SI's complete story archive going online

Sirs, Madames,

There have always been a few pieces that stuck with me for goofy reasons -- I remember that SI was my connection to sports when I was up in the bush as a kid a long way from tv.

Among others:

The weirdest "gamer" ever

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085767/index.htm

Dan Gable

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086224/index.htm

Henry Cooper

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084687/index.htm

Funnily enough, none of these guys are in the Deford/Nack/Kram/Jenkins pantheon. SI had a hell of a bench.

Of course Huskers-Sooners:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1085606/index.htm

YD&OHS, etc

 

Why can't Disney do this with their vault? "Song of the South," where are you?

 

Love the list to the right on the page of the 10 most popular reads.

 

Thanks, jgmacg! Liebling, Plimpton and Breslin are a few more I've been meaning to read up on. And I always enjoyed Rick Reilly's stuff. He'll always remind me of my dad, actually. My dad has subscribed to SI for years just for his stuff.

And I'll have to take a look at the links you posted, FoF. I'm in one of those phases where I'm just hungry for anything I can get my hands on that might inspire me.

 

That list should keep people busy for a while, jg. I'd start right at the top with Nack's Pure Heart, the first story in the very first edition of The Best American Sports Writing. If you don't shed a tear at the end, you're not human.

Compare Myron Cope's 1967 profile of Howard Cosell, Would You Let This Man Interview You?, to the one written by Frank Deford 16 years later, 'I've Won. I've Beat Them.' Stick with Deford for a spell by clicking on Huge Commotion in Mudville, the real story behind "Casey at the Bat." (Well, maybe. Then again, maybe not.)

If you haven't read The Curious Case of Sidd Finch, go see what all the fuss was about. And if you want to get way off the beaten path, check out a sweet little piece called Snakes Alive! It's worth the trip.

Have fun, tools.

 

A couple gems from the 1986 Series:

Peter Gammons story on the Game 6 collapse from a Red Sox fan point of view:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1065413/index.htm

"And when the ball went through Bill Buckner's legs, 41 years of Red Sox baseball flashed in front of my eyes. In that one moment, Johnny Pesky held the ball, Joe McCarthy lifted Ellis Kinder in Yankee Stadium, Luis Aparicio fell down rounding third. Bill Lee delivered his Leephus pitch to Tony Perez, Darrell Johnson hit for Jim Willoughby, Don Zimmer chose Bobby Sprowl over Luis Tiant and Bucky (Bleeping) Dent hit the home run."

And check out the pictures on page 38 and 39 from the View this Issue link. Shots of fans in a Boston bar when A) Henderson homers for the lead and then B) when the ball gets through Buckner. Great ecstasy to agony portrait.

Very cool to be able to pull up the actual issues and check out the advertisements of the day as well. Noted a nice Tandy computer in this issue for $1199.

 

I just read the Sidd Finch story for the first time, I'm almost embarrassed to say. Absolutely loved this understated line:

"Presumably he will mow down the opposition in a perfect game. Perhaps Willie McGee will get a foul tip."

 

The coolest part of that story is that the first letter of every word in the subhead spells out "Happy April Fools Day"

 

Awesome.

 

Best piece I have ever read. Ever.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1119578/index.htm

 

Definitely a classic. Coincidentally, it's also one of my favorite covers ever. The look on bratty Ainge's face as he can do nothing about Kareem's dominance in the 85 Finals warms my heart.