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Archive
May
3 - In a week where each of the three main sports magazines
had Wayne Gretzky on its cover, ESPN Magazine provided the article
with the most interesting perspective - that from Gretzky’s
former coach and opponent Barry Melrose.
Melrose wrote
about how it was to witness Gretzky’s magic from ice level, behind
the bench and in the broadcast booth. Melrose’s admiration for the
Great One came through loud and clear. The magazine also included
Gretzky memories from each of ESPN’s hockey personalities as well
as a statistical perspective from Elias Sports Bureau’s Steve Hirdt.
After that,
though, I was disappointed with the magazine’s NHL playoff preview,
which basically consisted of 16 team capsules spread over four pages.
The information wasn’t too bad, but the print was smaller
than this. You couldn’t read those pages unless you moved
the magazine closer to your face - and that ain’t a good thing.
The magazine
also didn’t compare the first round series; instead, it only analyzed
each team independently.
I expected
more of a preview from ESPN magazine, considering that ESPN/ESPN2
will be devoting more hours to hockey over the next two months than
my AQB partner, Randy, does to eating. And that’s a lot.
Plus, it’s up
to ESPN and its world of sports media to drum up any support for
the NHL playoffs this year because Fox, an NHL lame duck losing
the league’s broadcast rights next season to ABC, isn’t going to
be doing much at all.
As for the rest
of the magazine, the best/worst story was Eric Adelson’s
review of Rick Neuheisel’s five-year Colorado coaching career. The
article was good because Adelson provided lots of behind-the-scenes
gossip about the Buffaloes program; however, it was a terrible
piece of reporting because, as Adelson disparages Neuheisel’s
coaching method, he provided only one direct quote from Neuheisel
himself!
And that appeared
three paragraphs from the bottom!
Now maybe Adelson
spoke to Neuheisel, maybe he didn’t. Maybe Adelson had more quotes
from the former coach, maybe he didn’t. But the fact remains, Neuheisel
was never given a chance to defend himself as his former players,
coaches and Adelson were allowed to question his coaching ability.
Worst of all, there was no explanation as to why Neuheisel didn’t
appear more.
The only
non-Gretzky story truly worth reading was Jeff Bradley’s profile
of Derek Jeter, who seems to be as impressive off the field
as he is on.
Other stories
included Kenny Mayne on the Kentucky Derby, which seemed like a
story that the magazine scrapped together at the last minute so
it can have something on the country’s most famous horse race; Ric
Bucher on the Trail Blazers, which have been covered already by
the other magazines and other sports media outlets; and Jody Berger
on speed golfing, which I didn’t understand either as a sport or
as a story.
Grade: C.
(George)
April 19 - This week's edition of ESPN
The Magazine, the NFL Draft preview, focuses on the top quarterbacks
headed to the NFL.
Michael Wilbon, a columnist with The Washington Post, writes an
interesting piece about black quarterbacks and ESPN briefly
profiles QBs Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper, Donovan McNabb, Cade
McNown and Michael Bishop. Why would ESPN do anything on Bishop,
whose chances of being picked on the first day of the Draft are
minimal?
Of course, the longest QB piece is about Kentucky's Tim Couch,
who is struggling with the death of his best friend in a drunk-driving
accident this past season. The article, written by Sally Jenkins,
finds a young man not surprised that everyone is picking his game
apart.
ESPN's Draft coverage also briefly looks at the needs of each team,
checks out "Four To Watch," and provides Mel Kiper, Jr.'s
first-round Mock Draft. Kiper also contributes to the "Team
Needs" section.
Is this all ESPN could give us from Kiper, the guy they play up
as the top NFL draft expert? For goodness sakes, his fingerprints
are barely on the issue while ESPN gives us opinions from scouts
who won't disclose their names. Mel does a nice job; it would
be nice if The Magazine would allow readers to see more of his insight.
Other
articles of interest...
- Dan Le Batard's
look at the off-again, on-again relationship between Philadelphia
76ers star Allen Iverson and coach Larry Brown.
- "Hottawa,"
a look at the red-hot Ottawa Senators.
- The best
in the 1998-99 NHL, as voted by ESPN hockey analysts.
Of course, this
edition also includes brief looks at the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball,
etc.
Grade:
C- (Not enough from Kiper.) (Randy)
April
5 - This week's edition of ESPN The Magazine, the baseball preview,
features an interesting look at fastballs.
Peter Gammons briefly inspects the vaunted heater of new Yankee
Roger Clemens; Brendan O'Connor focuses on youngsters Bartolo
Colon (Cleveland), Billy Wagner (Houston), Roy Halladay, (Toronto),
Ugueth Urbina (Montreal) and Matt Anderson (Detroit); and Chipper
Jones tells Jeff Bradley why he loves to hit against guys who
throw big-time heat.
