Sports Illustrated

There were two previous magazines named Sports Illustrated before the current magazine was launched on August 9, 1954.{{cite news|first=Alex|last=French|title=The Very First Issues of 19 Famous Magazines|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/50299/very-first-issues-19-famous-magazines|magazine=Mental Floss|publisher=Dennis Publishing|location=London, England|date=August 9, 2013|access-date=August 10, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810181820/http://mentalfloss.com/article/50299/very-first-issues-19-famous-magazines|archive-date=August 10, 2013}} In 1936, Stuart Scheftel created Sports Illustrated with a target market of sportsmen. He published the magazine monthly from 1936 to 1942. The magazine focused on golf, tennis, and skiing with articles on the major sports. He then sold the name to Dell Publications, which released Sports Illustrated in 1949 and this version lasted six issues before closing. Dell's version focused on major sports (baseball, basketball, boxing) and competed on magazine racks against Sports and other monthly sports magazines. During the 1940s, these magazines were monthly, which prevented them from cover current events. There was no large-base, general, weekly sports magazine with a national following on actual active events. It was then that Time patriarch Henry Luce began considering whether his company should attempt to fill that gap. At the time, many believed sports was beneath the attention of serious journalism and did not think sports news could fill a weekly magazine, especially during the winter. A number of advisers to Luce, including Life magazine's Ernest Havemann, tried to kill the idea, but Luce, who was not a sports fan, decided the time was right.{{Harv|MacCambridge|1997|pages=17–25}}.

Luce and editors of the planned magazine met in 1954 at Pine Lakes Country Club, the oldest golf course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The course's pro shop has a plaque mentioning the meetings, and the plaque also states that the first issue was given to the course. It is on display there. Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association executive director Tracy Conner credits the magazine with making Myrtle Beach a golf destination.{{cite news|url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/life/golf/article284835851.html|title=Sports Illustrated has a long history with Myrtle Beach's golf courses. How'd it start?|last=Morse|first=Ben|work=The Sun News|date=February 1, 2024}}

Many at Time-Life scoffed at Luce's idea; in his Pulitzer Prize–winning biography, Luce and His Empire, W. A. Swanberg wrote that the company's intellectuals dubbed the proposed magazine "Muscle", "Jockstrap", and "Sweat Socks". Launched on August 9, 1954, it was not profitable (and would not be for 12 years)"Henry Luce and Time-Life's America: A Vision of Empire". American Masters, April 28, 2004. and not particularly well-run at first, but Luce's timing was good. The popularity of spectator sports in the United States was about to explode, and that popularity came to be driven largely by three things: economic prosperity, television, and Sports Illustrated.{{cite book|last1=MacCambridge|first1=Michael|title=The Franchise: A History of Sports Illustrated Magazine|date=1998|publisher=Hyperion|isbn=9780786883578|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/first/m/maccambridge-franchise.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202033319/http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/m/maccambridge-franchise.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}

The early issues of the magazine seemed caught between two opposing views of its audience. Much of the subject matter was directed at upper-class activities such as yachting, polo and safaris, but upscale would-be advertisers were unconvinced that sports fans were a significant part of their market.{{Harv|MacCambridge|1997|pp=6, 27, 42}}.

In 1965, offset printing began. This allowed the color pages of the magazine to be printed overnight, not only producing crisper and brighter images, but also finally enabling the editors to merge the best color with the latest news. By 1967, the magazine was printing 200 pages of "fast color" a year; in 1983, SI became the first American full-color newsweekly. An intense rivalry developed between photographers, particularly Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer, to get a decisive cover shot that would be on newsstands and in mailboxes only a few days later.{{Harv|MacCambridge|1997|pp=108–111, 139–141, 149–151, 236}}

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, during Gilbert Rogin's term as Managing Editor, the feature stories of Frank Deford became the magazine's anchor. "Bonus pieces" on Pete Rozelle, Woody Hayes, Bear Bryant, Howard Cosell and others became some of the most quoted sources about these figures, and Deford established a reputation as one of the best writers of the time.{{Harv|MacCambridge|1997|pp=236–238}}.

