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Sports Illustrated Launches “Tech & Media” Vertical Dedicated to Intersection of Sports, Media and Technology

June 16, 2016 By admin

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Enterprise Includes Major Partnership with SportTechie

(New York, NY, June 15, 2016)—Time Inc.’s (NYSE:TIME) Sports Illustrated Group today debuted “Tech & Media” (SI.com/tech), a new multi-platform vertical that will explore the rapidly evolving and all-important presence of technology in the sports world. In addition to SI’s award-winning reporting and analysis, the new venture will feature daily contributions from SportTechie, a leading site covering the global sports and tech scene. Also anchoring the vertical will be Richard Deitsch’s “Media Circus” columns and breaking sports media news. Deitsch, who is a writer/reporter for SI and an adjunct professor at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, is the preeminent journalist on the sports media beat and is renowned for breaking news and his access to every major sports media decision-maker, producer, and A-list talent.

“From video replay to VR, from social media to wearables and the total transformation of the full spectator and athlete experience, the crossroads of sports, media and technology is alive with innovation and is an integral part of the sports landscape today,” said Chris Stone, Sports Illustrated Editorial Director. “These are deep-dive stories that no one is telling and we are going to cover them across all of our platforms and in the best tradition of Sports Illustrated. This will only be bolstered by our alliance with SportTechie, the incredibly smart upstart site that will stay one step ahead of the competition and build on the mission to help sports fans understand where technology is taking the future of sports.”

Multimedia coverage of game-changing innovations, products and strategies and the latest from Deitsch on emerging trends in sports media will run across SI’s digital and social ecosystems. Content will be rich in long and short form video with social media heavily integrated into the storytelling. The vertical will also feature native digital content presented in imaginative and compelling packages.

With this new dedicated editorial platform, sports fans and industry insiders will find the latest on tech innovations, ideas and gear transforming fan experiences, player performance and the sports industry as a whole. SI and SportTechie will deliver a mix of multi-platform content daily, including new offerings like a social-first series spotlighting innovators from the sports and tech industries. Long-form features will explore topics not previously introduced to the sports public yet essential to understanding where sports is going: stories such as the development of FreeD, which could dramatically change instant replay for viewers and pro sports leagues by providing precise 360-degree views of the action; the proliferation of sports betting mutual funds; the 3D printers that are building cartilage that is saving the careers of teen athletes; and how the newest, youngest influencers in sports are leveraging digital media to build the industry’s biggest, best audiences. This new partnership will also reach more broadly across the SI Group with collaborations slated for The MMQB and other channels beginning this fall.

SportTechie launched several years ago and has rapidly become one of the industry’s leading destinations for coverage of the technology of sports. Established as required reading for many top executives in sports business and tech, the growing operation will complement the established SI Group in new and innovative ways.

“We are thrilled to enter into this robust partnership with such an esteemed outlet. In conjunction with Sports Illustrated, my co-founder, Simon Ogus, and I look forward to amplifying the great work of our writers and the stories of the burgeoning sports technology space across our combined global audiences and platforms,” said Taylor Bloom, SportTechie’s CEO and co-founder. “Technology will never stop evolving sports, and we look forward to remaining at the forefront of that evolution.”

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Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

New Sports Illustrated Special Cover Featuring U.S. Women’s National Team

July 7, 2015 By admin

SI editors write about the special new cover: “We couldn’t resist the chance to commemorate this moment while it’s still so fresh—so we put together the cover we would have run if there were a magazine this week…. This special digital cover is a beautiful shot by SI photographer Simon Bruty, one that perfectly captures what the U.S. women’s national team is all about: a dedicated and seamless group of 23 that worked as one to bring home the World Cup trophy, the third in the program’s history—notice those three stars on the cover—and one that was a long time coming. We’ve been waiting 16 years for this cover. We weren’t going to wait another week to show it to you.”
See the cover and read more about it here: http://on.si.com/USWNTcover
SI Cover - USWNT World Cup Champions

Filed Under: FIFA, Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated: Where Are They Now Issue Featuring Exclusive New Interview With Brett Favre