However, the best baseball article is Tim Kurkjian's fine story
about fastball pitcher extroardinaire Curt Schilling. In the
feature, Schilling talks not only about his ace pitch but the first
player he ever played against who threw heat.
"...there was this kid pitcher named Justin Lasher. When he
was 12, he was huge. We called him Froggy. He threw freaking gas."
Schilling doles out some great quotes.
Otherwise, the baseball preview is slightly above average. There
are team-by-team breakdowns with each club's projected starting
lineup and pitching rotation but the magazine doesn't really offer
stirring analysis.
Surprise, surprise. Kurkjian picks the Yankees to win the
1999 series over the Braves in seven games...with Clemens on the
hill. The writer also projects the Indians, Angels, Rangers, Astros,
Rockies and Dodgers as playoff teams.
Other
articles of interest...
- "Reel
to Real," Tom Friend's comparison of the situation of
agent Gary Wichard to that of Jerry Maguire is easily the best
read in this week's issue. Friend compares Wichard's loss
of Tim Couch as a client to Mr. Maguire's loss of the fictional
Frank Cushman in the hit film.
- "In
Search Of...," Stephen Rodrick's profile of Pistons' star
Grant Hill, who is trying to relax and enjoy life.
- "Top
Dog," E.J. Hradek's look at Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph.
- The Masters
preview.
ESPN's Andy North, Jimmy Roberts and Mike Tirico handicap the
field.
Of course, this
edition also includes brief looks at the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball,
etc.
Grade:
B+ (Randy)
March
22 - I wasn't particularly impressed by ESPN The Magazine's
NCAA tournament preview.
I've never been a big fan of the writing of Curry Kirkpatrick,
formerly a Sports Illustrated scribe, and this issue did nothing
to change my opinion. His feature of UConn coach Jim Calhoun meanders,
doesn't flow well and reads like the musings of Hunter S. Thompson.
Sorry for the insult, Mr. Thompson.
I did like Gene Wojciechowski's article about Arizona guard Jason
Terry; John Gustafson's story of Purdue women's star Stephanie
White-McCarty; and the magazine's list of the top point guards,
top shooters, top defenders, etc.
But, why do I need to see the bracket of Dick Vitale and read
about his NCAA predictions, especially when I can hear his picks
every night and day on ESPN? I am suffering from Dickie V. Overload.
The best basketball article in this issue is "Chemical
Brothers," Ric Bucher's story about Dennis Rodman and Kurt
Rambis, possibly the key components to the success of the Los
Angeles Lakers. The story is well written and features tons of quotes
from the principals and other Lakers players.
Particularly interesting is a sidebar article by Eddie Jones,
"So Trade Me, Already." No sooner said than done, Eddie.
Other
articles of interest...
- Dan Le Batard's
story about Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and his
quest to "never change."
- "Desert
Stawm," Kevin Paul Dupont's article about how a pair of Boston
natives, Keith Tkachuk and Jeremy Roenick, are bringing
their own style to the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes.
- The first
legitimate Major League Soccer preview I've seen, by Jeff
Bradley. I don't like soccer and probably never will but you've
got to hand it to ESPN for a solid effort.
As usual, this
edition also includes brief looks at the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball,
etc.
Grade:
B- (Randy)
March 8 - The latest issue of ESPN The
Magazine, billed as the NASCAR preview edition, is the best look
at motor sports by a major publication.
Star Jeff Gordon is on the cover and Shaun Assael leads with
an intriguing piece about the sport's top dog, detailing 10
ways to beat the recent Daytona 500 champion. Good luck.
ESPN also previews 10 more Winston Cup drivers, from John
Andretti to Rusty Wallace and offers a Kenny Mayne piece about covering
the "Super Bowl of Auto Racing."
One question: Why did ESPN wait until after the Daytona 500 to
publish its NASCAR preview? Regardless, the issue is well done
and a welcome sight to racing fans.
The racing stuff is good but the most original part of this week's
edition is Dan Shaughnessy's "E-Boston," a cartoonish
look at how the Red Sox continue to pay for their sale of Babe Ruth
in 1919.
Shaughnessy writes of the ineptitude of the Sox since that fateful
day, detailing a couple of items that are too strange to be mere
coincidence: Fenway Park opened just six days after the Titanic
sunk and Monica Lewinsky and Sox star Nomar Garciaparra were
born on the same day in 1973 in California. Very well
done.
Other articles
of interest...
- Dan Le Batard,
an ESPN columnist who writes for the Miami Herald, takes an
interesting look at Heat coach Pat Riley and finds no one
wants to win more than the former Kentucky Wildcat.
