SI.com Week in Review
Posted: May 17, 2013 Filed under: Baseball, College Basketball, College Football, Golf, NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA, SI.com Comments Off
Didn’t have a chance to read and watch 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 released its 10th annual Fortunate 50, which ranks the 50 highest-earning professional athletes in the U.S.
Richard Deitsch reports on Dr. Jack Ramsey retiring as a broadcaster and asks if TV is ready for an openly gay analyst in his Media Circus column.
Nick Zaccardi introduces readers to the ‘Rumble on the Rails,’ a unique wrestling spectacle that took place in New York City this past week.
Chris Ballard writes that the Spurs are moving on because they were able to slow down Steph Curry.
Rob Mahoney examines the state of the Heat after two dominant series wins.
Chris Mannix goes inside his NBA Draft Big Board with the combine approaching. Here he discusses the upcoming draft (video).
Ben Golliver says the Grizz have Zack Randolph to thank for earning their first trip to the Western Conference finals.
Ian Thomsen says the NBA set a new precedent by keeping the Kings in Sacramento.
Stu Hackel discusses second round storylines and questions for all eight teams.
Sara Kwak says goaltending remains a concern for the Penguins.
Alan Muir thinks the Blue Jackets’ Bobrovsky is deserving of the Hart Trophy.
Brian Cazeneuve previewed the round two matchups (videos). Blackhawks vs. Red Wings. Kings vs. Sharks. Penguins vs. Senators. Bruins vs. Rangers.
Tom Verducci says after 766 tries, the Mets have a homegrown ace in Mat Harvey.
Jay Jaffe says Vernon Wells is proving to be a huge help for Yankees. Jaffe also provies the bests, worsts and more from the 2013 season so far.
Cliff Corcoran remembers some of the season’s most memorable moments so far.
Matt Harvey of the New York Mets breaks down his motion, and explains the key to his early success (video).
Ted Keith and Stephen Cannella take a look at the Yankees as their aging All-Stars begin to come off the DL and say if Mariano Rivera should start the 2013 All-Star game (video).
The Cardinals are the new No. 1 team in Joe Lemire’s weekly power rankings.
As the losses pile up, the Astros try to remain positive writes Michael Rosenberg.
Peter King writes on Manti Te’o’s new beginnings in San Diego and more in this weeks’ MMQB.
King talks about which holdouts, rookies and injured stars he’ll be watching as OTAs continue (video).
Don Banks takes a look at what new regimes can spark unexpected playoff turnarounds.
Chris Burke looks at the 10 players who had the worst offseason.
Cameron Morfit thinks Tiger’s win at the Players could signal a big summer at the major championships.
Gary Van Sickle says Sergio vs. Tiger is the latest in golf’s tradition of lame excuses.
Stewart Mandel looks at the top nonconference games and more in his mailbag.
Andy Staples anaylizes 10 years of committee decisions had the new playoff been in place.
Seth Davis on how Nike’s Villa 7 gives up-and-coming hoops assistants forum to shine.
Andy Glockner says with Andrew Wiggins in the fold, Kansas is now a Final Four contender.
Jimmy Connors discusses his memoir, “The Outsider,” in a podcast with Jon Wertheim. Here Connors talks about his relationship with Chris Evert and his thoughts on rivalry in today’s game (video).
Bruce Jenkins says that Serena Williams proved again that she has no rivals.
Grant Wahl says Howard believes in Moyes at Manchester United and provides a Robbie Rogers update in his Planet Futbol Column.
David Beckham will retire from soccer at the end of the season. Grant Wahl discusses his impact on soccer in the US and around the world (video). Wahl also writes on the topic here.
Avi Creditor looks at how Americans abroad finished their seasons.
After testing positive for testosterone, Chris Mannix says Lamont Peterson is trying to win fans back.
Floyd Mayweather talks to Jon Weritheim about what else, money.
Jeff Wagenheim writes on how the UFC goes after marijuana users but continues to overlook the use of TRT by fighters.
Carl Estes provides this week’s power rankings.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. Ranks No. 1 on 10th Annual Sports Illustrated Fortunate 50 List of Highest Earning Athletes in the U.S.