After more than a decade of steady losses, the magazine's fortunes finally turned around in the 1960s when Andre Laguerre became its managing editor. A European correspondent for Time, Inc., who later became chief of the Time-Life news bureaux in Paris and London (for a time he ran both simultaneously), Laguerre attracted Henry Luce's attention in 1956 with his singular coverage of the Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, which became the core of SI's coverage of those games. In May 1956, Luce brought Laguerre to New York to become the assistant managing editor of the magazine. He was named managing editor in 1960, and he more than doubled the circulation by instituting a system of departmental editors, redesigning the internal format,{{cite news | url=http://fiercesimplicity.com/ | title=Designer Swimwear | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214061746/http://www.fiercesimplicity.com/ | archive-date=February 14, 2015 }} and inaugurating the unprecedented use in a news magazine of full-color photographic coverage of the week's sports events. He was also one of the first to sense the rise of national interest in professional football.{{cite magazine | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1094551/index.htm | magazine=Sports Illustrated | title=Letter From The Publisher | last=Sutton | first=Kelso F. | date=January 29, 1979 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511104256/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1094551/index.htm | archive-date=May 11, 2011 }}

Laguerre also instituted the innovative concept of one long story at the end of every issue, which he called the "bonus piece". These well-written, in-depth articles helped to distinguish Sports Illustrated from other sports publications, and helped launch the careers of such legendary writers as Frank Deford, who in March 2010 wrote of Laguerre, "He smoked cigars and drank Scotch and made the sun move across the heavens ... His genius as an editor was that he made you want to please him, but he wanted you to do that by writing in your own distinct way."Deford, Frank: "Sometimes the Bear Eats You: Confessions of a Sportswriter". Sports Illustrated, March 29, 2010 pp. 52–62.

Laguerre is also credited with the conception and creation of the annual Swimsuit Issue, which quickly became, and remains, the most popular issue each year.

In 1986, co-owned property HBO/Cannon Video had inked a pact to produce video versions of the magazine for $20 on the sell-through market, running just 30–45 minutes on the tape.{{Cite news|date=1986-11-12|title=Sports Illustrated Teams With HBO For HV Cassettes|page=38|work=Variety}}

In 1990, Time Inc. merged with Warner Communications to form the media conglomerate Time Warner. Sports Illustrated acquired FanNation.com in 2007 to compete in the Web 2.0 market; the site aggregated sports news and allowed user-generated content.{{cite news|first=Nat|last=Ives|title='Sports Illustrated' Buys FanNation.com|date=February 1, 2007|work=AdAge|url=https://adage.com/article/media/sports-illustrated-buys-fannation/114670|access-date=January 7, 2024}} In 2014, Time Inc. was spun off from Time Warner.

In 2018, the magazine was sold to Meredith Corporation by means of its acquisition of parent company Time Inc.. Meredith, however, planned to sell Sports Illustrated due to not aligning with its lifestyle properties.{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/21/media/meredith-time-fortune-magazine-for-sale/index.html|title=Meredith is putting Sports Illustrated and Time magazines on the block|last2=Gold|first2=Hadas |first1=Brian |last1=Stelter |author-link=Brian Stelter |date=March 21, 2018 |author-link2=Hadas Gold |work=CNNMoney|access-date=March 29, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121818/http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/21/media/meredith-time-fortune-magazine-for-sale/index.html|archive-date=March 29, 2018}} Authentic Brands Group announced its intent to acquire Sports Illustrated for $110 million the next year, stating that it would leverage its brand and other assets for new opportunities that "stay close to the DNA and the heritage of the brand." Upon the announcement, Meredith would enter into a licensing agreement to continue as publisher of the Sports Illustrated editorial operations for at least the next two years.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/sports-illustrated-sold-to-authentic-brands-group-for-110-million-1202622959/|title=Sports Illustrated Sold To Authentic Brands Group For $110 Million|last=Bennett|first=Anita|date=2019-05-28|work=Deadline Hollywood|language=en|access-date=2019-05-28|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528014119/https://deadline.com/2019/05/sports-illustrated-sold-to-authentic-brands-group-for-110-million-1202622959/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/sports-illustrated-sale-meredith-authentic-brands-1203226481/|title=Meredith Sells Sports Illustrated to Authentic Brands Group for $110 Million|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=2019-05-28|work=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-28|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528135832/https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/sports-illustrated-sale-meredith-authentic-brands-1203226481/|url-status=live}} In June 2019, the rights to publish the Sports Illustrated editorial operations were licensed to the digital media company theMaven, Inc. under a 10-year contract, with Ross Levinsohn as CEO. The company had backed a bid by Junior Bridgeman to acquire SI.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |date=2022-01-18 |title=The Arena Group is buying Parade and plans up-listing to New York Stock Exchange |url=https://www.axios.com/arena-group-parade-magazine-344b18f7-ea33-485b-ac06-331bec630b23.html |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Axios |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=June 17, 2019|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-ross-levinsohn-heckman-maven-sports-illustrated-20190617-story.html|title=Ross Levinsohn, now with Maven, to manage Sports Illustrated magazine|last=James|first=Meg|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-06-18|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618053813/https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-ross-levinsohn-heckman-maven-sports-illustrated-20190617-story.html|url-status=live}} In preparation for the closure of the sale to ABG and Maven,{{Cite web|url=https://deadspin.com/sports-illustrated-cancels-dreaded-transition-meetings-1838743478|title=Sports Illustrated Cancels Dreaded "Transition Meetings" 10 Minutes Before They Were Supposed To Start|website=Deadspin|date=October 3, 2019|access-date=2019-10-03|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003175036/https://deadspin.com/sports-illustrated-cancels-dreaded-transition-meetings-1838743478|url-status=live}} The Wall Street Journal reported that there would be Sports Illustrated employee layoffs,{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sports-illustrateds-new-operator-to-lay-off-more-than-40-employees-11570073983|title=Sports Illustrated's New Operator to Lay Off More Than 40 Employees|last2=Trachtenberg|first1=Benjamin|last1=Mullin|first2=Jeffrey A.|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=October 3, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-03}} which was confirmed after the acquisition had closed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sports-illustrateds-new-operator-to-lay-off-more-than-40-employees-11570073983|title=Sports Illustrated Operator Cuts 25% of Staff, Sparking Backlash|last=Trachtenberg|first=Benjamin Mullin and Jeffrey A.|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=October 3, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-04|archive-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003152520/https://www.wsj.com/articles/sports-illustrateds-new-operator-to-lay-off-more-than-40-employees-11570073983|url-status=live}}