July 1, 2015 By admin

unknownToday, Sports Illustrated releases its special “Where Are They Now?” double issue, featuring interviews with some of the top sports headliners and athletes from years past who reflect on their careers, discuss what they’re doing now, what they miss, and more. Brett Favre is featured on the cover wearing his old Green Bay Packers jersey — the first time that he’s worn the dark green number 4 since his final game with the team in 2008. The cover story features an exclusive interview with Favre in which he discusses whether he could still play in the NFL, what he thinks of the league today, his excitement to return to Green Bay to be inducted into the Packers’ Hall of Fame, his health fears after a career full of big hits and concussions, and more. SI Editors write about this year’s Where Are They Now issue: “They were promoters (Don King) and pariahs (Jose Canseco), record breakers (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and underachievers (Drew Henson). But Where Are They Now? To catch up with this year’s crop of former headliners, SI ranged from Hollywood to small-town Oklahoma to the Bahamas and beyond.”
See the cover and read more about the cover shoot and new issue, here: http://on.si.com/1NsnZzg
Read more and watch video of SI’s interview with Brett Favre, here: http://on.si.com/1dv3YLy
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SI’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BRETT FAVRE:
On whether he could still play in the NFL: “I think I could play…. As far as throwing, of course. I could make all the throws I made before…. We’re not trying to start some he’s-coming-out-of-retirement deal…. But I could play.”
Favre discusses his health concerns after a career that included more than 300 NFL starts over 20 seasons: “No one’s invincible…Things do catch up with you. There is a price to be paid. What that will be is yet to be seen. It may be from one violent hit. I don’t know, but it’s scary. Because you wonder, you can’t help but wonder, what is that going to do to me? Or am I going to be one of the lucky ones? Whatever lucky is. I’m not knocking the NFL. I knew what I signed up for. I could have got out whenever I wanted to get out…. I didn’t do myself any favors, the way I played.”
On suffering a concussion on what ended up being the last play of his career: “I shouldn’t have been playing…. From that point on, I never missed it…. I knew it was time.”
On his abrupt retirement from the Packers in 2008: “Had I [taken my time deciding], I would have come back and played…The drama would have been avoided.” And on his larger history of retiring: “I don’t study my retirements…But I have watched them. I look at them the way I do old pictures. Like, Oh my gosh. That haircut.”
On returning to Green Bay in July to be inducted into the Packers’ Hall of Fame and the fans’ interest in the ceremony: “I was blown away…. I mean, it’s not Elvis, but it feels that way. Like Elvis is coming back for one last show.”
On his successor in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers: “We got along fine, regardless of what you’ve heard.”
On his life today: “I just want to hide on my property and not do anything.”
Former Packer head coach Mike Holmgren tells SI of Favre: “That’s how he should be remembered…As a Packer.”
SI senior writer Greg Bishop writes on Favre: “Favre did not make any master plan for life after football. He approached retirement the same way he approached the game itself: He winged it…. He turned down offers from at least 10 reality television shows and Dancing with the Stars…. He made more than 30 trips to Disney World, still the boy who never quite grew up.”
MORE FEATURES FROM THE WHERE ARE THEY NOW ISSUE: 
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Hall of Fame center who played with his back to the world was immersing himself in Malcolm X and Sherlock Holmes stories before tip-offs. Now he has grown comfortable sharing his insights on race, religion, sports and history as a public intellectual.
Jose Canseco: He’s been a feared slugger, a disgraced whistle-blower and a Twitter oddity. Now the six-time All-Star travels to minor league towns and indy ball fields, putting on a show—and it’s the closest he’ll ever again get to the major league game he changed forever.
Don King: The octogenarian who promoted and personified a glorious era in boxing—the heyday of the heavyweights—is as recognizable and bombastic as ever. It’s just that fewer people are looking or listening, and that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Major League Soccer: As the league plays its 20th season, key figures recall the kickoff campaign in an oral history of its first year.
+Plus: Cheryl Miller, Marlin Briscoe, Dolph Lundgren, Drew Henson, WWE Mania, the stray dogs of Sochi, the Baha Men, and more.
-See the latest content from the “Where Are They Now?” issue as it rolls out on SI.com over the coming weeks, here: SI.com/WATN

Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

New Sports Illustrated Cover: All American Pharoah

June 9, 2015 By admin

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This week’s cover of Sports Illustrated commemorates the historic Triple Crown win by American Pharaoh, whose victory at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday earned the first Triple Crown title in 37 years. The cover image features a shot by SI’s deputy picture editor Erick Rasco, in which he managed to use a pole cam to get above a sea of fans that had begun to stand on chairs and benches, smartphones in hand, to capture a truly unique image from the fans’ perspective. SI senior writer Tim Layden writes in this week’s cover story, “With a Blazing Belmont, American Pharoah made the end of a 37-year drought even sweeter than we hoped.”

Sports Illustrated’s managing editor Chris Stone says of the new cover: “The race was, first, about American Pharaoh winning the first Triple Crown in 37 years, but it also about a horse making people care about a sport in a way they haven’t in a long time. Not the trainers or the jockeys or stable workers who live and sweat it every day, but the people in that photo with their arms raised, their smartphones poised, in full throat. On an amazing sports weekend, horse racing was back at its center because of the extraordinary horse first, but also because of all the people who found themselves emotionally invested in that story—at least for a little while.”

More from Tim Layden’s cover feature: “The moment unfolded as if from another time, asking a sport to keep hanging on to faith that had been lost in too many disappointments, too many euphoric buildups that had crashed in failure and sent its fans sulking into the darkness, unfulfilled. Horse racing was stuck on the same, yellowed page: So many times the Triple Crown had seemed at hand and so many times cruel reality had dropped a hammer at old Belmont Park, leaving a generation and more with no legend of its own to pass along, just musty recollections that grew more distant by the year….. At 6:52 last Saturday night [American Pharoah] won the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes and became the 12th horse to sweep racing’s Triple Crown…. With every stride the Belmont grandstand quaked, engulfed by a primal roar of exorcism, desperation given sound…. It was yet another June evening at Belmont Park, yet another horse running for the Triple Crown, yet another reach at history. Only this time was so different, a prayer answered in the gloaming. This time the horse was right. Now the wait is done.”

Winning Jockey Victor Espinoza tells Sports Illustrated of the race: “I think, in that first turn, that was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”

Layden reports that Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Frosted (the horse that came in second), pushed his way toward American Pharoah trainer Bob Baffert at the end of the race and said: “I wanted to win the race…. But in the last eighth of a mile, my whole family and I were cheering for American Pharoah.’’