Posted: May 15, 2013 Filed under: Baseball, Golf, NBA, NFL, PGA, Tennis, Weekly Issue Comments Off
Galvanized by an unprecedented deal with Showtime that guarantees him at least $32 million per fight, boxing great Floyd (Money) Mayweather Jr. sits atop the 10th annual Sports Illustrated Fortunate 50, which ranks the 50 highest-earning professional athletes in the U.S. With $90 million in projected earnings for 2013, Mayweather tops the list for the second consecutive year. The complete list is available at si.com/Fortunate50 and is also featured in the May 20, 2013 edition of SI.
Tiger Woods, who was No. 1 on the Fortunate 50 every year from 2004-11, falls to his lowest ranking ever (No. 5, $40.8MM). LeBron James (No. 2, $56.5MM) is the first team-sport player to crack the top two since Shaquille O’Neal did it in 2004. James’s $39 million in endorsements were more than any other U.S. athlete in 2013. A historic $37 million signing bonus helped Drew Brees skyrocket to No. 3 on this year’s list. Brees didn’t crack the top 50 in 2012.
The SI Fortunate 50 Top Ten:
|
|
Name |
Sport |
Total |
Salary/Winnings |
Endorsements |
2012 Ranking |
|
1 |
Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing |
$90,000,000 |
$90,000,000 |
$0 |
1 |
|
2 |
LeBron James | NBA |
$56,545,000 |
$17,545,000 |
$39,000,000 |
5 |
|
3 |
Drew Brees | NFL |
$47,800,000 |
$40,000,000 |
$7,800,000 |
NR |
|
4 |
Kobe Bryant | NBA |
$46,850,000 |
$27,850,000 |
$19,000,000 |
4 |
|
5 |
Tiger Woods | Golf |
$40,839,027 |
$7,839,027 |
$33,000,000 |
3 |
|
6 |
Phil Mickelson | Golf |
$39,528,630 |
$3,528,630 |
$36,000,000 |
2 |
|
7 |
Derrick Rose | NBA |
$33,403,000 |
$16,403,000 |
$17,000,000 |
19 |
|
8 |
Peyton Manning | NFL |
$31,000,000 |
$18,000,000 |
$13,000,000 |
7 |
|
9 |
Alex Rodriguez | MLB |
$29,900,000 |
$29,000,000 |
$900,000 |
6 |
|
10 |
Zack Greinke | MLB |
$29,020,000 |
$29,000,000 |
$20,000 |
NR |
The 2013 Fortunate 50 was compiled by Sports Illustrated special contributor Daniel Roberts, a writer-reporter for Fortune Magazine. The list consists solely of salary, winnings, bonuses and endorsements. Roberts consulted with players’ associations, tour records, online databases, agents and reports. Endorsement estimates came from a stable of marketing executives, agents, and other experts, including Burns Entertainment & Sports Marketing.
For team sports, salaries are based on current or most recent seasons. NFL rankings are based on the season that ended in February. (Joe Flacco’s new deal, where he is set to earn $20.1 million next season, isn’t reflected.) The 2012 calendar year was used for auto racing and tennis. Golf earnings are from July 1, 2012 through April 21, 2013 (the RBC Heritage). Boxing purses are from August 2012 through May 2013, but include projected money from fights through September. Candidates for the Fortunate 50 must be U.S. citizens or play in a U.S.-based league.
Mayweather sat down with executive editor Jon Wertheim for a Q&A, featured in this week’s SI, before his victory over Robert Guerrero on May 4. He says, “Surround yourself with the right team. It takes brains to make the money.” When asked how his time in prison affected his view about money, Mayweather adds: “I got offers and huge deals when I was locked up, with CEOs writing me, wanting to do business with me, Fortune 500 companies wanting to do business with me. But my main focus was just coming home and being free. You can have all the money in the world, but if you’re not free, it’s like being poor, because you can’t do anything.”
