As someone around a lot of high school basketball games in the 1980s and 1990s, it used to be perfectly fine if you busted your nose or lip and bled on your uniform. As long as it was not excessive, you could continue wearing that uniform.

The early onset of the HIV epidemic did little to nothing to change how games were conducted.

Magic Johnson's reveal of his HIV diagnosis in 1991 changed everything. Johnson, and Rock Hudson years before him, were the first two names to really draw attention.

When asked his reaction to Johnson's news, President George Bush said "I can't say I've done enough [about AIDS]. Of course I haven't."

Johnson's diagnosis struck hard for two big reasons: He is an athlete. Despite NASCAR driver Tim Richmond's death from AIDS complications in 1989, Johnson was different in that he was a beloved superstar of an athlete.

An editorial in the Honolulu Advertiser said of Johnson in November 1991:

"For, at age 32 near the peak of his career, Johnson is more than just a sports superstar. He has also become a symbol of health and joy, a smiling figure everyone knows and has admired. Now suddenly the nation realizes that one of our greatest athletes has become another kind of symbol - of the reality of the still-incurable HIV virus and AIDS itself striking all kinds of people and touching increasing numbers of families."

The athlete part was not the only reason. HIV and AIDS were still largely seen as a homosexual disease.

A letter to the Fresno Bee later in the month pointed out the hypocrisy.

"We have been dealing with the AIDS pandemic for nearly a decade. The recent news of Magic Johnson's HIV status has really raised concern. ... Since Magic Johnson has released his HIV status, the news has really given the message to our gay children, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, friends and lovers that they are second-class citizens. The message I get is because they are gay, they aren't worth saving; now that non-gays are being infected it is time to do something."

Johnson immediately retired from the NBA upon the reveal. Advancements in drug treatment allowed him to return in 1992. At the time of his announcement none of the four major American sports leagues had mandatory HIV testing.

In February 1992, the NBA updated its rules.

If a player was injured and "there is a significant chance of infection" - blood - the game was immediately stopped and the player treated. Trainers and doctors were also told to use gloves.

Whereas blood on your jersey was kind of a symbol of pride, any blood on the jersey required a jersey change, regardless if it was yours or someone else's.

Texas' high school athletic association banned open wounds and bloody uniforms just before football season in 1993. This came a year after the Florida High School Activities Association mandated that a game or practice must be stopped for blood and the surface cleaned immediately with bleach and water.

The FHSAA also said that a player who began to bleed must have stopped bleeding and wound covered before he or she be allowed to continue.

As of November 1992, the NFL still did not have any policy regarding bleeding players.

When a boxer in Nevada tested positive in November 1992, that state was believed to be the only one testing for AIDS.

As mentioned earlier, NASCAR had already dealt with an AIDS issue in the death or Tim Richmond in 1989. NASCAR was still a bit of a fringe sport in the 1980s.

Richmond was believed by his fellow drivers to have contracted HIV from unprotected sex (heterosexual and homosexual were both theorized, Dr. Jerry Punch said in 2009). Needle drugs were also tossed about as a potential cause.

NASCAR's lack of mainstream attention helped keep Richmond's death from changing much. The lack of hand-to-hand action probably meant Richmond's death was quieter as well.

Sources:

- Nov. 8, 1991 The Honolulu Advertiser

- Nov. 10, 1991 Boston Globe

- Nov. 25, 1991 The Fresno Bee

- Dec. 3, 1991 Spokane Spokesman-Review

- Sept. 30, 1992 Los Angeles Times

- Nov. 1, 1992 Hartford Courant

- Nov. 6 1992 Dayton Daily News

- Nov. 22, 1992 Fort Myers News-Press

- Aug. 15, 1993, The Galveston Daily News

- Aug. 12, 2009 ESPN, "More than Tim Richmond died in 1989"

edit: fixed a reference about Tim Richmond to include the full name of a source