Magic Johnson's 'The Announcement' Will Live up to Anticipation

ESPN has received a lot of critical praise for its documentaries, namely the 30 For 30 series it does. But perhaps no documentary that the network has done has quite the same buzz or anticipation surrounding it as the The Announcement, airing tonight on ESPN at 9 p.m. EDT.

For good reason—the life of Magic Johnson and career of Magic Johnson, both before and after he announced he had contracted the HIV virus in 1991, is an emotional, fascinating and inspirational story.

The journey Johnson took from being one of the greatest basketball players of all-time to the face of HIV awareness in the United States is nothing short of compelling.

And if the preview is any indication, Nelson George's documentary on Johnson will capture each and every captivating moment, both from Johnson's perspective—the fact that Magic narrates the film is a hugely vital part of the experience—and also a number of perspectives that have orbited Johnson's life throughout the years.

For sports fans who remembers Magic's famous press conference, the documentary guarantees to be an excellent behind-the-scenes perspective on that time.

For younger sports fans, it is a must-see recounting of one of the most shocking and (at the time) sad moments in American sports history. Many of Magic's friends and family thought the HIV virus was his death sentence, and the documentary will bring to light the emotions of those who lived through that fear during those years.

One way or another, you don't want to miss it.

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