Sports Illustrated is on life support
Just a few years after Authentic Brands Group purchased Sports Illustrated for $110 million, the legendary publication is effectively on life support after a mass wave of layoffs.
When I was a kid, my grandparents would renew my SI subscription for Christmas each year. I would look forward to receiving it in the mail and sprawling out on my beanbag chair, up to my neck in sports coverage from some of the best writers in the world. I'm certain that's where my love of journalism started, and why I covered sports when I was a student working for the Iowa State Daily.
I also distinctly remember the feeling when one of my favorite teams made it on the cover; it felt like you had won something. A player or team you loved being recognized on that legendary cover was like the Holy Grail for a sports fan. Several photos and articles were taped on my wall due to that.
Now, there's a whole generation of kids who won't grow up feeling that same feeling I, and thousands of other over the years, did. Not to sound like a curmudgeon, but I think that's a shame.
Rest in peace, Carl Weathers
When I saw the news that legendary actor Carl Weathers had passed away on Friday, I immediately turned to my coworker and said, “I am very sad.”
I had grown up loving Weathers in many of his roles. Most recently, “The Mandalorian” was very fun for me as a Star Wars lover. “Happy Gilmore” is a comedic classic, and Weathers' cameo in “Arrested Development” was hilarious. And, of course, his performance as Apollo Creed inspires and informs the “Rocky” saga from start to finish, and it continues to have an impact to this day with Michael B. Jordan's “Creed” series.
Thanks for the incredible work you've left behind, Mr. Weathers.
A Purdy good weekend
Two weekends ago, the Iowa State men's basketball team defeated the then No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, and catapulted themselves up to No. 12 in the Associated Press Top-25 poll. The very next day, Cyclones legend Brock Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers' improbable comeback from a 24-7 halftime deficit against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game.
That Saturday and Sunday was a pretty good time, and I'm hoping this upcoming Sunday makes for another “Purdy” good weekend as Mr. Irrelevant and the Niners take on Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Purdy was the quarterback for Iowa State when I was a student there, and we were in the same graduating class. It's crazy to think how much he has catapulted into the national spotlight in less than two years since then. He even has a Toyota commercial now!
Sorry, Swifties. The only person I'm fangirling over is Brock Purdy.