Read Tim Layden’s full report on SI.com: http://on.si.com/1dVtpXI

Filed Under: Horse Racing, Sports Illustrated

This Week’s Sports Illustrated Jordan Spieth makes history at the Masters; Rex Ryan on the Bills, Jets and Expectations

April 16, 2015 By admin

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NEW YORK, NY (April 15, 2015) –  This week’s Sports Illustrated features 21-year-old Masters Champion Jordan Spieth on the national cover, mimicking a cover shot seen 14 years ago as following Tiger Wood’s second masters victory. In an SI exclusive feature, Rex Ryan has brought new life – and new hope – to the Buffalo Bills and appears on one of this week’s regional covers. University of Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma and the 10-time national champion Huskies goes on the record with Richard Deitsch with a firsthand tale of perfection, phone calls from the President and his NBA dream.

This issue also includes with NFL Draft Preview with 60 pages of NFL draft coverage to prepare for what promises to be a top notch year. Austin Murphy profiles pick between Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston for who should be the No. 1 pick. Coverage includes breakdowns by position – from wide receivers and running backs to tight ends and linemen. The issue closes with Ben Baskin’s draft laundry list and Chris Burke’s 2015 mock draft.

Jenny Vrentas: The Rex Effect

Rex Ryan’s arrival in Buffalo has turned the Bills’ franchise from a team agonizing over a 15-year playoff drought to one where the playoffs –and more – are already being promised. The reason behind this? None other than Rex Ryan.

Following a tumultuous ending with the Jets, Ryan has landed in Buffalo, infusing into the area traits that haven’t had since their Super Bowl heyday: personality, excitement and optimism. Ryan has only been the coach of the Bills for three months, but has already become the face of the franchise. He has won over the fans and the franchise’s legends – Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas –  and his arrival has created an atmosphere of hope and faith. Described as a Buffalo guy at heart (he drives a pickup truck, drinks beer, wears a throwback jersey and had his Jets tattoo redone to fit the Bills) Ryan is already making bold predictions for the Bills, With a roster loaded with stars –including one, Lesean McCoy, that took only 30 minutes to acquire – they may come true.

Ryan on his last days with the Jets: “I wasn’t the boss anymore, I was just a guy. Whether they want to say it or not, all of a sudden I became less important to the team. They were trying to pull away from me, like it was my fault, somehow, that people identified the Jets with me, and that was a bad thing and not a good thing. I was just being who I was. From that point on I knew I wasn’t going to be long for that job.”

His expectations for Buffalo: “I want to win the damn Super Bowl, that’s what drives me. I don’t want to just be known as good. I want to be special. For our team, for our franchise here in Buffalo, that’s what we want.”

His feelings towards the Jets: “I want success for Woody Johnson, I do. But don’t kid yourself – we’re gonna try to kick the s— out of them when we bring our team in. We’re going to try to whip your ass. There are people in that organization who are going to be lifelong friends to me. But this is my damn football family.

Alan Shipnuck: Old School

Few records were left unchallenged as 21-year-old Jordan Spieth took his pure putting stroke and a maturity that exceeds his age to put on a show at Augusta National and stamp himself as America’s future star. His grip and swing may not be textbook, but 14 years after Tiger Woods won his second Masters, Spieth was rewriting the record book and etching his name into an exclusive club in the process.

“His composure is Bernhard Langer-like, which is incredible for 21. That’s his x-factor.” – Tour sage Geoff Ogilvy

“Jordan Spieth might be the perfect Texas pro: the focus and will of Hogan, the likeability of Nelson, and the putting stroke of Crenshaw.” – Dan Jenkins, dean of American sportswriters

Geno Auriemma (As told to Richard Deitsch): Leader of the pack

After winning his 10th title, Geno goes on the record to discuss John Wooden, his NBA fantasies and coaching perhaps the best women’s player ever. Speaking about texts from Gregg Popovich, jabs from the President, and the tradition of being carried off the court after a national championship, Geno gives us a look into his world, his 10 titles and his five perfect seasons.

“It’s interesting to me that people who have achieved great things and understand how hard it is to be really good at something are the first people to congratulate you.” – Auriemma

“I’m still excited and emotional about what I do. When the charge isn’t there anymore, then I’ll know it’s time to get out. But as long as it is, you’ll see me around the gym.” – Auriemma

Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

This Week’s Sports Illustrated: An Unlikely Hero leads Duke to Title No. 5

April 7, 2015 By admin

si-logo“It was a magical win, it was an unbelievable win. The thing is: these kids really never get the credit a team [not] coached by me or [a team not] at Duke would get. There are eight guys. Four of them are freshmen! Are you kidding me? But because I’ve coached national championships….We understood it as a staff the whole year. This is like: Holy mackerel! How are they doing all this? But they have.”

– Coach Mike Kryzewski

“I can’t even tell you who we had. All I know is I had confidence in all our guys, so what the heck? I would like to say there was some great strategy or something.”

– Kryzewski on the second-half lineups

NEW YORK, NY (April 7, 2015) – Following an epic fifth championship win, Sports Illustrated features freshman point guard and late game hero Tyus Jones. This season just ended but Seth Davis is already thinking about the fall as he breaks down next season’s top 10 teams and who will be at the top of the polls. Luke Winn discusses Kentucky’s magical run in a season that seemed made for Hollywood – until Wisconsin flipped the script as he takes us into the world of the Wildcats following their semifinal loss to the Badgers.

