -- the late '70s and early '80s.

But, man, it's time for you to give it up. All great players must retire at some point, and this is the best time for you.

Unfortunately, this is also a time when you could be playing the best basketball of your career (and the Lakers could certainly use your presence on the court). On Nov. 7, when you said you would retire from the NBA, no one had any idea how much the game would miss you.

The All-Star game proved to everyone that you are still the best. In that game you showed that Magic Johnson, even after a three-month layoff, is still better than many players could ever hope to be. You also proved to yourself that this HIV thing hasn't affected you -- you can still play with anyone, anytime.

Besides being the greatest point guard, you've won three MVPs, five NBA championships and a NCAA championship.

So what's left?

The Olympics? In the emotional ceremony Sunday in L.A., you said you were looking forward to playing. Man, do you really need to prove to yourself that you can deke a bunch of Dutch? Seriously, what kind of competition will these teams give you? Absolutely none.

Yeah, you could do it for your country and all that crap, but hey, the U.S. is going to sweep through that tournament. The team doesn't really need much more help. Besides you should really give someone else a chance -- like Tim Hardaway, Isiah, Mark Price or Reggie Miller. Any one of these guys could fill in admirably for you. All four are bona fide NBA stars and three out of four are terrific point guards.

And what's this I hear about you coming back to the NBA? C'mon man, don't do that. Not because there is a large danger that others will contract the disease -- hopefully most of the informed public is aware of the minute possibilities of that. Stay away for yourself, man. Think about it. What kind of toll will an NBA game (much less a full season) take on your body? You are not a normal person now. You are sick. You have a virus that leads to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. That means that your immune system can go (make a snapping sound) just like that. Why make yourself more subject to illness by bringing yourself to the point of exhaustion every other night?

Look, you said you were going to move on with your life Nov. 7. At that press conference you had your mind made up. No one ever had any doubt in their mind about your playing abilities. Why do you have to keep proving to everybody that you can play? We already know that.

If it's strictly your ego that keeps you coming back -- bring yourself back down to earth. All you have to do is remember that this whole situation is your own fault. Think about that one for a minute.

Most of us understand that it is hard to give up something that you have loved for so long. But everyone has to do it at some point. I think it's called maturity. You have to put a little distance between yourself and the game. That doesn't mean you have to sit around and get depressed. Maybe you should become more active as a spokesman for AIDS.

You had anything you wanted for most of your life -- any woman you wanted. That part of your life is over. You are in the "take the consequences of your actions" stage now. Remember, not everyone gets a chance to play pro anything -- be happy that you were able to play and become one of the greatest who ever lived.

You say that you are a giving person -- give a prolonged life to yourself. We have seen what Magic can do on a basketball court --show us what he can do off of it.