In October 2019, editor-in-chief Chris Stone stepped down.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/341486/meredith-cfo-joe-ceryanec-sports-illustrated-ei.html|title=Meredith CFO Joe Ceryanec, 'Sports Illustrated' EIC Chris Stone Stepping Down|website=Mediapost.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-03}} Later that month, Sports Illustrated announced its hiring of veteran college sports writer Pat Forde.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/2019/10/29/sports-illustrated-pat-forde-college-football|title=Pat Forde Joining Sports Illustrated to Cover College Sports|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=October 29, 2019 |language=en-us|access-date=2019-10-29}} In January 2020, it announced an editorial partnership with The Hockey News, focusing on syndication of NHL-related coverage.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-24 |title=The Hockey News is teaming up with Maven and Sports Illustrated |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/the-hockey-news-teams-with-maven-si-digital-experience-team-sites.html |access-date=2020-01-24 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414151449/https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/the-hockey-news-teams-with-maven-si-digital-experience-team-sites.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Sports Illustrated and The Hockey News Join Forces |url=https://www.thestreet.com/markets/sports-illustrated-and-the-hockey-news-join-forces |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=TheStreet |date=January 23, 2020 |language=en-us}} In 2021, it announced a similar partnership with Morning Read for golf coverage, with its website being merged into that of Sports Illustrated.{{Cite web |title=Why Sports Illustrated is getting back on the links |url=https://sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2021/06/14/Upfront/Sports-Illustrated.aspx |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Sports Business Journal |date=June 14, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701041645/https://sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2021/06/14/Upfront/Sports-Illustrated.aspx |url-status=live }} It also partnered with iHeartMedia to distribute and co-produce podcasts.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-26 |title=Sports Illustrated inks original podcast deal with iHeartMedia |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/podcasts/sports-illustrated-inks-original-podcast-deal-with-iheartmedia.html |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414151448/https://awfulannouncing.com/podcasts/sports-illustrated-inks-original-podcast-deal-with-iheartmedia.html |url-status=live }}