Also in the issue, Joan Niesen tells us the story of Jayson Tatum, the Missouri high school star who could play for any college in the nation and who – and what – could lead him to stay in the city he loves. Jack Dickey documents the New York Islanders last season in the suburbs and their push for another Stanley Cup before they flee for Brooklyn. Michael McCarthy, an internal medicine doctor at Columbia Presbyterian, examines the science of sleep and how it has helped one slugger overcome three decades of sleep apnea.

Below is the link to the high res cover

https://app.box.com/files/0/f/3397251846/1/f_28460732686

Michael Rosenberg: Deal With the Devils

Too many, this was Kentucky’s year and everybody could see it. Then Wisconsin beat Kentucky and Duke beat Wisconsin and instead of a team making history and going 40-0, the coach with the most wins ever led the most successful program of the modern era to another national title. Behind it all was a team that was loaded but young, selfless but sometimes sloppy, occasionally overpowering but laughably thin. They weren’t expected to win the championship half-way through the season, but with Coach K at the helm, a series of tweaks and tinkering and a standout performance by an unlikely hero, the Blue Devils won another championship in Indianapolis.

“I can’t get to the level of playing defense like my 2001 [championship] team unless I have a number of older guys. It takes that long to be that good. So I have to accept a certain amount of slippage both offensively and defensively, and that means maybe trying out some other things.” – Mike Kryzewski

Joan Niesen: Home Game

Jayson Tatum is the most coveted high school player in the country, his 6’ 9” frame resembles Kevin Durant’s and his style of play does too. With the end of the college hoops season in sight, the recruiting season is soon to begin and the biggest names in basketball want Jayson in their uniforms. The pull to the elite programs is strong, but home is where the heart is: his father, his mother, best friends and mentors all stayed and played in St. Louis and they would love to keep that tradition going. But one thing is for certain, Jayson’s decision is one that will surely shock the basketball world.

“Be a trendsetter, you don’t have to go on this road because it was made for Shane Battier or Grant Hill. You can do what they did – at home.” – Justin Tatum, Jayson’s father

Jack Dickey: The Last Waltz

The New York Islanders have spent the better part of the last three decades as a laughingstock. From slow decline to flat-out bad, the Islanders have been reborn – they are fifth best in the Eastern Conference and are having their best season in points since 1984 and are no longer a joke. The Islanders were are proud to be one of the last remaining professional teams to play in the suburbs, but are headed to Brooklyn next year in hopes of bringing the franchise exactly what their old arena brought when it was developed in 1950 amongst the Levittown homes: a new way of life.

Matt McCarthy: Nap Time

Finding new competitive advantages has been at the heart of baseball for the last dozen years, but it has been a statistically-driven narrative. Now, Opening Day behind us and with the playoff race wide open, players and teams are looking for anything that will give them an advantage – medicine, sleep behavior and nutrition. The biggest advantage though may also be the most basic of human needs: sleep. With 162 games in the span of approximately 182 days, sleep control has become baseball’s new secret weapon as the Red Sox’ Mike Napoli, who has been plagued with sleep apnea, shows.

“I used to wake up 50 or a hundred times a night, now I’m actually sleeping, I’m not tired all the time.” – Mike Napoli

“Our research shows that sleepy players don’t tend to stay in major league baseball as long as well-rested players. You need sleep to do all kinds of things: to produce growth hormone, to fight infections and to heal.” – Dr. Christopher Winter, Medical Director of the Martha Jefferson Sleep Medicine Center

Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

This Week’s Sports Illustrated – Russell Westbrook Flies onto Cover, Arnold Palmer Goes Unfiltered

April 1, 2015 By admin

si-logoNEW YORK, NY (April 1, 2015) – This week’s Sports Illustrated features Oklahoma City Thunder guard and one-man stat sheet stuffer Russell Westbrook on the national cover and Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns and the Wildcats quest for the perfect season on the regional cover. The issue also includes an essay by Asher Price about a chance encounter with Lance Armstrong. Plus, as the national championship approaches, SI’s top writers offer a team-by-team breakdown of the schools headed to this year’s Final Four, a huge favorite, another top seed and a party crasher in green. Also included is a scout’s take on each matchup leading to the championship: who has the edge, and who will meet in Indianapolis for the conclusion of the Big Dance.

Also in the issue, Greg Bishop writes about Garrett Grayson, a traditional pocket-passing quarterback who doesn’t have the speed of RGIII or the athleticism of Colin Kaepernick, but just might be this draft’s Joe Flacco. Finally, in advance of the Masters, the issue excerpts Michael Bamberger’s upcoming book, Men in Green, which features Arnold Palmer speaking on his career, his peers and what he thinks happened to Tiger Woods.

Below is the link to the high res cover

https://app.box.com/files/0/f/3364622160/April_6_Covers

Lee Jenkins: All the Rage

Russell Westbrook knows only one way to play: full force, every time. No one plays harder than Westbrook, and there is a method to his madness. Now, channeling that passion, Westbrook is taking the injury-plagued Thunder by the nape of their neck and carrying them to the playoffs, all while forcing his way into the MVP discussion and racking up statistics not seen since Oscar Robertson owned the court. Though Westbrook doesn’t like to be perceived as angry or out of control, his inextinguishable passion ability to play through a broken cheekbone – while sporting a superhero facemask – have kept the Thunder afloat amidst Kevin Durant’s absence and has them battling for a spot amongst the West’s best.

