Dear Isiah, I hope this note finds you well. I wanted to take the time to express my deep remorse for the pain and hurt I caused you in the past. Reflecting on our past interactions, I am truly sorry for the way I treated you. I understand now the impact my actions had on your emotional well-being, and I am filled with regret. **It is important for me to acknowledge the mistakes I made and take full responsibility for them.** I should have been more aware of the consequences of my choices and how they affected you.
** I should have been more aware of the consequences of my choices and how they affected you. I want you to know that I have learned from this experience and grown as a person. **I now understand the importance of empathy and treating others with kindness and respect.
Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas bury hatchet of nearly 30-year feud
A feud that dates back nearly three decades was buried Tuesday night between NBA hall-of-famers Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Isiah Thomas.
As part of an NBA TV “Players Only Monthly” television special that brought the two NBA legends together, Johnson reached out to Thomas and formally apologized in an emotional scene that then saw both men stand and embrace with tears in their eyes.
“You are my brother,” Johnson said. “Let me apologize to you if I hurt you that we haven’t been together and God is good.”
This marks the end of a dispute that can, optically, be traced back to the 1988 NBA Finals that saw Johnson’s Los Angles Lakers defeat Thomas’ Detroit Pistons in seven games. In Game 4 of that series, Johnson delivered a hard foul to Thomas who was coming down the lane, after which the Pistons guard got up and delivered a shove back in kind.
That incident, ultimately, didn’t affect both men’s relationship with each other, but it may have planted the seed.
In the 2009 autobiography “When The Game Was Ours” that Johnson, Larry Bird and Jackie MacMullan all co-authored, Johnson discusses that Thomas questioned his sexuality after the Lakers legend retired from basketball in 1991 after being diagnosed with HIV.
This revelation in the book was then followed up with the crux of how Johnson and Thomas went from best friends to enemies: The 1992 Olympic “Dream Team” that Thomas was mysteriously and very noticeably omitted from.
“Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics,” Johnson wrote. “Nobody on that team wanted to play with him. … I’m sad for Isiah. He has alienated so many people in his life, and he still doesn’t get it.”
“I’m just disappointed and hurt,” Thomas told the Associated Press in 2009 before the book came out. “I never thought it was him who kept me off the Olympic team. That hurt. …
“I wish he would have called me. I always believed that our friendship was good and close enough that we wouldn’t have to talk about this stuff in such a public venue.”
That appears to all just be water under the bridge now as Johnson and Thomas were yucking it up like old times all through the television special before the big apology.
Still, as nice a moment as it was, neither men addressed why it took almost 30 years for the two to finally make up, nor what the heart of the issue with each other was in the first place.
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Still, as nice a moment as it was, neither men addressed why it took almost 30 years for the two to finally make up, nor what the heart of the issue with each other was in the first place.
** If you would be willing to give me a chance, I would love the opportunity to make amends and demonstrate that I have changed. I am committed to working towards rebuilding our relationship and earning back your trust. **Once again, I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused you and I truly hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.** I will always be here to listen and talk if you feel comfortable doing so. With sincere remorse, Magic.
Reviews for "Magic Johnson's apology sparks a conversation about forgiveness"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic expresses remorse to Isiah". I felt like Magic Johnson didn't truly take responsibility for his actions and the harm he caused to Isiah Thomas. It seemed more like a way for him to save face and attempt to repair his image. I was hoping for a sincere and heartfelt apology, but instead, I found his remorse to be lacking. It just left me feeling unsatisfied and disbelieving of his intentions.
- Mark - 1 star - "Magic expresses remorse to Isiah" was a complete letdown. I was expecting a genuine and heartfelt apology from Magic Johnson, but what I got was a half-hearted attempt to save his public image. It felt like he was more concerned about his reputation than actually taking responsibility for his actions. The lack of sincerity in his words and body language made the whole thing seem like a PR stunt. I was truly disappointed and left feeling like there was no real remorse to be found in this interview.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magic expresses remorse to Isiah" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While Magic Johnson did acknowledge some of the pain he caused Isiah Thomas, there was a lack of true remorse in his words. It felt more like he was trying to justify his actions rather than genuinely apologize. I was hoping to see a more vulnerable and remorseful side of Magic, but sadly, it was missing in this interview. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and skeptical of his intentions.
- David - 1 star - "Magic expresses remorse to Isiah" was a major letdown. I was expecting a heartfelt apology and a genuine expression of remorse from Magic Johnson, but all I got was a half-hearted attempt at damage control. It was clear that his main concern was his public image, rather than actually making amends for the harm he caused. I found it hard to believe his words and was left feeling disappointed by the lack of sincerity in this interview.