In September 2021, Maven, now known as The Arena Group, acquired the New Jersey–based sports news website The Spun, which would integrate into Sports Illustrated.{{Cite web |last1=Stenberg |first1=Mark |date=April 26, 2022 |title=The Arena Group Boosts Annual Revenue 48% and Expands Reach |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/portfolio-playbook-sports-illustrated-publisher-the-arena-group-boosts-annual-revenue-48/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602153922/https://www.adweek.com/media/portfolio-playbook-sports-illustrated-publisher-the-arena-group-boosts-annual-revenue-48/ |url-status=live }} In 2022, ABG announced several non-editorial ventures involving the Sports Illustrated brand, including an apparel line for JCPenney "inspired by iconic moments in sports" (it was not the brand's first foray into clothing, as it launched a branded swimsuit line in conjunction with its Swimsuit Issue in 2018),{{Cite web |last1=Lacy |first1=Lisa |date=January 7, 2022 |title=Sports Illustrated and JCPenney Partner on an Apparel Line |url=https://www.adweek.com/commerce/sports-illustrated-drops-an-apparel-collection-with-jcpenney/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |language=en-US}} and resort hotels in Orlando and Punta Cana.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-13 |title=Today in great ideas: Sports Illustrated resort hotels are coming soon |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/si/today-in-great-ideas-sports-illustrated-resort-hotels-are-coming-soon.html |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}} In September 2023, it delved deeper into the resort world through a new partnership with Travel + Leisure.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=Sports Illustrated Launches New Resort Collection |url=https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Sports-Illustrated-Launches-New-Resort-Collection |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=www.travelmarketreport.com |language=en}}

On November 27, 2023, Futurism published an article alleging that Sports Illustrated was publishing AI-generated articles credited to authors who were also AI-generated; the latter practice apparently extended to their profile photos, which the website alleged were sourced from online marketplaces selling such photos.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/sports-illustrated-ai-generated-articles-report-1235639538/|title=Sports Illustrated Writers "Horrified" By Report That AI-Generated Articles Are Being Published Under SI Banner|work=Deadline|date=November 27, 2023|access-date=November 27, 2023}} After Futurism reached out to The Arena Group, the magazine purportedly removed some of the implicated writers and republished their articles under other AI-generated authors with notes disclaiming its staff's involvement.{{cite news |last1=Sato |first1=Mia |title=Sports Illustrated reportedly published articles from fake AI authors |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/27/23978389/sports-illustrated-ai-fake-authors-advon-commerce-gannett-usa-today |access-date=November 27, 2023 |work=The Verge |date=November 27, 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/27/media/sports-illustrated-deletes-articles-fake-author-names-ai-profile-photos/index.html|title=Sports Illustrated deletes articles published under fake author names and AI-generated profile photos|work=CNN|date=November 27, 2023|access-date=November 27, 2023}} In response to the report, a spokesperson for Sports Illustrated claimed that the affected articles were product reviews written without the involvement of AI by AdVon Commerce, a third-party company who they claimed used pseudonyms to "protect author privacy" and had already severed ties with; meanwhile, writers and editors at the magazine sharply criticized the alleged practices.

On January 5, 2024, The Arena Group missed a $3.75 million quarterly licensing payment to Authentic Brands Group.{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ted|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/sports-illustrated-brand-publisher-restructuring-1235696747/|title=Sports Illustrated's Brand Owner, Authentic, Warns Publisher It May Terminate Contract After Fee Payment Missed|work=Deadline|date=January 6, 2024|access-date=January 19, 2024|archive-date=January 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119173658/https://deadline.com/2024/01/sports-illustrated-brand-publisher-restructuring-1235696747/|url-status=live}} Two weeks later, on January 19, Authentic Brands Group terminated its licensing agreement. As a result, The Arena Group fought back by announcing that it would lay off the entire Sports Illustrated staff.{{cite news|last=Perez|first=A.J.|url=https://frontofficesports.com/sports-illustrateds-publisher-lays-off-entire-staff-future-unclear/|title=Sports Illustrated's Publisher Lays Off Entire Staff. Future Unclear|work=Front Office Sports|date=January 19, 2024|access-date=January 19, 2024|archive-date=January 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119172339/https://frontofficesports.com/sports-illustrateds-publisher-lays-off-entire-staff-future-unclear/|url-status=live}} In March 2024, Authentic Brands Group licensed the publishing rights to Minute Media in a 10-year deal, jointly announcing that the print and digital editions would be revived by rehiring some of the editorial staff. Minute converted the Fan Nation–branded team sites to "On SI".{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Bucholtz|title=Athlon Sports’ USC site deletes one of three bashed articles after plagiarism claims from Trojans on SI reporter|date=September 21, 2024|work=Awful Announcing|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/arena-group/usc-athlon-sports-trojans-on-si-plagiarism-questions.html|access-date=January 7, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921202841/https://awfulannouncing.com/arena-group/usc-athlon-sports-trojans-on-si-plagiarism-questions.html|url-status=live}}

• Who's Hot, Who's Not: A feature on who's on a roll and who's going to fold.
• Inside The NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, College Football, College Basketball, NASCAR, Golf, Boxing, Horse Racing, Soccer, And Tennis (sports vary from issue to issue): A section where writers from each sport address the latest news and rumors in their respective fields.
• Faces In The Crowd: A section which honors talented amateur athletes and their accomplishments.
• The Point After: A back-page column featuring a rotation of SI writers as well as other contributors. Content varies from stories to opinion, focusing on both the world of sports and the role sports play in society.