“I’ve seen others with the same size and physicality, but they don’t have his determination.” – Oscar Robertson on Westbrook

“We’re talking about a guy with the athleticism of LeBron and the drive of Kobe, That’s intimidating enough combination, and then you put that mask on him, he’s something out of a movie.” – An opposing head coach’s take on Westbrook

Greg Bishop: Man of the Moment

Garrett Grayson is unlike any quarterback in this class. For the past two years Grayson has slid under the radar of some of the NFL’s top scouts. Now? Now the Mountain West offensive player of the year is turnig heads, but not for what he is doing, rather for what he isn’t doing. In a position defined by by a pair of potential No. 1 selections Grayson’s distinction is what he doesn’t bring to the table … the spread offense. He may be the antispread prosepect: shifting protections, reading defenses and utitlizing snap counts. As the questions surrounding the spread in the pro’s continue, Grayson just might be the right guy at the right time. Overlooked in high school, underappreciated early on at Colorado State, injured and afflicted with depression, Grayson may now wind up as the third overall selection in the upcoming NFL draft.

“Everyone who could doubt this kid has doubted him, Now he might be the third quarterback picked in the NFL draft. He worked for it. He learned that nothing is free.” – Nate Becksted, Grayson’s high school coach

Michael Bamberger: Arnie Unfiltered

On the 60th anniversary of his first appearance at the Masters, Arnold Palmer candidly refelcts in a new book on his early career, reveals how his epic U.S. Open victroy hurt him and offers some sage advice to Tiger Woods. Palmer goes unfiltered, off-script and in depth as he discusses women, winning and how he went from a working-class kid from a small town in Pennsylvania to the person we now refer to as the King with stories Palmer doesn’t often tell, and ones that certainly do not appear in his autobiography.

“Winning that first U.S. Open was an obsession, the first thing you want to do is win an Open. Then, after you win it, you have to stay aggressive, stay the way you were when you won it. And it’s difficult to do.” – Palmer

Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

Inside Sports Illustrated 2.4.15

February 6, 2015 By admin

1THIS WEEK’S SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Tom Brady Does it Again – This Time In Comeback Fashion

NEW YORK, NY (February 4, 2015) ­– This week’s Sports Illustrated features Super Bowl Champions: The New England Patriots and QB Tom Brady with a recap by Greg Bishop. With the big game in the rearview, SI offers a look at the needs and wants of all 32 teams, plus a list of the 40 best free agents available in an NFL Off-Season Preview. Pete Thamel analyzes how Western Michigan’s coach P.J. Fleck excels in the cutthroat game of recruiting. Watch out, Billy Goat: Joe Maddon is ready to change things up. Tom Verducci profiles the new face of the Chicago Cubs.

Also in this issue, NASCAR’s Kyle Larson just might provide the fresh air that the all-American sport needs, while Alan Shipnuck dives into the brash and controversial life of professional golfer Patrick Reed. Luke Winn analyzes John Calipari’s efficient and top-ranked defense at Kentucky and Ben Reiter examines New York Rangers’ Rick Nash and his rediscovered puck luck. Shipnuck also introduces us to Toronto Raptors’ GM Masai Uriri who leads with perseverance, integrity and generosity thanks to the influence of his hero, Nelson Mandela, and SI presents Athletes to Watch in 2015, from tennis and soccer to swimming and track, they’re poised to grab our attention.

Greg Bishop: ELATED

The lead-up to the Patriots-Seahawks defied logic (and maybe science). The game itself reversed the laws of probability (and maybe play-calling). But after an instant-classic win, this can’t be questioned: the place Tom Brady and the Pats hold in history. A game full of suspense, fantastic performances and questionable calls stands as perhaps the biggest feather yet in New England’s cap.

Pete Thamel: No Grind, No Glory

A day in the life of Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck shows what is takes to excel at the game of recruiting – mounds of caffeine, deep connections and an unmatched enthusiasm for the sport. The youngest coach in the FBS has changed WMU from an afterthought school to one that is hot on the recruiting trail and a force on the field. Orchestrating the biggest turnaround in school history, Fleck knows that to capture a recruit he needs enthusiasm, sincerity and a routine that is anything but monotonous. Although it seems to be working so far, Fleck understands that every day is a new one and new tricks are required.

Tom Verducci: This Is the…

…Year?! Savior?! Last we’ll ever hear of Billy Goats?! Whatever it is, it’s exciting. Welcome to Joe Maddon’s Chicago. Optimism as big as Maddon’s is rare for a team that has been so bad for so long, but Maddon – along with Vegas oddsmakers – has the Cubs going far this year. There are many questions swirling around them and as the season approaches, some fans believe this could be the year they win it all. Armed with a solid core of returning players and a slew of free-agent signings, the time of wishful thinking is past. To Maddon, this is the season of winning.

