Heckler took magic out of talk

For those of you who did not get the chance to listen to Magic speak I am going to fill you in on a little situation that was rather appalling and took away from a night billed as incredible.

In a news conference held one hour prior to his going on stage, Magic told the media why he was here and what message he hoped to get across. He spoke of his business ventures with Starbucks, T.G.I. Friday's and his various movie theaters across the country. He told us about his big plan to open up a lot of businesses in or near the inner city so he can create numerous jobs for those who are without.

How many people do you know with HIV who will admit having the HIV virus is a blessing?

At times I think people take Penn State for granted. And by that I mean some students take opportunities at Penn State for granted.

We are lucky enough to have programs such as the Distinguished Speakers Series that bring in famous people like Magic Johnson to educate us and open our eyes to what really goes on out there in the world.

These people enjoy coming to Penn State and we enjoy having them. Ami Desmond, one of five students on the Distinguished Speakers Series Committee, had the opportunity to spend the day showing Magic around the campus and the community. She said from the minute he got into the limousine Magic was very enthusiastic about being here and wanted to know everything about Penn State.

The program ran smoothly. Magic spoke in detail, covering many topics for approximately 40 to 45 minutes. He followed up with a very productive question-and-answer session. It was the perfect time for those in attendance to voice their opinions and ask their hero a question they may never get to ask again.

I must say, the questions were well thought out, funny, enlightening and a few, obviously, came from the heart. Even if you couldn't make it down in front to a microphone close to the stage, Magic said for you to just yell from the balcony if you had a question, and some of you did.

I only wish one had kept his mouth shut.

About and hour and a half into the program Magic was on a roll. He had us laughing, some crying and others left in amazement at what a wonderful person he really is.

Most, if not all, of the questions were somehow related to basketball, HIV and AIDS, business or education -- with the exception of one.

From the balcony one young gentlemen (if I can say that) yelled down to Magic that he had a question. Magic said, "Go ahead."

The immature question followed.

"Magic, did the President ever expose himself to you?"

Suddenly the night lost its meaning. I can only wonder what was going through Magic's head when faced with such a question.

Perhaps he was thought, "Is this what type of people go to this university?" or maybe he said to himself, "Penn State is not what I thought it was."

Whatever he thought, I'm sure it couldn't have been good. However, Magic handled the situation with grace and pride .

He put the guy in his place and didn't make a fuss about the question. He simply said, "What do you mean?" He then proceeded to inform the audience of a proposed golf outing with the President that never took place because Magic does not golf.

Instead of laughing some more and being proud of the respect and dignity we, as a Penn State community, showed Magic, I was taken back that someone had the nerve to ask such a question.

Why?

Despite the controversy surrounding President Clinton, it doesn't need to be made a spectacle of during Magic Johnson's speech. Magic was surprised by the question, I was surprised, and from the reaction of those sitting next to me and the rest of the crowd, you were all surprised as well.

"Surprised" is a lenient word. I would probably get into a bit of trouble if I wrote what I really want to write.

I am not writing this to make a spectacle of one crass individual. I am writing this to inform all of you on how bad one individual made Penn State look.

What would possess someone to ask such a question, and in the process, leave a bad impression on Magic Johnson?

Once again I ask: Why?