In 1956, Sports Illustrated began presenting annual awards to fashion or clothing designers who had excelled in the field of sportswear/activewear. The first ASDAs of 1956, presented to Claire McCardell with a separate Designer of the Year award to Rudi Gernreich, were chosen following a vote of 200 American top retailers.{{cite magazine |last1=Ahern |first1=Jo |title=Claire and Rudi: Architects of long-limbed look, they win the first Sportswear Design Awards |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/06/04/claire-and-rudi |access-date=17 June 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=4 June 1956 |language=en-us |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817032541/https://vault.si.com/vault/1956/06/04/claire-and-rudi |url-status=live }} The following year, the voting pool had increased to 400 fashion industry experts, including Dorothy Shaver and Stanley Marcus, when Sydney Wragge and Bill Atkinson received the awards.{{cite magazine |last1=Ahern |first1=Jo |title=The Winners! Sports Illustrated's second American Sportswear Design Awards go to two men who gave women a sporting look. |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1957/06/10/the-winners |access-date=16 June 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=10 June 1957 |language=en-us}} The Italian designer Emilio Pucci was the first non-American to receive the award in 1961.{{cite news |last1=Curtis |first1=Charlotte |author-link=Charlotte Curtis |title=Italian Designer Enjoys His Life of Adventure; Emilio Pucci Here to Accept Award for Sportswear |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/09/archives/italian-designer-enjoys-his-life-of-adventure-emilio-pucci-here-to.html |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=9 June 1961 |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617193745/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/06/09/archives/italian-designer-enjoys-his-life-of-adventure-emilio-pucci-here-to.html |url-status=live }} The awards were presented up until at least 1963, when Marc Bohan received the prize.{{cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=Rebecca |last2=Essey-Stapleton |first2=Jodi |title=Bohan, Marc |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/bohan-marc |website=www.encyclopedia.com |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=17 June 2022 |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617193729/https://www.encyclopedia.com/fashion/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/bohan-marc |url-status=live }} Other winners include Jeanne S. Campbell, Bonnie Cashin, and Rose Marie Reid who formed the first all-women winning group in 1958.{{cite news |last1=Zill |first1=Jo Ahern |title=Designing Women: Three pretty and talented ones share Sports Illustrated's American Sportswear Design Awards |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1958/06/09/designing-women |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=Sports Illustrated Vault |language=en-us |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617193730/https://vault.si.com/vault/1958/06/09/designing-women |url-status=live }}

Maya Moore of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx was the inaugural winner of the award in 2017.{{cite news|title=Minnesota Lynx Star Maya Moore Wins Sports Illustrated's Performer of the Year Award|url=https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/11/29/minnesota-lynx-maya-moore-sports-illustrated-performer-year-award|author=Kolur, Nihal|date=November 29, 2017|access-date=December 1, 2017|publisher=Time Inc. Sports Illustrated|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130212953/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/11/29/minnesota-lynx-maya-moore-sports-illustrated-performer-year-award|archive-date=November 30, 2017}}

{{main|Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year}}

Since 1954, Sports Illustrated has annually presented the Sportsperson of the Year award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement."{{cite magazine|title=Sportsmen of the Year 1954–2008|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 8, 2008|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2008/12/08/105760279/sportsmen-of-the-year-1954--2008|access-date=June 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312153509/http://www.si.com/vault/2008/12/08/105760279/sportsmen-of-the-year-1954--2008|archive-date=March 12, 2017}}{{cite web|last=Brinson|first=Will|title='Sports Illustrated' names Peyton Manning its Sportsman of the Year|work=CBS Sports|date=December 15, 2013|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/sports-illustrated-names-peyton-manning-its-sportsman-of-the-year/|access-date=June 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107164750/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/sports-illustrated-names-peyton-manning-its-sportsman-of-the-year/|archive-date=November 7, 2017}} Roger Bannister won the first-ever Sportsman of the Year award thanks to his record-breaking time of 3:59.4 for a mile, the first-ever time a mile had been run under four minutes.{{cite magazine|last=Holland|first=Gerald|title=1954 & Its Sportsman: Roger Bannister|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=January 3, 1955|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1955/01/03/552421/1954--its-sportsman-roger-bannister|access-date=June 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003008/https://www.si.com/vault/1955/01/03/552421/1954--its-sportsman-roger-bannister|archive-date=November 7, 2017}} Both men and women have won the award, originally called "Sportsman of the Year" and renamed "Sportswoman of the Year" or "Sportswomen of the Year" when applicable; it is currently known as "Sportsperson of the Year."

