SI Covers

[Guest]

In its early years Sports Illustrated ran track covers on Parry O'Brien (No. 1), Bobby Morrow and Dallas Long. Then in the summer of '61 they ran a cover on a guy named Earl Young. (Every cover is shown in latest issue.)

The cover shows Young in a sprinter's pose and I was just wondering: who the heck is/was Earl Young and y do you trhink SI ran him as a cover subjecft?

I've always thought of myself as something of a student of the sport but this guy leaves me cold? Have no clue!

Incidentally...Michael Johnson, in getting back-to-back covers in summer of '96, something they never did for "King" Carl, is one of a handful of people to ever achieve this feat -- and certainly the only trackster.

Wonder how it is/was that the world's most august periodical devoted to our favorite sport never saw fit to award him this honor?

[stevehj197]

Re: SI Covers

>In its early years Sports Illustrated ran track
>covers on Parry O'Brien (No. 1), Bobby Morrow and
>Dallas Long. Then in the summer of '61 they ran
>a cover on a guy named Earl Young. (Every cover
>is shown in latest issue.)

The cover shows
>Young in a sprinter's pose and I was just
>wondering: who the heck is/was Earl Young and y
>do you trhink SI ran him as a cover
>subjecft?

I've always thought of myself as
>something of a student of the sport but this guy
>leaves me cold? Have no
>clue!

Earl Young was an outstanding quarter miler for Abilene Christian, who in 1960 Rome Olympics finished 6th ( I think ) in the 400 final that was won by Otis Davis over Carl Kaufman, both in WR 44.9. Then he teamed with Otis and Glenn Davis and Jack Yerman to run a WR 3:02.2 in the 1600 relay.

Incidentally...Michael Johnson, in
>getting back-to-back covers in summer of '96,
>something they never did for "King" Carl, is
>one of a handful of people to ever achieve this
>feat -- and certainly the only trackster.
>

Wonder how it is/was that the world's most
>august periodical devoted to our favorite sport
>never saw fit to award him this honor?

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

It is amazing how many covers were devoted to track and field athletes in the early days. Of course in those days pro sports were the money making entertainment spectacles that they are now.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: SI Covers

>It is amazing how many covers were devoted to
>track and field athletes in the early days. Of
>course in those days pro sports were the money
>making entertainment spectacles that they are
>now.

If you really want to get depressed, count the number of covers since the 1996 OG's. By my quick scan it was... get ready for this.... in 7 years.... ONE !!!

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

I haven't gotten this issue of SI, but I would guess that the number of t&f covers between '84 (after the OG, that is) and '96 isn't a whole lot better!

[MJD]

Re: SI Covers

>I haven't gotten this issue of SI, but I would
>guess that the number of t&f covers between '84
>(after the OG, that is) and '96 isn't a whole lot
>better!

There was at least one in oct/88. The Busted BJ cover.

[MJR]

Re: SI Covers

from my own quick look, no t&f athlete has made the cover since johnson in 96, what a shame

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: SI Covers

>from my own quick look, no t&f athlete has made
>the cover since johnson in 96, what a shame

Marion Jones slipped in there once, in 2000.

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

I was waiting for this thread to start . . . if SI is a barometer of how general interest in the sport has gone, there's been a huge decline. By SI's count, track is the number 8 most-"covered" sport, behind pro and college football and basketball, baseball, golf, and boxing, but ahead of hockey and tennis. HOWEVER, as some have already noted, the difference between "coverage" before around 1984, and in the 20 years after, is huge.
Covers on track seemed to average 2 or 3 a year in the 50s and 60s and 70s, both indoor and outdoor track: Bannister and Landy each got covers; Herb Elliott got a cover in '58; Russians Brumel and Ter Ovanesyan were "covered"; the "Texas track club" (a cheesy shot of a big-haired women in the blocks) got a cover in '64; Ryun got two in one year; Mary Decker got 3; Dave Patrick got a cover! and so did Pre; in 1977 Boit vs. Juantorena warranted a cover; as did Bayi in 1975; Coe got covers in '79 and '80, Steve Scott was covered in 1980. Nothing in '81; Decker gets a cover in '82 and another in '83, and another in '85 (as Slaney). Carl Lewis and Edwin Moses in 1983, and Lewis and Dwight Stones in 1984. The drought begins in 1986. JJK gets a cover in 1987, and there's 3 in 1988 on track (Flo Jo twice, Ben Johnson "Busted!"). Nothing in 89 and 90. IN '91, MJ and Powell get covers. In '92, JJK, Carl, and Gail Devers are covered. Then nothing for 3 years. IN '96, Carl, MJ, MJ get 3 consecutive Olympic-related covers. Nothing in '97, '98, '99. One in 2000: Marian Jones "Under the Gun" with her husband busted for drugs. And that's the end of the line.
Obviously, a lot of that decline is driven by the huge money that has come into pro and college football/basketball and other sports, changing media coverage, and track clearly was left behind. Also SI now has a more pronounced U.S. bias, and U.S. T&F lacks heroes. Also drugs is now the story of T&F, and how many covers of that do you want to do?

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

Its a sad progression, for sure. This decline reflects SI's perception of the interests of US sports fans since (obviously) the SI covers are intended to attract newstand sales. It is clear that SI believes (is it true?) that the general interest in t&f is now so small that, apparently, NO track personality or achievement is worthy of front cover status.

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

Never mind the cover, it used to be that every summer, they would have an almost near weekly article about the sport. No they had mild coverage of the worlds mainly Kelli White and John Drummond, and that was it. However Felix did make a small appearance on the cover this spring.

[6 5.5hjsteve]

Re: SI Covers

>Never mind the cover, it used to be that every
>summer, they would have an almost near weekly
>article about the sport. No they had mild
>coverage of the worlds mainly Kelli White and
>John Drummond, and that was it. However Felix did
>make a small appearance on the cover this spring.

Good point. The dearth of covers is just the tip of the iceberg. We used to have LOTS of T&F articles, all excellently and accurately written.

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

Good point, of course. But I'll bet there's a close relationship between the frequency of t&f covers and quantity of coverage inside. In both cases, the progression has been DOWN.

[Guest]

Re: SI Covers

I have subscribed to SI since '69 (TFN only since '78) and I slightly disagree about the quality of SI's articles (when they actually bother). Sometimes such articles are pretty knowledgable, sometimes they border on asinine. It depends on the writer. Tim Layden is okay.

[stevehj197]

Re: SI Covers

Merril Noden ( something like that ) was very good. And going way back, so was Tex Maule.

Main thing I always liked about SI articles is they never made factual mistakes. Good knowledgeble writing, research, and editing.