The 2013 list features 25 baseball players, 13 basketball players, eight football players, two golfers, one boxer and one NASCAR driver. No female athletes were ranked in the U.S. list for the fifth consecutive year. There are 17 athletes on the 2013 list that were not there in 2012, including Johan Santana
(No. 13, $26.3MM), Dirk Nowitzki (No. 35, $21.3MM) and Miguel Cabrera (No. 36, $21.2MM), who joined the list due to a tweak in the rules that puts anyone on an American sports team on the Fortunate 50, whether or not they’re a U.S. citizen. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 49), Derek Jeter (No. 19) and Larry Fitzgerald (unranked) dropped out of the top 10 from last year.
The New York Yankees topped team sports with five representatives on the list. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies came next with four players each, followed by the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, Miami Heat and LA Lakers with three. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the only NFL team to have more than one player on the list (Vincent Jackson, No. 15 and Carl Nicks, No. 21).
Soccer star David Beckham ($48.3MM) tops the SI International 20, which ranks the 20 highest-earning international athletes. Beckham unseats tennis champ Roger Federer (No. 2, $43.4MM), who ranked No. 1 the previous three years. Tennis star Maria Sharapova (No.9, $25.5MM) is the top-ranked female to crack either list. Fellow tennis player Li Na (No. 17, $17.3MM) is the only other ranked female.
The package continues online at SI.com/Fortunate50 with additional features on Drew Brees’s contract, NASCAR’s biggest earners, MLB players and their business ventures and the sea of change in endorsement contracts. BlackRock is the SI Fortunate 50 sponsor on SI.com.
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 OffWith 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.
Drinking And Driving And Dying
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: NFL, Thomas Lake, Weekly Issue | Tags: dallas cowboys, Jerry Brown, Josh Brent, nfl, Thomas Lake Comments Off
Professional athletes do not cause more DUI fatalities than other Americans—they just make more headlines. But with so many resources in place for athletes to avoid driving drunk and numerous high-profile tragedies in recent years, senior writer Thomas Lake wonders in this week’s SPORTS ILLUSTRATED why athletes today simply don’t know better?
Lake takes readers through a timeline of the most high profile drinking and driving related accidents involving professional athletes, including many that included fatalities like last year’s DUI related accident involving Josh Brent of the Dallas Cowboys that killed his teammate and friend Jerry Brown.
Lake reports that years before the tragic accident, while playing at Illinois, Brown and Brent both ran into trouble by driving without valid licenses and even worse—Brent was arrested for DUI in February 2009. He was kicked off the Illinois team and spent two months in prison. After his release, Brent attended a court-ordered victim-impact panel where he learned about horrific accidents related to drunk driving.
Lake then chronicles the night that never should have been. After a night of partying on December 8, 2012, just five miles from the apartment that Brent and Brown shared, Lake writes: “Brent had a choice to make…He can call a confidential safe-ride service administered by the NFL Players Association. He can call one of two limousine services affiliated with the Cowboys. He can call a member of the Cowboys’ staff whose job it is to be available all day and all night to help the players however he can. Josh Brent does none of those things (PAGE 61).” Brown had similar choices to make other than getting in as a passenger. The result: A terrible car accident that left Brown dead (Brent survived with minimal injuries). According to a police report, Brent’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.189, more than twice the legal threshold of intoxication.
Lake notes the 2012 USA Today analysis that found NFL players are arrested on drunken-driving charges less often per capita than members of the general population. Yet, he says “What distinguishes the sports figures is their financial ability to hire drivers. And now, with Safe Ride solutions, they have fewer excuses to drive drunk than they ever had before.” (PAGE 59)
SI.com Week in Review
Posted: May 3, 2013 Filed under: Baseball, College Basketball, College Football, Golf, GOLF.com, NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA, Uncategorized Comments OffIt has been quite a week here at Sports Illustrated, with much of the attention centered on the Jason Collins story. So if you couldn’t get to all of the other great content on SI.com from this past week, Inside SI has you covered.
Here’s a selection of some of the top stories and video productions from our outstanding team of talent from the past week:
Click here and here to read all of the coverage on the groundbreaking Collins story, including his essay with Franz Lidz, commentary from SI managing editor Chris Stone, SI executive editor Jon Wertheim, Jason’s brother Jarron, Jason’s agent Arn Tellam, reaction from athletes, and more.