The 2017 winners of the award are Houston Texans defensive end J. J. Watt and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/12/05/si-sportsperson-year-2017-jj-watt-jose-altuve|title=SI's 2017 Sportsperson of the Year: J.J. Watt, José Altuve|work=SI.com|access-date=March 21, 2018|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322015208/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/12/05/si-sportsperson-year-2017-jj-watt-jose-altuve|archive-date=March 22, 2018}} Both athletes were recognized for their efforts in helping rebuild the city of Houston following Hurricane Harvey in addition to Altuve being a part of the Astros team that won the franchise's first World Series in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/11/07/houston-astros-world-series-champions-george-springer-jeff-luhnow|title=How the Astros stuck together to become World Series champions|work=SI.com|access-date=March 21, 2018|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192802/https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/11/07/houston-astros-world-series-champions-george-springer-jeff-luhnow|archive-date=March 21, 2018}}

The 2018 winners are the Golden State Warriors as a team for winning their third NBA Title in four years.{{Cite magazine |last=Abdeldaiem |first=Alaa |date=2018-12-10 |title=Golden State Warriors named SI's Sportsperson of the Year |url=https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2018/12/10/sports-illustrated-sportsperson-of-the-year-2018-golden-state-warriors |access-date=2024-03-20 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320174725/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2018/12/10/sports-illustrated-sportsperson-of-the-year-2018-golden-state-warriors |url-status=live }}

The 2021 winner is Tom Brady for his Super Bowl 55 win.{{Cite magazine |last=Wertheim |first=Jon |date=2021-12-07 |title=Tom Brady Wins the 2021 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year |url=https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2021/12/08/tom-brady-wins-sports-illustrated-sportsperson-of-the-year-daily-cover |access-date=2024-03-20 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-date=June 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624034204/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2021/12/08/tom-brady-wins-sports-illustrated-sportsperson-of-the-year-daily-cover |url-status=live }}

The 2023 winner is Deion Sanders for his coaching of the football team at the University of Colorado Boulder.{{Cite magazine |last=Staff |first=S. I. |date=2023-12-05 |title=Sportsperson of the Year 2023: Deion Sanders |url=https://www.si.com/college/2023/11/30/sportsperson-of-the-year-2023-deion-sanders |access-date=2024-03-20 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320174845/https://www.si.com/college/2023/11/30/sportsperson-of-the-year-2023-deion-sanders |url-status=live }}

File:Muhammad Ali NYWTS.jpg]]

In 1999, Sports Illustrated named Muhammad Ali the Sportsman of the Century at the Sports Illustrated{{'}}s 20th Century Sports Awards in New York City's Madison Square Garden.{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/1999/12/02/awards | work=CNN | title=Sports Illustrated honors world's greatest athletes | date=December 3, 1999 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819000437/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/cover/news/1999/12/02/awards/ | archive-date=August 19, 2011 }}

In 2015, the magazine renamed its Sportsman Legacy Award to the Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. The annual award was originally created in 2008 and honors former "sports figures who embody the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy as vehicles for changing the world." Ali first appeared on the magazine's cover in 1963 and went on to be featured on numerous covers during his storied career. His widow, Lonnie Ali, is consulted when choosing a recipient.[https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated-sportsman-year-legacy-award-renamed-for-muhammad-ali SI Wire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022454/https://www.si.com/sports-illustrated-sportsman-year-legacy-award-renamed-for-muhammad-ali |date=September 14, 2018 }} "SI dedicates Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award to Muhammad Ali", Sports Illustrated, September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015. In 2017, football quarterback Colin Kaepernick was honored with the Award, which was presented by Beyoncé.[https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/11/30/colin-kaepernick-muhammad-ali-legacy-award Rosenberg, Michael] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912021953/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2017/11/30/colin-kaepernick-muhammad-ali-legacy-award |date=September 12, 2018 }} Sports illustrated, November 30, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018. In 2018, WWE professional wrestler John Cena was honored with the award.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/caSBDmXBuhk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200401140851/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caSBDmXBuhk&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caSBDmXBuhk| title = John Cena sends the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award to WWE Headquarters | website=YouTube| date = December 12, 2018 }}{{cbignore}}