- "Seeing
Red," Tim Kurkjian's profile of talented but immature St.
John's star Ron Artest.
- Adrian Dater
profiles two high-scoring stars from the Colorado Avalanche, Joe
Sakic and Peter Forsberg.
- Jody Berger
writes about the suicide of former ABL player Katrina Price.
As usual, this
edition also includes brief looks at the NBA, NHL, NFL, college basketball,
baseball, soccer, college football and the business of sports. Check
out the NBA section and a look at Lakers' swingman Eddie Jones'
career as a trade rumor.
Grade:
B+ (Randy)
Feb.
22 - ESPN The Magazine's NBA preview isn't great but it contains
several interesting articles.
First up is the cover story, Gene Wojciechowski's article about
former Bulls forward Scottie Pippen's signing with Houston.
We learn about Pippen's whirlwind recruitment by the Rockets as
he signs a deal, begins practice and, in his limited spare time,
looks for a place to live. If you don't know how badly Pippen wanted
to be an ex-Bull, this story will explain it to you.
The team previews aren't bad but they're pretty short, 3-4
teams to a page, and don't go into much detail. And, if there was
ever a year in which fans need all the information they can get,
this is the one. For the record, David Aldridge, Dr. Jack Ramsay
and Ric Bucher pick the Pacers while Fred Carter and Kevin
Loughery choose the Lakers.
Also included are Stephen Rodrick's profile of Latrell Sprewell;
Ric Bucher's choices for five up-and-coming stars; and Brenda
Spoonemore's story about the bane of many a defender - the crossover
dribble. The Spoonemore effort is definitely worth reading.
If you've had it with the NBA...
- "It's
My Call," an outstanding John Elway narrative, as written
by Tom Friend. Will he or won't he (retire)? Only time will tell.
- "Breaking
Away," E.J. Hradek's story about the newest sensation
in the state of Florida, Panthers star Pavel Bure.
- "X-men,"
the tale of Xavier University's outstanding basketball team, by
John Gustafson.
Grade:
B- (Randy)
Feb.
8 - The latest edition of ESPN's The Magazine is easily the
most impressive in the history of the bi-monthly publication.
I only had to read two things before I knew this edition is a winner
- the special pullout issue commemorating Michael Jordan's retirement,
and ESPN's preview of Super Bowl XXXIII.
The Jordan coverage is outstanding with great photos; a very
good feature by Rick Telander; Eric Adelson's picks for MJ's
six best games; accolades from ESPN personalities (for
AQB's version, click here); and even a story about David
Bridgers, a lifelong Wilmington, N.C., resident who is still
one of Jordan's closest friends.
Granted, ESPN had two weeks to assemble this issue but it really
is a great effort, with all you'd ever need to know about #23.
ESPN's Super Bowl preview is also very good, including a Mike Littwin
feature about John Elway; Jeff Bradley on Dan Reeves;
the intriguing "33 Ways to win Super Bowl XXXIII; five
big plays to win past Super Bowls; and a Tom Friend article about
Hall of Fame linebacker Ted Hendricks' obsession with his four
Super Bowl rings.
Also, ESPN breaks down the key matchups and network personalities
Mark Malone, Chris Berman and Merril Hoge throw in their two
cents.
And, if you're sick of Jordan or the Super Bowl hype:
- "Larry's
New Legend," Ric Bucher's story about Larry Bird's Indiana
Pacers, a favorite to win the NBA title.
- "Huggie
Bear ," a Curry Kirkpatrick feature about Cincinnati
Bearcats' basketball coach Bob Huggins.
- "Three
of a Kind," a tale of first ballot Hall of Famers Nolan
Ryan, Robin Yount and George Brett, by Peter Gammons.
- "Phantom
Finn,"
E.J. Hradek's tale of young Dallas Stars' phenom Jere Lehtinen.
Grade:
A (Randy)
Jan.
25 - Finally, Cris Carter gets the cover gig for ESPN
the Magazine. After all, Randy Moss, his receiving protégé,
appeared on the Oct. 19 cover and the Minnesota wideouts have been
doing ads for the publication for months.
Carter is featured in a short article by Tim Keown, who writes about
how his summer workouts with Moss may have played a large part in
Minnesota's 15-1 season.
The Carter piece is one of five short NFL features. Others profiled:
Denver's Shannon Sharpe, by Mike Littwin; New York's Bryan
Cox, by John Clayton; Atlanta's Ray Buchanan, by Alan
Grant; and Minnesota's Robert Smith, by Eric Adelson. Just
one question about these stories: Why is Sharpe wearing the Super
Bowl ring of defensive tackle Keith Traylor?
