NBA Hires Expert to Educate Players, Teams About AIDS

In the wake of Magic Johnson’s revelation that he has the virus that causes AIDS, the NBA is moving aggressively to educate teams and players about the disease.

The NBA informed its 27 teams Monday that Dr. David E. Rogers, a Cornell University professor, has been hired as a consultant on AIDS. Rogers is the vice chairman of the National Commission on AIDS. Johnson recently was named to the panel.

“We want to make sure we’re fully briefed on all the issues,” NBA senior vice president Gary Bettman said. “And we want to make sure the players and team personnel are appropriately educated and counseled on the subject.”

NBA teams also have been told to notify players that the regular 24-hour hotline, which covers the NBA’s antidrug program, also can dispense AIDS information. If a player requests a test, it will be private and confidential. The NBA players’ association is setting up a voluntary testing program, which it expects to finalize in the next two weeks.

Both league and players’ officials say there are no plans for mandatory AIDS testing.

Rogers will represent the NBA in discussions with other sports organizations in an attempt to coordinate fund raising and to continue educating those in sports about AIDS.