“After he was hired, I went to dinner with him at his restaurant in Tampa. I was blown away. He flat-out told me, ‘The reason I’m coming here is to win the World Series. There’s no sense aiming for anything lower.’”- Anthony Rizzo, Cubs first baseman

“Maddon is so engaging, you find yourself sitting up a little more, leaning forward in your chair a little more, your mind is going a little faster and you want to make him laugh. You want to rise to his level of energy, intellect and accomplishment. I think he has that effect on players. They want to match his energy and offer him ideas.”- Marie Epstein, wife of Theo Epstein, president

Andrew Lawrence: Fresh Face in the Race

Poised to challenge racing’s reigning old guard, 22-year-old Kyle Larson is already attracting new fans to NASCAR – at a time when the sport badly needs a boost. With four DNF’s in the past, Larson has come a long way from where he was. Despite winning Rookie of the Year Honors, he knows there is a ways to go. NASCAR is in the midst of a changing of the guard and as it stands, Larson is set to lead the new crop of youngsters as they look to shake up the Sprint Cup ranks in the years to come.

Alan Shipnuck: Dream Team

Brash? Absolutely. Controversial? No doubt. Patrick Reed has been deemed the bad guy and has certainly paid for it. Putting aside past relationships, college controversies and a near-death experience involving his wife Justine, the 24-year-old golfer now looks to pair his maturation and internal drive to continue a winning resume that includes four Tour events – a feat accomplished by only an elite few. With the help of the fearless Justine, Reed battled for his Tour card the hard way and has already shown he has the game to back up his ambition.

“I don’t want to be the bad guy; I just want people to realize how passionate and how determined I am and how much love I have for the game of golf.” – Reed

“When he came out he was a little mean, he was a little too confident. He’s still confident, but now he does it in a nice way. I could learn a lot from him as a player and as a person.” – Bubba Watson

Luke Winn: The Deep Blue D

Kentucky is littered with NBA first-round talent, but the Wildcats aren’t focused on offense. Rather, coach John Calipari and the Cats have put together the best defensive team in the nation – possibly in history – en route to holding an undefeated record and a no.1 seed. As the Big Dance approaches Kentucky has mastered defensive schemes and formed a substitution method that sacrifices nothing while costing opponents everything. Their defense is oppressive, their energy is never ending, and as the season continues, we just might see history being made.

“[They are] the best defensive team I’ve seen in the last 20 years, in terms of the way they get over screens, and the physicality of the way they play, the way they block shots.”- Rick Pitino, Louisville head coach

“The only film we watch is 10 clips during the pregame meal. It’s all about effort and energy. It’s about you versus him, like, I’m not going to let him make his name off me.”- Calipari

Ben Reiter: Goals in Bulk

Rick Nash had the Rangers playing for their first Stanley Cup in 20 years, but lost his puck touch when it mattered most. Now the proven scorer, who combines small-man skills with a big-man frame, is working to put the Rangers back in the Cup discussion. Nash went scoreless in three of New York’s four playoff series and scored only three times in 25 postseason games last season. He was booed by New York fans as it seemed he may have lost his ability to score. This year, thanks to improved fitness and health he is on pace for his first 50-goal season and possibly an MVP award.

“He knew how to play in tight spots. Now, he’s 6’4” [but] playing a little man’s game, stickhandling in small areas. We watched him develop from not a very big kid into a monster.” – Mark Hunter, GM of the London Knights, Canadian Hockey League

“It’s unbelievably unique in the NHL, that combo. He is a power forward, but he’s a different type of power forward– a power forward with great skill. Usually [power forwards] will bull through you. He doesn’t. – Doug MacLean, Blue Jackets GM

Alan Shipnuck: ‘He Lifts Us All’

Like his hero, Nelson Mandela, Raptors GM Masai Ujiri leads by example, with perseverance, integrity and generosity. His approach has resulted in a team that has captured the Toronto fan base, as well as a brighter future for his fellow Africans. The Raptors have become the most beloved team in the staunchest of hockey towns and it’s not by accident; Ujiri commands respect and treats everyone in the organization with honesty. His players sing his praises as he has built chemistry like no other, while holding each player accountable for success. So far it’s working, as Ujiri’s team is playing before sellout crowds and is possibly a title contender.

“You can’t buy this kind of goodwill in the community. Masai is the perfect ambassador for what we’re trying to accomplish here. In many ways he’s become the face of the franchise.”- Ujiri’s boss, Tim Leiweke, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment

“You don’t hear thank you a lot in this business, so I always remembered that. We had exchanged emails, but I assumed I would never hear from him. I was wrong. That’s one of Masai’s strengths: He reaches out.”- NBA Trainer David Thorpe

Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

Inside Sports Illustrated 1.29.15

January 29, 2015 By admin

THIS WEEK’S SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Richard Sherman Dishes on the Legion of Boom and SI Pays Tribute to One of Baseball’s Greats

NEW YORK, NY (January 29, 2015) – This week’s Sports Illustrated cover features Seattle’s Legion of Boom. As the Seahawks line up for another run at the Lombardi Trophy, Richard Sherman exclusively offers his own take on the state of the game, while also reflecting on how he will evoke change by being a great role model. Andy Benoit analyzes the three key arguments for the Seahawks and the Patriots, including Russell Wilson’s speed and New England’s hidden gem in Devin McCourty. With all eyes on “deflategate,” Ben Raskin recaps past Super Bowl distractions.

