SI.com Week in Review
Posted: May 10, 2013 Filed under: Andy Staples, Baseball, Brian Cazeneuve, Chris Mannix, College Basketball, College Football, Don Banks, Golf, GOLF.com, Grant Wahl, Holly Anderson, Ian Thomsen, Jim Trotter, Joe Lemire, Jon Werthiem, Lars Anderson, Lee Jenkins, Luke Winn, Michael Bamberger, NBA, NFL, NHL, Pete Thamel, Peter King, PGA, Richard Deitsch, SI.com, Stewart Mandel, Tom Verducci Comments Off
With the NBA and NHL playoffs in full steam, daily baseball games and much more in the world of sports, there’s a chance you couldn’t get to all of the great content on SI.com this week. Inside SI has you covered. Here’s a selection of some of the top Sports Illustrated stories and video productions from the past week.
Miscellaneous
SI announced 10 finalists for its inaugural College Athlete of the Year.
Richard Deitsch reviews Fox Sports 1’s new big hires and more in his weekly Media Circus column.
Jeff Pearlman reminisces about the USFL 30 years later
Ian Thompson says Steph Curry is the latest to establish himself as a star in the playoffs.
Lee Jenkins writes that Kevin Durant can only do so much for OKC.
Rob Mahoney lists five players who have disappointed in the playoffs so far. He also notes the biggest surprises of the playoffs so far.
Do the NBA Playoffs Underdogs stand a chance? Chris Mannix and Maggie Gray discuss the Warriors and Bulls (video).
Mannix discusses how the injuries of Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Amar’e Stoudemire have affected their respective teams (video).
Sara Kwak says the Isles vs. Penguins has been the most thrilling series so far.
Allan Muir says the Senators showed their superiority over the shorthanded Habs.
While this week’s SI cover man Sidney Crosby worked his magic in the Penguins’ Game 5 Win, Eli Bernstein says the play of both goalies proved to be the difference.
Stu Hackel on how the NHL may change their policy on head shots.
Tom Verducci says expensive free agents are once again failing to meet expectations.
Jay Jaffe says Matt Harvey is fastest-starting Mets ace ever.
Cliff Cocoran provides this week’s Awards Watch.
SI.com’s Tom Verducci takes a look at the increasing strikeout rate around the MLB and asks if the Braves’ power can overcome their swing-and-miss ways (video).
The Tigers top Joe Lemire’s power rankings.
Peter King notes differing draft strategies, who will control the ’14 draft and more in this week’s MMQB.
Jim Trotter writes on how the California workers comp bill will have a lasting effect on NFL players.
Don Banks asks if betters days are coming for minority hires in the NFL?
Chris Burke on each team’s most pressing question as minicamp looms.
Micahael Bamberger writes that TV saved Tiger Woods from withdrawing from the Masters.
Gary Van Sickle says McIlroy, Stricker and Scott make TPC Sawgrass look easy
Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, Adam Scott, Justin Leonard and others talk ship in the Players Champions Confidential.
College Football
Andy Staples takes a stab at his post spring top 25.
Holly Anderson hands out her Sixth annual Switzies, which celebrate the ‘best’ of the 2013 offseason.
Stewart Mandel on how Ohio State aims to break the SEC’s title streak in 2013.
Rick Pitino talks Kentucky Derby, Final Four and 2013-14′s prospects in a Q&A with Pete Thamel.
Luke Winn gives out his second annual data-based hoops awards.
Bruce Jenkins writes that Madrid red clay is a welcome sight after 2012 left all feeling blue
In his weekly mailbag, Jon Wertheim wonders if Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens can find peace.
Soccer
Grant Wahl provides updates on Alex Morgan, Frank Lampard and various MLS nuggets in his Planet Futbol Column.
Wahl writes that the sports world won’t be the same without Sir Alex Ferguson. Wahl also talks about the legacy of Ferguson and discusses the future of the club in this SI.com video.
Jonathan Wilsion says David Moyes is a safe choice for Manchester United, but comes with risk.
Sid Lowe writes that Jose Mourinho’s separation from Real Madrid getting messy.
Floyd Mayweather tops Chris Mannix’s Pound-For-Pound Top 15.
Floyd Mayweather talks about his title fight victory over Robert Guerrero, and looks ahead towards the rest of his multi-fight contract (video).
Jeff Wagenheim discusses Anderson Silva’s punishment, Johny Hendricks’ beard, and more in his MMA mailbag.
Lars Anderson on what we learned on a rainy, dark day at Talladega.
Carl Estes provides this week’s power rankings.
