My feelings exactly. I started subscribing (first under my mom's name) when I was 12, in 1988. When I went to college in '94, it shifted to my name. My subscription was ending this year, and I turned off the auto-renew setting I'd had on probably since they offered it. When it switched to a monthly format, I said I'd give it until the end of my current subscription before deciding, but it didn't do enough to keep me around. Such a shame.
It is a tragedy what has happened to SI. What the ownership has done to it. I have every cover in plastic sheet protectors kept in three-ring binders going all the way back to Jan 8, 1979 (BAMA STOPS PENN STATE). I fell in love with the magazine instantly. The cover was mesmerizing. The SI cover often commemorated the week's biggest sports story. The covers now? We get Jake Paul. Come on. I still take SI because the writing within is still strong. But, it's a far cry from the glory years.
I traded SI for the Athletic when they went biweekly about five years ago. It ended a 24 year friendship that had soured. We're the same age-ish (43). I got SI during one of those school magazine drives, graduating from SI for Kids. I miss the SI from our youth. It was incredible journalism every week. Steve Rushin in the front, Rick Reilly in the back. If we're lucky, Peter King, Bill Nack, or Gary Smith in the middle. Sometimes I go back and read Gary Smith pieces that I can remember 25 years later. Welcome to the divorcees club, at least there's no alimony.
So true, Scott! Yes, I turned 43 in October. It's hard for me to stomach what's going on at SI because I feel like it's an institution. It deserves better. They still have some great journalists, but yeah like you said, the lineup from 30 to 20 or so years ago was stacked. I still remember the piece Gary Smith wrote off one photo of a college football locker room. I think it was TCU, but I could be wrong. That was one of the best things I've ever read. I miss the "Inside" sections, back page column and how they always covered a big game during the NFL season. I get it; that model of sports reporting is antiquated now but it was just so cool back in the day.
Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy the book. Yep, I grew up in Iola, a little town in Waupaca County. BUT my wife grew up in your neck of the woods, Denmark. Did you attend Lux-Casco?
My feelings exactly. I started subscribing (first under my mom's name) when I was 12, in 1988. When I went to college in '94, it shifted to my name. My subscription was ending this year, and I turned off the auto-renew setting I'd had on probably since they offered it. When it switched to a monthly format, I said I'd give it until the end of my current subscription before deciding, but it didn't do enough to keep me around. Such a shame.
It is a tragedy what has happened to SI. What the ownership has done to it. I have every cover in plastic sheet protectors kept in three-ring binders going all the way back to Jan 8, 1979 (BAMA STOPS PENN STATE). I fell in love with the magazine instantly. The cover was mesmerizing. The SI cover often commemorated the week's biggest sports story. The covers now? We get Jake Paul. Come on. I still take SI because the writing within is still strong. But, it's a far cry from the glory years.
I traded SI for the Athletic when they went biweekly about five years ago. It ended a 24 year friendship that had soured. We're the same age-ish (43). I got SI during one of those school magazine drives, graduating from SI for Kids. I miss the SI from our youth. It was incredible journalism every week. Steve Rushin in the front, Rick Reilly in the back. If we're lucky, Peter King, Bill Nack, or Gary Smith in the middle. Sometimes I go back and read Gary Smith pieces that I can remember 25 years later. Welcome to the divorcees club, at least there's no alimony.
So true, Scott! Yes, I turned 43 in October. It's hard for me to stomach what's going on at SI because I feel like it's an institution. It deserves better. They still have some great journalists, but yeah like you said, the lineup from 30 to 20 or so years ago was stacked. I still remember the piece Gary Smith wrote off one photo of a college football locker room. I think it was TCU, but I could be wrong. That was one of the best things I've ever read. I miss the "Inside" sections, back page column and how they always covered a big game during the NFL season. I get it; that model of sports reporting is antiquated now but it was just so cool back in the day.
it sounds like you grew up in Wisconsin (as did I - Luxemburg, WI). Buying your book on Madison - look fwd to reading it
Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy the book. Yep, I grew up in Iola, a little town in Waupaca County. BUT my wife grew up in your neck of the woods, Denmark. Did you attend Lux-Casco?
Iola - car show! :). Yes on Luxemburg-Casco. Grew up close to the border of Denmark school (29/V). Small world!
Wow, no kidding! My wife grew up on a farm along Pine Grove Road.