Other articles include:
- "Why
We Should Watch the NBA," written by Ric Bucher and Jessie
Paolucci. The pair predict a Pacers-Jazz final.
- "Must
Have Been A Dream," an excerpt of David Halberstam's
book "Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He
Made. The Pulitzer Prize winner is a fine writer but this excerpt,
the tale of scrimmage held by the Dream Team in Monaco, didn't
do much for me.
- "Mama's
Boys," an interesting Stephen Rodrick piece about Michigan
State star guard Mateen Cleaves and the other three Spartans who
hail from Flint, Mich.
- "Building
the Perfect Player,"
by Anamaria Wilson. The writer calls Avalanche star Peter Forsberg
the league's most complete player.
Grade:
C+ (Randy)
Jan. 11 - This week's issue of ESPN The
Magazine includes a feature about Jets wide receiver Keyshawn
Johnson and an interview of Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham.
The subjects are interesting but there is a common flaw with
both pieces.
What's my beef? The Johnson article, though written in the first
person, was done "with" Shelley Smith, a writer who
hired Keyshawn as a babysitter while the wideout was at Southern
Call; and the Cunningham interview is conducted by ESPN's
Kenny Mayne, who was a senior quarterback at UNLV when Randall was
a freshman.
I'm aware that the lure of using a writer who knows an athlete is
the perception that the subject will be more candid with someone
he/she perceives as a friend. But, did ESPN really need a friend
to coax opinions out of someone such as Johnson, who never met an
interview he didn't like?
In most cases, I think it's difficult for writers to remain objective
while writing about someone they know well. I was disappointed
by Mayne, who didn't ask any tough questions. That's too bad
because he seems to have a good personality for conducting interviews.
Other articles include stories about:
- San Francisco
quarterback Steve Young, by Tony Schwartz. Are those chinks
we see in the Niners' armor?
- Tennessee
quarterback Tee Martin, by Sally Jenkins. More insight into
the life of the man who replaced Peyton Manning.
- minor
league basketball coach Darryl Dawkins, by Steve Friedman.
What? There aren't there any jobs available on Lovetron?
- Maryland
basketball star Steve Francis,
by Curry Kirkpatrick. Learn more about the guy that Sixers coach
Larry Brown says he'd take first in the NBA draft.
- the Sutters,
hockey's first family,
by Kevin Paul Dupont. Find out more about the six Sutter brothers
who played in the NHL and the parents and town that reared them.
Grade:
B- (Hurt by the Cunningham and Johnson pieces.)
Dec. 28 - ESPN The Magazine unveils its
initial year-end issue and the effort isn't bad. I do question
the decision to put New Jersey Nets forward Keith Van Horn on
the cover with Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss the
headline "Next '99." Yes, Van Horn is a future star but
it seems odd to feature a young NBA player when that league is in
the middle of a lockout.
Following the short "tradition" of The Magazine, this
year-end issue looks to the future, not at the year gone by.
Much of the magazine focuses on the stars on the sports horizon
- UConn point guard Khalid El-Amin, Expos rightfielder Vladimir
Guerrero, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, etc.
Some of ESPN's interesting predictions for 1999 include:
- January:
Denver
beats Minnesota in Super Bowl XXXIII, 38-35.
- June:
Detroit wins its third consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating Buffalo.
- September:
NFL season opens with Mike Holmgren in San Francisco, Steve Mariucci
in Cleveland and John Elway in his last season.
- October:
Cubs and Red Sox meet in a dream World Series.
- December:
Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington becomes the first defensive
player to win the Heisman Trophy.
The best
feature article is Gene Wojciechowski's piece about the Fiesta Bowl
preparations of Tennessee and coach Phil Fulmer. The story is
very well done and tells the readers about topics ranging from film
study to how the Volunteers' equipment managers clean team helmets.
The other football feature - Dan Le Batard's article about Miami
quarterback Dan Marino - is also interesting but flawed. After
reading the story, it doesn't appear that the writer even spoke
with the star QB . Sure, there are some telling comments from ex-Dolphins
receiver Mark Clayton and coach Jimmy Johnson but we don't learn
much about Marino. I expected much more from Mr. Le Batard, a
columnist with the Miami Herald.
Grade: B (Randy)
Dec. 14 - The latest issue of ESPN's
The Magazine is one of its best. Featured are six readable articles
- four on football and two on basketball.
The top football piece is Curry Kirkpatrick's profile of Denver
Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, one of the NFL's most
underrated players. The writer shows the human side of "Romo,"
which you'd never see on ESPN's "Sportscenter."