Also in this week’s issue: the Texans’ star running back/budding poet, a seemingly inevitable LSU-Alabama rematch and 25 years of 3-pointers in college hoops
Posted: December 1, 2011 Filed under: Andy Staples, Damon Hack, Kelli Anderson, Lars Anderson, Michael Farber, Phil Taylor, Uncategorized, Weekly Press Release | Tags: 2011 bcs title game, alabama lsu rematch, arian foster occupy wall street, houston texans, oklahoma state women's basketball, pittsburgh penguins, rich rodriguez arizona, sidney crosby, t.j. yates, three-pointer anniversary Comments Off
You’ve read about our cover story on the end of the NBA lockout and our profile of high school football star Kitam Hamm Jr. (For the latter, we hope that you also watched his story on last night’s broadcast of CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley and this morning’s edition of CBS The Early Show.) You’ve also learned that NFL players consider Jon Gruden to be their favorite TV football commentator. Here’s what else readers can expect from the Dec. 5 issue.
HOUSTON TEXANS: #OCCUPY THE PLAYOFFS – DAMON HACK (@si_damonhack)
With two QBs already lost to injury, the Houston Texans will need hard-charging, deep-thinking feature back Arian Foster to lead the way in order to make their first postseason ever. It’s a far cry from 2009, when Foster wasn’t even drafted out of Tennessee. Recalls Foster’s father, Carl, who threw his son a draft party that spring in Phoenix (page 72): “I was managing some hotels, and all of the families flew in and we had this big shebang. I had golf passes. We had tickets for Diamondbacks games. We had a great weekend, and the draft was to be the ending to a great weekend. It was kind of a nightmare.”
Foster has not rested on his laurels since emerging last year as one of the better running backs in the NFL. Says Texans running backs coach Chick Harris: “He’s always searching for other things, looking into various angles and philosophical beliefs. He’s the first guy to raise his hand to ask why, and if it doesn’t make sense to him, I’m the first one to hear about it.”
On the Tablets: The Texans’ T.J. Yates becoming the eighth rookie QB to see action in the NFL this season. The tablet features hotspots on Yates and the other seven as well as senior writer Peter King’s (@SI_PeterKing) weekly podcast interview (this week’s guest is Mike Mayock of the NFL Network) and “Last Word on the NFL.”
Also in this week’s Sports Illustrated: Tim Tebow’s wild ride, Tony Stewart’s comeback for the ages and a possible end for the Kansas-Mizzou Border War
Posted: November 23, 2011 Filed under: Alan Shipnuck, Austin Murphy, Grant Wahl, Lars Anderson, Peter King, Phil Taylor, Weekly Issue | Tags: david beckham galaxy, denver broncos, detroit lions, george plimpton paper lion, kansas mizzou border war, mls cup, nascar awards, taylor plimpton, tim tebow, tony stewart sprint cup Comments Off
You’ve read about Terry McDonell’s cover story on “Sport in America” in both his Editor’s Letter and the Nov. 28 cover story. Here’s what else readers can expect in this week’s issue, on newsstands today.
TIM TEBOW’S WILD RIDE – ALAN SHIPNUCK (@AlanShipnuck)
Over the last two months Tim Tebow has been showered with love, doubt, praise, ridicule and awe. Starting with the Broncos’ Oct. 9 game against the Chargers, in which Tebow replaced an ineffective Kyle Orton, senior writer Alan Shipnuck sifts through the widely divergent opinions that have surfaced. All of which might be best summed up by Denver running back Lance Ball (page 44): “Tebow this, Tebow that…. You know what? Tim Tebow is great for football, man. Love him or hate him, everybody has an opinion. And I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be talking about him for a really long time.”
Senior writer Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) asks whether Denver is willing to make the option its offensive staple for the long term. Even if they don’t and opt to draft a pro-style quarterback, King sees a future for Tebow. He writes: “Smart teams maximize their players’ skills. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy stopped forcing a square peg into a round hole when he made Denver option-centric. There’s no reason he can’t stay with the option in 2012, whether Tebow’s the starter or merely the league’s most compelling relief pitcher.”
On the Tablets: Photographic highlights of Tebow’s career, starting with his freshman season at Florida. Plus, Shipnuck discusses his story on the Broncos signal-caller in a podcast interview.
