Sports Illustrated, 1954-2024

The 1st cover, dated August 16, 1954.

Eddie Mathews of the Milwaukee Braves,

Wes Westrum of the New York Giants,

and umpire Augie Donatelli,

at Milwaukee County Stadium.

Today, Sports Illustrated laid off its entire staff, 7 months short of its 70th Anniversary.

No more great sports journalism or great sport photos, at least not from them. No more Walter Iooss Jr. No more Preview Issues. No more Swimsuit Issues. No more Dreaded SI Cover Jinx.

I know the cost of paper and ink has gone way up since I was a kid. But this hurts.

Incidentally, the magazine's 2 biggest features -- one intentional, the other not -- have never come together. No model on the cover of the Swimsuit Issue has ever fallen victim to the Cover Jinx. None saw their careers ruined by it, many saw their careers boosted by it, and, as far as I can tell, going back to the 1st one, Babette March in 1964, all of them are still alive.