Readers also see the softer side of Jets coach Bill Parcells
in Mike Barnicle's "Raw Tuna." Barnicle takes to Parcells'
old neighborhood where the coach is a regular guy, not the man seeking
to take his third NFL team to the playoffs. A good read for football
fans who like, or dislike, Parcells.
"Leapin' Lion," by Gene Wojciechowski, tells of Penn
State linebacker LaVar Arrington, a finalist for the Butkus
Award. Wojciechowski focuses on the star's relationship with his
father, who lost both of his legs in Vietnam. This type of in-depth
profile is becoming The Magazine's specialty.
The final football article, "School Pride," details
a Texas high school story too crazy to believe. If you liked
"Friday Night Lights," you'll be interested in this piece.
Other top articles include Jody Berger's feature about New Jersey
Nets center Jayson Williams and "Michael's Brush with
Death," a little-known tale about the Michael Jordan.
If you think you know everything about the Bulls' star, read on.
If you've been waiting to sample the newest sports publication,
now is the time. How's that for a plug Disney would be proud
of?
Grade:
A (Randy)
Nov. 30 - ESPN The Magazine's College
Basketball Preview issue is - to be kind - mediocre.
Curry Kirkpatrick's feature on Duke's Elton Brand is good
and I enjoyed Jody Berger's story about Tennessee star Chamique
Holdsclaw but the rest of the magazine sheds little light
on the NCAA scene.
ESPN previews just the top 16 men's teams, then lists the rest,
from 17 to 64. The women's preview isn't earth-shattering, either,
spotlighting the magazine's Elite Eight. This is a far cry from
what the reader will get in this week's The Sporting News and, in
some cases, last week's Sports Illustrated (Nov.
23).
The best part of this issue is Tim Keown's article about NFL
special teams star Curtis Buckley, a man who plays the game
on the edge. Keown does a very good job of describing the fear and
fury that exist inside one of the league's best special teamers.
I also enjoyed the accompanying piece by Chad Millman and Alan
Grant about kick return teams.
The only other article worth mentioning is Gene Wojciechowski's
story about real rivalries - the type that split families and
separate men from boys. Quite good but what about Lehigh-Lafayette?
Grade:
C (Randy)
Nov. 16 - ESPN The Magazine's Nov. 16
issue is quite good, particularly the feature about Denver quarterback
John Elway and his protege, rookie Brian Griese, formerly of
the University of Michigan.
The Elway-Griese piece is written by Tom Friend, one of my favorite
writers. He does an excellent job of focusing on Griese and showing
Elway through the young QB's eyes, not through those of a sportswriter
or fan. Articles like this, showing relationships between players,
are unique.
Unfortunately, Friend's other article - "It's My Bell"
about Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson - is a waste of time.
The piece is actually nicely written and includes some good
quotes from the high-scoring point guard. But, with the NBA lockout
in full swing, it's terribly out of place. Living near New York
City, I already hear Patrick Ewing complain about the owners on
a daily basis - I refuse to read about a thug who thinks he's the
next Michael Jordan. Horrible.
The other football feature is Dan Shaughnessy's story about New
England QB Drew Bledsoe. The article is fair and pretty well
done but I'm sick and tired of reading about how disappointed
people are in this kid. As Shaughnessy notes, Bledsoe has had
two head coaches, three offensive coordinators and four quarterback
coaches since being drafted in six seasons. The able writer is a
Bostonian who follows Bledsoe closely but it might have been a better
idea to have an "outsider" on this story.
Other articles include an outstanding Dan Le Batard article about
Sammy Sosa's return to the hurricane-ravaged Dominican Republic;
Tony Barnhart's piece about University of Georgia football star
Champ Bailey; Cal Fussman's story about high school basketball
star DerMarr Johnson; and James Naughton's expose of the talents
of Washington Capitals star Peter Bondra.
Grade:
B
(Randy)
Nov.
2 - This
week's issue of ESPN's The Magazine includes a cover story about
Mike Tyson, who was recently given approval to fight again by
the Nevada Athletic Commission.
The Tyson piece, by well-respected writer Tom Friend, focuses on
the boxer's propensity towards The Seven Deadly Sins. It's not the
same old story about Iron Mike so this article is definitely
worth reading.
Other features include a story about Jacksonville Jaguars teammates/buddies
Mark Brunell and Tony Boselli, by Stephen Rodrick; a piece
about UCLA star QB and Heisman Trophy candidate Cade McNown,
by Sally Jenkins; and the tale of Marv Marinovich, father
of ex-USC and Raiders QB Todd, also by Rodrick.
Rodrick's piece about Brunell and Boselli is interesting
and fairly probing as it focuses quite a bit on the players' religious
bond. Rodrick does a good job of conveying why these players don't
think their work on the field compromises their beliefs.