{{main|List of 2009 all-decade Sports Illustrated awards and honors}}

• Top 20 Female Athletes of the Decade (2009)

• Top 20 Male Athletes of the Decade (2009)
• All-Decade Team (2009) (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, college basketball, college football)
• Top 10 Coaches/Managers of the Decade (2009)
• Top 10 GMs/Executives of the Decade (2009)
• Top Team of the Decade (2009) (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, college basketball, college football)
• Top 25 Franchises of the Decade (2009)
• Major League Baseball honors
• National Basketball Association honors
• National Football League honors
• National Hockey League honors
• College basketball honors
• College football honorsKelly, Greg. Sports Illustrated: The Covers. New York: Sports Illustrated Books, 2010. Print.

For a 2002 list of the top 200 Division I sports colleges in the U.S., see footnote.{{cite magazine|title=America's Best Sports Colleges|date=October 7, 2002|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2002/10/01/1_10/|access-date=February 10, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060101035101/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2002/10/01/1_10/|archive-date=January 1, 2006}}

The following list contains the athletes with most covers.{{cite magazine|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/home/index.htm|title=Registered & Protected by MarkMonitor|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=April 26, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627034641/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/home/index.htm|archive-date=June 27, 2009}}

The magazine's cover is the basis of a sports myth known as the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx.

{{main|List of American sportswriters#Sports Illustrated}}

On 28 March 1990 the magazine credited the contributors of its covers up to that date.{{Cite magazine |date=28 March 1990 |title=SI Cover Credits : Here is the name of every photographer and artist whose work appeared on the 1,846 covers in this issue |magazine=Sports Illustrated |volume=72 |issue=13 |issn=0038-822X |via=EBSCO}} and the 10 November 2003 issue of the magazine lists 379 contributing photographers and agencies including the following:{{Cite magazine |date=10 November 2003 |title=The Photographers |magazine=Sports Illustrated |volume=99 |issue=18 |issn=0038-822X |via=EBSCO}}{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Bruce Bennett
• Ylla
• Harry Benson
• Larry Burrows
• Cornell Capa
• Louise Dahl-Wolfe
• Roy DeCarava
• James Drake{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/26/sports/jim-drake-dead.html|title=Jim Drake, Who Captured Joe Namath on Broadway, Dies at 89|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|work=The New York Times|date=January 26, 2022|access-date=January 27, 2022|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127015148/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/26/sports/jim-drake-dead.html|url-status=live}}
• Bill Eppridge
• Graham Finlayson{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Smithies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/feb/27/guardianobituaries1 |title=Through a lens lightly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313060344/http://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/feb/27/guardianobituaries1 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 27, 1999 |access-date=February 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}[https://archive.today/20130407231312/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/topic/article/Graham_Finlayson/1900-01-01/2100-12-31/mdd/index.htm Search results for Finlayson], Sports Illustrated archive. Accessed February 17, 2013.
• Lee Friedlander
• Toni Frissell
• Lois Greenfield
• Helmut Gritscher
• Ernst Haas
• Philippe Halsman
• Walter Iooss
• Lynn Johnson
• Heinz Kluetmeier
• David LaChapelle
• Neil Leifer
• Arnold Newman
• Irving Penn
• Hy Peskin
• Garry Winogrand
• John G. Zimmerman

{{div col end}}

Sports Illustrated has helped launched a number of related publishing ventures, including:

