Roy S. Johnson, an Assistant Managing Editor for Sports Illustrated, pens the weekly "Pass the Word" column for SI.com. This is his third stint at the magazine.

Johnson began his journalism career at SI as a reporter from 1978-81. From 1982-89, Johnson worked at the New York Times, before returning to SI as a senior editor in 1989. During that tenure, Johnson co-authored the magazine's exclusive, first-person account of Magic Johnson's sudden retirement from the NBA due to the HIV virus.

Johnson has also spent time at Savoy and Fortune. He has co-authored two books: Magic's Touch (Addison Wesley) with Earvin Johnson and Outrageous (Simon & Schuster) with Charles Barkley.

In addition to his professional credentials, Johnson is a longstanding member of the National Association of Black Journalists; a board member of the International Amateur Athletic Foundation; and helps oversee the Bill Spiller/Homeboy Golf Classic. He created the Roy S. Johnson Foundation, which provides financial assistance to minority youth from his hometown (Tulsa, Okla.) who are interested in pursuing an education at prestigious Holland Hall Preparatory School, Johnson's alma mater.