This week’s regional cover pays tribute to Mr. Cub – Ernie Banks and his impact on the Chicago Cubs. In remembrance, Rich Cohen discusses Banks’s life and how he became –and still is – the heart and soul of the Wrigley Field faithful. The two-time national league MVP and Hall of Famer’s buoyant spirit never changed throughout numerous losing seasons. Also in the issue, Luke Winn delves into Coach Larry Krystowiak and how he’s transformed the University of Utah Men’s Basketball program from a historically bad team to one that has Final Four potential. Winn explores the turnaround for a program on the verge of having its best season record since 1998. Albert Chen takes a look at the growing industry that is daily fantasy sports and the way it has captivated fans, while maximizing revenue and expanding its demographics. Lee Jenkins delves into the life of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the struggles he’s endured since entering the league.

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Richard Sherman: Boomsday

Before Richard Sherman became the center of the media’s attention he received a contract extension, and when asked what the increase in pay would do for him he simply replied that he wasn’t playing football for the money but rather to be the best in the game. In this piece, Sherman discusses not only his Legion of Boom teammates, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane, but also his coach, Pete Carroll. Sherman, conveys his disappointment in Roger Goodell, as well as NFL management, talks about the difficulties that New England’s offense might pose and speaks on the league’s top defenders (hint: It’s not who you think). This is not just a football piece by a football player though, Sherman seamlessly transitions from football life to the everyday world as he opens up about media scrutiny and social issues that players face but are not allowed to speak out on and relates all of this into how he plans on being the best role model he can be as he prepares for the arrival of his first child, and the challenges that lie ahead for him.

“I’ll be the guy who has $50 million in the bank and plays like he has $5.” – Richard Sherman

Albert Chen: Every Sunday Is Super Bowl Sunday

With new fantasy leagues emerging constantly, each day can be a payday for players of snake drafts or keeper leagues. Growing from 500,000 participants in 1988 to over 40 million in 2014, fantasy football has become more than a hobby; it’s become a way of life to those willing to invest. Daily fantasy sports (or, DFS as the professionals call it) have turned amateur fans into stat-studying magicians who live and die by mathematics, analytics, spreadsheets and just a bit of intuition. But more than just a nice payout, DFS leagues are changing the way fans interact with the game, as well as the way that leagues interact with fans. MLB has a sponsorship deal with DraftKings, as does the NFL and the NHL while the NBA has inked a four-year partnership with FanDuel. Leagues have shown their support for these games and the revenue for the companies has ballooned to $97 million between them. This much is clear; the traditional season long fantasy games are long gone and the bright future that is DFS has only begun.

“I’ve been playing fantasy football since 1983; I’m in 26 leagues now. I’ve seen the evolution of fantasy. I see all the weaknesses that piss people off. Daily fantasy fixes it all. It’s not just a fad. It’s the future.”- Bob Harris, emcee and DFS participant

“If the NFL is looking for its [most ardent] audience, this is where they find it. There’s not a more passionate group.”- Harris

Luke Winn: Keep Chopping Wood

Thanks to a former NBA player, a one in 1,000 recruit and the Navy SEALs, head coach Larry Krystkowiak – and his childhood mantra– have brought the Utah Utes from historically bad to Final Four good. After landing recruit Jakob Poeltl in a lottery that included 1,000 other schools (according to Poeltl’s mother) and enticing young guard Delon Wright– brother to the NBA’s Dorrell Wright–  to stay in school rather than enter the NBA draft coach Krystkowiak began to see the results he knew would come. This Coach K saw it all. He became the coach with only four players returning, lost his starting center to injury and became desperate enough to hold walk-on tryouts for starting jobs. Through it all, he knew that the train was, moving though, and used exercises employed by the Navy SEALs, a scholarship offer that landed him a top 100 recruit and a stingy defense to get the Utes to where they are today– on the brink of greatness. They are on pace to finish with their best record since Andre Miller and the 1998 squad landed in the national title game and it comes as no surprise to anyone on the team.

“I’m not saying much today, but when I am, you’ve gotta be listening. Good thing we’re not Navy SEALs, because we’d all have our asses shot up right now.”- Coach Krystkowiak

“What I would tell people back then was, I can see myself at Utah. And just look where we’re at now.”- Point Guard Delon Wright

Lee Jenkins: Work In Progress

For many players a 19-foot jumper and a smooth postgame interview would be nothing to blink at. For Michael Kidd-Gilchrist it represented a culmination of a lifetime of hard work. Recruiting for Kidd-Gilchrist started when he was seven; at 12 he was friends with Jay-Z and his middle school team was sponsored by Reebok. He played alongside No.1 pick Kyrie Irving in high school and alongside No.1 pick Anthony Davis in college. He won a national championship in 2012 and was selected No.2 overall by the Hornets in the NBA draft. But while Davis and Irving thrived in the NBA and gained All-Star status, Kidd-Gilchrist struggled to find his identity. He enlisted the help of shooting guru Mark Price to fix his erratic shot and mend his confidence while he also sought assistance from a speech pathologist to help him with his stutter. At age 21 he has overhauled so many things about himself during his long journey that he is at last comfortable with where he is makes that jumper and his perfect post-game interview that much sweeter.