The McNown story focuses on the quarterback's image as a pretty
boy and a gym rat - mentioning that Bruins coach Bob Toledo has
had to kick him out of the office because "You couldn't get
any work done." This piece is good and, unlike this week's
SI, doesn't include a picture of McNown vomiting.
The Marv Marinovich article talks about how Todd's father is pushing
his latest offspring/prodigy, 10-year-old Mikhail. I was surprised
to read that Todd, a 29-year-old washout, has no ill will towards
his father. What Rodrick's piece does is illustrate what an idiot
Marv Marinovich really is. Don't get me wrong - I'd love to
have a kid who is a great athlete but it's not worth robbing a child
of his youth. Maybe guys named Marv are born without consciences.
My favorite part of this week's issue was Mike Lupica's piece
about Yogi Berra's steadfast refusal to return to Yankee Stadium
until George Steinbrenner relinquishes his ownership of the Yankees.
You've gotta admire Yogi's spirit and the way Lupica puts Berra's
emotion into words.
The issue also includes a story about Robbie Knievel, son of Evil;
plenty about the World Series; and San Jose Sharks tough guy Bryan
Marchment.
Grade: C (Randy)
Oct.
19 - ESPN's
The Magazine's NHL Preview issue features a cover story about
Minnesota rookie receiver Randy Moss, an article about Brett Hull
and reports of all 27 teams.
Curry
Kirkpatrick's article about Moss is worth reading, with interesting
tidbits about his relationship with teammate Cris Carter and Libby
Offutt, the mother of his children. The quotes from Moss show a
touch of immaturity but, also a rare confidence usually seen only
in "special players." On another note, when will
Kirkpatrick, who also reports for ESPN, get a good haircut?
The Hull piece, by Mike Levine, is pretty well done. The article
details Hull's thoughts about leaving St. Louis for Dallas ("I
wish I'd been straight with the St. Louis fans that I wasn't coming
back."), ex-Blues coach Mike Keenan ("What the hell did
they hire him for?") and his rap as a selfish player ("Scoring
goals, making plays is what I do."). Hockey fans will enjoy
this examination of the Golden Brett.
The team previews are average, at best. Each NHL division is
previewed on just one page, so it's hard to get a real pulse
about each team. Hockey is a sport whose popularity has grown by
leaps and bounds in the 1990s. It's just a shame that The Magazine
didn't afford the sport the respect it deserves.
The issue also includes an interesting piece about University
of Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch and a
touching tribute to late relief pitcher Dan Quisenberry.
I enjoyed "The Rifle," Gene Wojciechowski's profile
of Couch. Wojo takes a rare look at a player through the eyes of
an opposing assistant coach, getting some wonderful quotes in the
process. "Goodness," the anonymous coach says after seeing
Couch throws a spectacular pass on film. "Lightning couldn't
break on those balls." The story also reveals that the
only question about the UK legend is whether he can consistently
throw the deep ball.
The two-page tribute to Quisenberry, "Saving Grace," by
Steve Wulf is a great reminder of the preciousness of life. Wulf
depicts a man who lived life right - with a pure heart and a laughing
spirit. God speed, Quiz.
Grade: C (Randy)
Oct.
5 - This
issue of ESPN's The Magazine is full of good stories, from
baseball to football and beyond.
Dan Patrick's interview with Detroit running back Barry Sanders
is the most interesting piece I've read in the publication. Granted,
Patrick and Sanders are good friends so it isn't the greatest bit
of journalism you'll ever see. But it is quite entertaining and
Patrick isn't afraid to ask fairtly tough questions, such as "How
important is winning?"
Patrick is outstanding on ESPN but he's a good interviewer, as
well. The fact that he and Sanders are close enables the Q&A
to flow like a conversation between old friends. I'd like to
see The Magazine continue to use this format when interviewing athletes
- it really makes for an interesting read.
Also featured
are a couple of articles about the Yankees. Jeff Bradley
writes a very good story chronicling the team's record season. He
focuses on various dates and games, using conversations with
15 players, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre
to illustrate their roles in the team's success. I'm not a
fan of the Bronx Bombers but I really liked the approach to this
article, which was as good as any I've read about the 1998 Yanks.
Craig Wolff's "Uptown Local," is also well done
and shows readers what those of us who live in New York already
know: pitcher David Cone is the heart and soul of this Yankees
team. Even the most ardent Red Sox fan would have to respect "Coney"
after reading this article.
The issue also includes Dan Le Batard's well-written article about
the kindness of Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas; John Gustafson's
"Not in Kansas," about the recruit of UCLA freshman basketballer
JaRon Rush; and "Back Off," a short Curry Kirkpatrick
story about Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer.