Who doesn’t love the Warriors, asks Phil Taylor after last night’s series clinching win over the Nuggets.
Chris Mannix on how the Celtics are improbably back in their series with the Knicks after Game 5 win.
Ian Thomsen writes that Bulls have reason for hope despite their loss to the Nets last night.
After being named rookie of the year, Thomsen says it could be just the start for Damian Lillard.
Ben Golliver says the Thunder are desperate after their game 5 loss to the Rockets.
Chris Mannix says OKC won’t last without Westbrook (video). Mannix also discusses NBA coaching vacancies and the potential for Phil Jackson to take on a GM role in the NBA (video).
Pete Thamel discusses his SI story on whether India can develop as a basketball power on the Inside SI Podcast with Richard Deitsch.
Brian Cazeneuve notes seven players with something to prove this postseason.
Stu Hackel on the intrigue of this year’s NHL playoffs.
Alan Muir on the Red Wing’s ugly win last night that evened their series with the Ducks.
Sara Kwak says the Capital’s beat the Rangers due to excelling on the Power play.
Tom Verducci says all the flawed Phillies can do is ride it out.
Jay Jaffe wonders if the 200-win pitcher is an endangered species.
Bryce Harper and Clay Buchholz headline Cliff Corcoran’s first Awards Watch of the season.
Joe Sheehan writes that pitching is the reason for the Red Sox great start.
Verducci explains how the Royals’ rotation depth should make them contenders for the AL Central crown (video).
Ted Keith and Stephen Cannella discuss the April MLB trends that have the potential to continue into May (video).
Peter King tries to makes sense of the draft’s biggest hits and misses in this week’s MMQB.
King discusses Tim Tebow’s future after being let go by the New York Jets (video).
Don Banks on who has won the 2013 NFL offseason.
Reigning NFL MVP Adrian Peterson talks with SI’s Maggie Gray about his desire to rush for 2,500 yards, win multiple rings, and how this off-season has been different without having to rehab his knee (video).
Richard Deitsch reviews ESPN and NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL draft.
2014 Mock Chris Burke takes a stab at a very early 2014 mock draft.
Tim Layden says the wide-open 139th Kentucky Derby filled with uplifting stories.
Watch Layden discuss why the Kentucky Derby is so hard to predict (video).
Michael Bamberger uncovers that Champions Tour player David Eger was the TV viewer who called in Tiger Woods’s rules violation at the Masters.
Bamberger says we could all learn a thing or two from Guan Tianlang.
SI Golf writers and an anonymous Tour Pro answer questions in a Players Championship Preview edition of PGA Tour Confidential.
Pete Thamel tells the story of Dick Kelley, the beloved Boston College media relations guru who is battling ALS.
Luke Winn’s look at 2013-14’s top 32 NCAA Hoops teams following the NBA draft deadline.
Andy Glockner hands out NBA draft declaration deadline winners and losers.
Stewart Mandel weighs in on the new Big Ten alignment, the playoff and more in his mailbag.
Pete Thamel sits down for a Q&A with Duke coach David Cutcliffe.
20 years later, Bruce Jenkins remembers Monica Seles’ stabbing and how it changed her career.
Despite working countless hours on the Jason Collins story, Jon Wertheim still found time for his weekly Tennis Mailbag.
Grant Wahl writes on the rise of Bundesliga, the return of Donovan and more in his soccer mailbag.
Newcastle faces crucial final matches amid rumor and accusations writes Georgina Turner.
Raphael Honigstein takes an early look at what to watch in all-German Champions League final.
Chris Mannix says that Floyd Mayweather has a newfound level of maturity after serving time in jail.
Mannix predicts a dominant performance from Floyd Mayweather when he fights Robert Guerrero this weekend in Las Vegas (video).
Jeff Wagenheim writes that despite his beatdown, Chael Sonnen was just 27 seconds away from the title.
Car Estes with his weekly NASCAR power rankings.