Also in this week’s Sports Illustrated: The Chargers’ inability to win in the east, Clemson football is dancing with joy and David Beckham’s future in Los Angeles
Posted: October 26, 2011 Filed under: Damon Hack, Grant Wahl, Lars Anderson, Michael Bamberger, Phil Taylor, Weekly Issue, Weekly Press Release | Tags: bill polian, clemson football, dabo swinney, dallas cowboys, dan wheldon, david beckham, demarco murray, dwayne allen, indianapolis colts, indycar, los angeles galaxy, philip rivers, san diego chargers, st. louis cardinals, Texas Rangers, tim leiweke aeg, world series Comments Off
You’ve seen our World Series cover featuring the Rangers and Cardinals, read JaMarcus Russell’s side of the story and found out who the NFL’s fastest player is according to our weekly Players Poll. Here is what else awaits readers in the Oct. 31 issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands today.
PILE ON THE CHARGERS – DAMON HACK (@si_damonhack)
The Chargers’ 27–21 loss to the Jets on Sunday was the latest misstep in their recent history, when they have looked like a Super Bowl contender only to travel east and lose. Since 2000 they are a meager 8–18 on the road against the teams now in the AFC East and AFC North, including 1–4 at New England, 0–4 at Pittsburgh and 0–2 at Baltimore. For starting quarterback Philip Rivers, Sunday’s loss was his 10th in 11 road starts against the AFC East or AFC North since 2007. All of which solidifies a sentiment that has shadowed San Diego teams of recent vintage: that they are supremely talented and chronic underachievers (page 38).
On the Tablets: This week on his NFL podcast, senior writer Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) interviews Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and Colts vice chairman Bill Polian. Plus, the Week 8 edition of his “Last Word on the NFL.”
Also in this week’s Oct. 24 issue: Dan Wheldon in memoriam, Plaxico Burress sounds off on the NFL’s illegal hits, Jaromir Jagr’s return from Siberian exile and the soon-to-be winningest QB in college football history
Posted: October 19, 2011 Filed under: Austin Murphy, Brian Cazeneuve, Damon Hack, Lars Anderson, Phil Taylor, Tim Layden, Weekly Issue, Weekly Press Release | Tags: boise state football, brandon meriweather, chicago bears, dan wheldon, dario franchitti, desmond bishop, doug flutie, evan mathis, green bay packers, jaromir jagr, kellen moore, new york jets, Philadelphia Eagles, philadelphia flyers, plaxico burress, tim tebow, winningest qb ever Comments Off
You’ve seen the two covers for this week’s issue and our World Series prediction as well as details from Gary Smith’s interview with Jerry West, who discussed in great detail the depression that plagued him throughout his Hall of Fame career and most of his life. Here is what else readers will find in this week’s Oct. 24 issue, on newsstands now.
DAN WHELDON: 1978–2011 – LARS ANDERSON (@LarsAndersonSI)
Two-time Indy 500 champ Dan Wheldon’s future seemed bright on Sunday morning, when the 33-year-old signed a contract to race for Andretti Autosport in 2012. Hours later, just 11 laps into the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Wheldon was dead, killed in a 15-car wreck. Series champion Dario Franchitti said afterward, “One minute you’re joking around at driver intros—the next, Dan’s gone. I’m struggling to get it together.” When the day ended with a low-speed, five-lap tribute to Wheldon, IndyCar’s season came to an end—and the sport had lost one of its most popular, most engaging drivers (page 56).
On the Tablets: A slideshow of highlights from Dan Wheldon’s career on the IndyCar circuit.
SCORECARD: LEARNING TO PLAY NICE – DAMON HACK (@si_damonhack)
From a numbers standpoint, the response to the NFL’s Black Sunday—Oct. 17, 2010, when three players were concussed on violent hits—has been effective. The number of fines for illegal hits is down, and no suspensions have been handed out. But the NFL has not completely gotten through to players. To wit (page 15):
- Jets receiver Plaxico Burress: “If you have a chance to knock me out or break my leg, man, knock me out. That’s missing a game or two, not the whole season. As receivers, we know what we signed up for.”
- Bears safety Brandon Meriweather, who has been fined $95,000 for illegal hits since the start of last season: “They teach you growing up that you’ve got to be violent and put the fear of God in people, but when you get to the league that you’ve been dreaming about your whole life, they tell you to change your game 100 percent or get money taken from you. I try lowering my target zone, but if you have a receiver who’s 5′ 8″, it’s still going to be a helmet-to-helmet collision. How do you avoid that when you’re running full speed?”
- Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop, recalling a clear shot he had on Matt Ryan in Week 5: “I didn’t quite know how to hit him. I didn’t want to hit him too high, when it should be natural to just go hit him. I ended up getting the sack, but I didn’t hit him as hard as I wanted to.”