Also worth reading are The Magazine's two-page potpourri
summary of the 1998 baseball season; a
Peter Gammons piece about the keys to playoff bullpen success; and
Dimity McDowell's illustration of what goes on behind the scenes
of ABC's telecasts of Monday Night Football. Nothing like a little
cross-promotion, eh folks?
Grade: B+ - The month it'll take to read all of these articles
will be time well spent. (Randy)
Sept.
21 - Surprise,
surprise. The cover of ESPN's The Magazine features Mark McGwire
(and a smaller Sammy Sosa). Inside are several articles worth reading.
One of the best traits of The Magazine
are its interesting feature articles, most of which are fairly lengthy.
I also like the fact that it only hits the stands every two weeks,
giving me plenty of time to read everything I want to read.
This
issue's lead-off story is "The Big Bang," a Peter Gammons/Tim
Kurkjian piece about the impact McGwire and Sosa have had on baseball
this year.
The feature is well-written
and you won't find two reporters who know more about the game than
these guys. Naturally, Gammons and Kurkjian focus heavily on the
Cardinals' slugger, writing precious little about Sosa, though they
do declare him the National League MVP.
An interesting sidebar is Dan Le Batard's "I'm for Sammy,"
in which he says he's rooting for Sosa because the Cubs right-fielder
is Hispanic. The one-page declaration is an interesting take on
ethnicity and baseball.
Veteran
writer Rick Telander authors a short piece about Roger Maris in
"A Helluva Run."
Despite its brevity, the article is interesting and includes revealing
quotes from
people ranging from Roger Maris, Jr., to Bill Guilfoile, the assistant
public relations director for the Yankees when Maris was in uniform.
Next up is a Steve Wulf piece in which ESPN ranks its 25 Greatest
Sports Moments since Roger Maris hit his 61st home run Oct.
1, 1961. I won't ruin your fun by disclosing ESPN's list but
let's
just say the list
will inspire much debate. Speaking
of arguments, baseball fanatics will love page 59, Baseball Tonight's
list of the 62 Greatest Home Runs of All-Time.
Alonzo Spellman has the physical abilities to be one of the
NFL's greatest players but his mental state is shaky at best,
writes Donnell Alexander in "Free Fall." This is an intriguing
piece, detailing how Spellman has spent much of the money he's earned
on leeches he often refers to as his family. Alexander writes of
Spellman's eccentricities but the article includes few quotes from
the man himself. In Alexander's defense, it appears the task of
eliciting meaningful quotes from Spellman would be quite difficult.
The issue also includes Gene
Wojciechowski's article about University of Florida linebacker Jevon
Kearse, partly written from the perspective of the All-American's
imprisoned brother J.J.; an insightful Tom Friend piece about boxer
Oscar De La Hoya; an interesting Shaun Assael feature about the
racer people love to hate, Jeff Gordon; and Stephen Rodrick's story
about the insanity that surrounds the Oakland Raiders.
This issue has some interesting features but ESPN's Greatest Sports
and Home Run rankings are what make it a keeper.
Take this issue to work for those slow, casual-day Friday afternoons.
Grade: B+ Can't
wait to debate ESPN's "Greatest" rankings.
(Randy)
Sept.
7 - ESPN's
NFL preview includes about 65 pages of pro football coverage but
I found it disappointing. The lead features are a Rick Telander
piece about the importance of running backs in today's NFL and a
Tom Friend story about Terrell Davis.
Telander, an outstanding writer, talks about how Terrell Davis put
the Broncos over the top in 1997. While this is true, if running
backs are that important, why hasn't Barry Sanders made it to the
Super Bowl? Obviously, Sanders is a freak of nature but give me
a good offensive line any day, and I like my chances.
Friend's article, on the other hand, provides keen insight into
the life of Davis, who burst onto the scene three years ago and
hasn't stopped running. Friend writes of Davis' difficult past but
leads us to believe that the Super Bowl MVP is a genuinely likable
guy. This article is a good read and does as nice a job of profiling
Davis' life as anything I've read.
Dan Le Batard gives us the umpteenth pre-season article about Tampa
Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp. But ESPN provides a unique perspective
in this story, focusing on the view of Sapp from an offensive lineman's
point of view. It's always easy to find a Tony Dungy quote about
Sapp but reading comments by guys like Miami guard Mark Dixon, who
says "Once he gets an edge, he's as gone as a ghost,"
make this article worth reading.
But, while the features are pleasant to read, the team previews
leave much to be desired.