• Sports Illustrated Kids magazine (circulation 950,000)
• Launched in January 1989
• Won the "Distinguished Achievement for Excellence in Educational Publishing" award 11 times
• Won the "Parents' Choice Magazine Award" 7 times
• Sports Illustrated Almanac annuals
• Introduced in 1991
• Yearly compilation of sports news and statistics in book form
• SI.com sports news web site
• Sports Illustrated Australia
• Launched in 1992 and lasted 6 issues **
• Sports Illustrated Canada
• Was created and published in Canada with US content from 1993 to 1995. Most of the issues appear to have the same cover except they say 'Canadian Edition'. These issues are numbered differently in the listing. A group of the Canadian issues have unique Canadian athletes (hockey mostly) and all the Canadian issues may have some different article content. The advertising may also be Canada-centric.
• Sports Illustrated Presents
• Launched in 1989
• This is their tribute and special edition issues that are sold both nationally or regionally as stand alone products. **Originally started with Super Bowl Tributes the product became a mainstay in 1993 with Alabama as the NCAA National Football Champions. Today multiple issues are released including regional releases of the NCAA, NBA, NFL, MLB champions along with special events or special people. Advertising deals are also done with Sports Illustrated Presents (Kelloggs).
• CNNSI.com a 24-hour sports news web site
• Launched on July 17, 1997
• Online version of the magazine
• The domain name was sold in May 2015{{cite web|last1=Silver|first1=Elliot|title=CNNSi.com Sells for $5,500|url=http://www.domaininvesting.com/cnnsi-com-sells-for-less/|website=DomainInvesting.com|access-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402144325/http://www.domaininvesting.com/cnnsi-com-sells-for-less/|archive-date=April 2, 2016}}
• Sports Illustrated Women magazine (highest circulation 400,000)
• Launched in March 2000
• Ceased publication in December 2002 because of a weak advertising climate
• Sports Illustrated on Campus magazine
• Launched on September 4, 2003
• Dedicated to college athletics and the sports interests of college students.
• Distributed free on 72 college campuses through a network of college newspapers.
• Circulation of one million readers between the ages of 18 and 24.
• Ceased publication in December 2005 because of a weak advertising climate
• Sports Illustrated Online Casino
• Launched on February 7, 2023, in Michigan{{Cite web |title=Sports Illustrated Opens an Online Casino in Michigan |url=https://www.bonusfinder.com/news/sports-illustrated-opens-an-online-casino-in-michigan |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=BonusFinder.com |language=en}}
• Operated in co-operation with 888 Holdings{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Ashley |title=Sports Illustrated's new betting platform wants to show it can compete in the crowded US market dominated by FanDuel and DraftKings. Here's its strategy. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/sports-illustrated-and-888-execs-explain-their-sports-betting-strategy-2021-9 |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}
• Also includes Sports Illustrated Sportsbook which launched in September 2021{{Cite web |last=Yakowicz |first=Will |title=Sports Illustrated To Launch Betting App In Colorado |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2021/09/01/sports-illustrated-branded-betting-app-to-launch-in-colorado/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208112057/https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2021/09/01/sports-illustrated-branded-betting-app-to-launch-in-colorado/ |url-status=live }}
• Esports Illustrated
• Launched in March 2023 in partnership with Gaud-Hammer Gaming Group.{{cite news |last1=Rousseau |first1=Jeddrey |title=Gaud-Hammer Gaming and Sports Illustrated unveil Esports Illustrated |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gaud-hammer-gaming-and-sports-illustrated-unveil-esports-illustrated |access-date=March 20, 2023 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |date=March 9, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320054943/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gaud-hammer-gaming-and-sports-illustrated-unveil-esports-illustrated |url-status=live }}

{{Portal bar|Journalism|Sports}}

• Sports Illustrated Kids
• Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
• List of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover models
• University of South Carolina steroid scandal

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Citation

| surname1 = MacCambridge

| given1 = Michael

| year = 1997

| title = The Franchise: A History of Sports Illustrated Magazine

| publisher = Hyperion Press

| isbn = 0-7868-6216-5

}}.

• {{Citation

| surname1 = Fleder

| given1 = Rob

| year = 2005

| title = Sports Illustrated 50: The Anniversary Book

| publisher = Time Inc.

| isbn = 1-932273-49-2

}}.

• {{Citation

| surname1 = Regli

| given1 = Philip

| year = 1998

| title = The Collectors Guide to Sports Illustrated and Sports Publications

| publisher = Beckett

| isbn = 1-887432-49-3

}}.

{{refend}}

• {{cite news |last1=McEntegart|last2=Wertheim|last3=Menez|last4=Bechtel| first1 = Pete|first2=L. Jon |first3=Gene |first4=Mark|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2002/12/16/334173/the-top-100-sports-books-of-all-time |title= SI's "The Top 100 Sports Books of All Time" |date = December 16, 2002|publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated|access-date=February 11, 2011}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://vault.si.com/ SI Vault] (complete archive of Sports Illustrated issues including Swimsuit)
• Archived Sports Illustrated Magazines (1954–2016) on the Internet Archive

{{Authentic Brands Group}}

{{Authority control|state=expanded}}

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