“What I saw was a tenacious defender who could get to the basket and a motor that would not shut off. I thought, if there is a way to improve the shot, this kid is going to find it.” – Charlotte general manager Rod Higgins

“Everybody has flaws, and I’m a prime example, but this is me. I’ve come a long way. Everyone can see it. I can see it myself.”- Michael Kidd- Gilchrist

Rich Cohen: Ode to Joy

Ernie Banks – 1931-2015

Sports Illustrated pays tribute to Mr. Cub. An inextinguishably bright light on some very grim teams. He was, and remains, the heart and soul of the Wrigley faithful and the city of Chicago. Losing with him wasn’t always fun, but losing without him would have been intolerable.

Filed Under: NFL, Sports Illustrated

SI Predicts Oregon Will Beat OSU & Highlights The NFL Playoffs and Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski

January 6, 2015 By admin

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THIS WEEK’S SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

SI Predicts Oregon Will Beat OSU & Highlights The NFL Playoffs and Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski

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NEW YORK, NY (January 6, 2015) – This week’s issue of Sports Illustrated highlights the National Championship between the Buckeyes and the Ducks.  SI picks Oregon to win, but their records and the long list of similar stats suggest a close final. Joey Bosa is graced with NFL talent, but the Ohio State d-lineman must harness all that ability for the Buckeyes to upset the Ducks. This issue also showcases a preview to the NFL Playoffs. Senior writer Andy Benoit analyzes the final 8 teams and brilliantly breaks down the divisional matchups.

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On the regional cover, Pete Thamel dives into the life of New England’s Rob Gronkowski, from his white party bus to his past injuries and on-field abilities. He may party hard but he works even harder. John Elway, former Broncos’ QB and current GM, has four Super Bowl blowouts and two titles on his resume. Aside from that, he’s sure he has another Lombardi Trophy coming to him – so he built a team designed to grab one right now. Seth Davis unearths the story of George Raveling, the pioneering African-American college basketball coach, who historically crossed paths with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 and walked away with one of the defining documents of the civil rights movement.

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Brian Hamilton: Thriving On The Edge

If Ohio State wants to beat Oregon, sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa will need to channel his inner NFL roots, continue to refine his skills, and prove that the hype surrounding him is deserved. Described as goofy and a pain in the ass by his mother, Bosa’s 20 tackles for a loss this season is nothing to laugh at. Despite receiving his first offer from Alabama, he decided to follow his father’s footsteps to Columbus which explains why the upset over the number one seed was that much sweeter for him. But to beat Oregon, he’ll need to disrupt Marcus Mariota the same way he did Blake Sims.

“He’s quick, he’s smart, and he’s coordinated. The combination of those attributes is really impressive, because he knows how to use them and when to use them.” – Senior tackle Michael Bennett

“He has an innate gift of contact balance that you don’t find in a lot of defensive linemen. He’s got the greatest core strength of anybody I’ve seen at a young age. He can do unbelievable things because he’s under control.” –Luke Fickel, Ohio State defensive coordinator

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Pete Thamel: Gronk Worker’s Party

Fueled partly by work ethic and partly by genetics, Rob Gronkowski has regained his MVP form after six surgeries cost him 17 games over the 2012 & 2013 seasons. Yes, he is fiesta, but after losing two seasons, he’s a more mature – and extremely dedicated – frat-house hero. Gronk has always worked harder than he partied, something his friends insist got lost as his public persona evolved. Hop on, New England: Rob is driving the Patriots’ bus.

“He’s one of the hardest-working guys that I’ve ever been around.” – Bill O’Brien, former Patriots offensive coordinator

“Medically speaking, we expected him to be playing and effective. But as far as being an MVP candidate, that’s unheard of.” – Ryan Donahue, physical therapist

“Don’t get lost in his awkward silliness. It’s not immaturity. He’s a great competitor.” – former Arizona coach Mike Stoops

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S.L. Price: Elway – The Tao Of Woody

After losing 43-8 in last year’s Super Bowl, the only thing on John Elway’s mind was how to get better. Now, he has assembled a team that he believes has another Super Bowl in sight. Worth in sports is decided by winning and Elway’s two victories help prove that notion and change the narrative about him. Now for Elway, the business of football has shifted from playing to creating. There is no denying that the window is closing on his time, which is why he has made his team suited for winning now.

“My viewpoint is different from everybody else’s. I’ve always fought to stay off the pedestal. I’ve got to make [everyone else] feel like I’m one of them. When they know their opinion is important, you’re going to get the best out of those people.”- Elway

“It’s part of him being an ex-player: his aggressiveness and will to win. He’s about winning now. He’s not building a team for five years from now.” – Terrance Knighton, Broncos’ defensive tackle

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Seth Davis: The Coach And The Preacher

George Raveling needs three storage units for all the things he has collected, but one item means more to him than all the others: the three papers that lay on the podium while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his memorable speech. A former basketball star at Villanova, Raveling was a pioneering college coach at predominately white universities. After being coerced to attend the march in Washington D.C., Raveling asked to work security. With only a handful of people between him and MLK Jr., he asked for the speech when it was all over.  He never knew it would become such a historic document, and now refuses to sell it despite its undeniable worth.

“I never heard anybody who had the command and gifts of public speaking that he did. He carried himself as you would envision a leader would do…I was in total awe; I just froze and was totally locked in on what he was saying.” – Raveling

“At no time do I remember thinking, Wow, we got this historic document.”- Raveling

Filed Under: Sports Illustrated

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