ESPN does rate each starter on each team from 1 (soon to be unemployed)
to 5 (sure-fire Pro Bowler) but the previews focus on just one player
per team and don't provide much perspective. The average football
fan who buys this issue with plans on using it to bone up for the
season, will be disappointed.
The magazine's Super Bowl pick of Green Bay over Kansas City makes
sense but Merrill Hoge's selection of the Redskins to represent
the NFC surprised me, and my favorite drink is burgundy and gold
Kool Aid.
Speaking of the the 'Skins, ESPN showed a serious lack of research
in their Washington preview, noting that center Cory Raymer is "developing
into the steadiest player on the line." What? Raymer started
just three games in 1997, probably entered training camp as the
team's fourth- or fifth-best starter and has been a consistent disappointment
since joining the team from the University of Wisconsin. I'd rate
him a 2, at best.
Away from the gridiron, Friend's article about Mark McGwire, "Crush
Hour," is a well-written story and gives the reader a rare
peek into the slugger's life away from the ballpark.Unfortunately,
Tim Keown's profile on Sammy Sosa isn't nearly as good. (Randy)
Aug. 24
-- One feature that I particularly enjoy about ESPN magazine is
the free-flowing interviews that it has with star athletes, such
as Michael Jordan earlier this year and Ken Griffey Jr. this week.
These articles are nothing more than the stars talking directly
to the readers. No awkward transitions. No boring prose. And no
self-serving questions.
It's all athlete,
all the time.
And this week's
story is no exception. In it, Griffey candidly talks about the Mariners,
his father and ESPN. Griffey criticizes SportsCenter broadcasters
who make fun of player making errors. Kudos to the magazine for
not removing it.
But one thing
that Griffey doesn't discuss is his much-publicized suicide attempt
years ago. This certainly would have been a prime opportunity for
him to help any reader who may be considering such drastic action.
The magazine
also includes an entertaining story on how Mark McGwire and his
home run chase have affected life in St. Louis
But other than
those baseball stories and a weak analysis of the Bengals quarterback
situation, which adds little new information other than some of
the dealings inside the Bengals locker room last year, the issue
mainly serves as ESPN's college football preview.
ESPN gives team
previews for those in its top 25. The preview are half-page but
OK for the most part; however, the teams' schedules listed with
the previews are worthless because there are no dates or times for
the games. Other than trying to be "hip," I have no idea
why ESPN would list the games without the dates.
The college
football preview also includes a good story on Texas running back
Ricky Williams (better than last
week's TSN version but not as good as Sports Illustrated's earlier
this year); a decent pictorial essay on the seven wonders of college
football; and a silly map examining college football along Interstate
80.
The map, done
on paper that folds out, which I hate (see the review of Sports
Illustrated's Aug. 10 issue), shows in a colorful way how easy
it is to find familiar college football action along the famous
road. But I don't know why this is news to ESPN, considering the
road spans the country and cuts straight through Big 10 and WAC
country. These worthless pages could have been better served giving
conference previews or preseason All-Americans. (George)
Aug.
10
-- With
its bulky appearance and smashmouth style, this new kid on the block
says it is exceeding its circulation projections.
In this issue, ESPN hits with its best feature to date: “99 Things
To Do Before You Die.” Get your mind out of the gutter, we’re talking
about sports-related things here.
Get an autograph (Does ex-Giants reliever Al Holland count?). Talk
sports in a barbershop (OK, so I was in high school and we talked
about my football team’s chances). Go to one more game with your
Dad (Skins-Dallas, the last game at RFK). Cry once (after Super
Bowl XVIII).
I’ve accomplished
30 of the items on the list. Thank God I’m only 28. Let's hope my
wife can stomach about 70 more events.
Other articles include Tom Friend’s “When?,” discussing whether
Cal Ripken should hang up his cleats and Diane K. Shah’s piece “The
New Dodger Blues.”
As a former
320-pound college offensive lineman, I was engrossed (no pun intended)
by Shah’s “Battle of the Bulge,” about the losing fight being waged
by hefty but talented defensive end Ray Seals.
Seals, who retired from the Cincinnati Bengals last month before
playing a down for them, has gained more than 100 pounds since entering
the NFL in 1987 and now tips the scales at about 340. Shah does
an excellent job of alternately leading the reader to feel sympathetic
and angry towards Seals as he makes a half-hearted visit to Duke
University’s weight-loss program. Don’t miss this one.
Bad Timing
Dept.: The two pages following the Seals article
show a full-length picture of Green Bay defensive tackle Gilbert
Brown’s refrigerator. Macaroni and cheese, Cookies ‘n Cream ice
cream and mounds of beef, pork and poultry show Brown isn’t going
to be making a trip to Duke anytime soon. Gotta go, I'm strangely
hungry. (Randy)
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