THIS WEEK IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
NBA Preview: lebron james will lead the heat past kobe bryant’s lakers to win the nba finals; Michael Rosenberg details how miguel cabrera’s bat isn’t the only reason that detroit is in the world series; Tim Layden says that the most mysteriously enduring record in sports may finally fall; Michael Rosenberg reminds us that when it comes to broadcasting october baseball, joe buck is as good as it gets
NEW YORK – – The new Los Angeles Lakers Center, Dwight Howard, makes his third appearance, and on the cover of the Oct. 29, 2012 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. He last appeared on the cover as a member of the Orlando Magic on April 20, 2009. Senior writer Lee Jenkins (@SI_LeeJenkins) takes an inside look at how the former Orlando Magic star went from a lovable man-child to one of the league’s most reviled players and asks the question: Who is Dwight Howard – merrymaker or shark?
With his 6’11” build and lovable man-child personality, there have been many comparisons to the former Lakers Center, Shaquille O’Neal, including alleged nickname copyright issues. Teammate to both centers, Lakers’ superstar Kobe Bryant says, “Shaq was a goofball, but Shaq was a big a–hole. And I was a little a—hole.” (page 63). Howard is now more dedicated to the dirty work and Bryant claims that “a goofball doesn’t make plays like that, you need to have a little of that dog in you. It’s there. It’s just a matter of digging deep and pulling it out” (page 62).
Regional Cover: After winning the American League Triple Crown and being the offensive spark that sent the Tigers to the World Series, third baseman Miguel Cabrera appears on this week’s Detroit regional cover.
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If you would like to download a copy of the cover, click here.
IAN THOMSEN’S (@SI_IanThomsen) PREDICTIONS (page 80)
EASTERN CONFERENCE |
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Atlantic Division | Central Division | Southeast Division |
New York Knicks (3) | Indiana Pacers (2) | Miami Heat (1) |
Brooklyn Nets (4) | Chicago Bulls (7) | Atlanta Hawks (6) |
Boston Celtics (5) | Milwaukee Bucks (9) | Washington Wizards (13) |
Philadelphia 76ers (8) | Detroit Pistons (11) | Charlotte Bobcats (14) |
Toronto Raptors (10) | Cleveland Cavaliers (12) | Orlando Magic (15) |
WESTERN CONFERENCE |
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Northwest Division | Pacific Division | Southwest Division |
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) | Los Angeles Lakers (2) | San Antonio Spurs (3) |
Denver Nuggets (4) | Los Angeles Clippers (5) | Memphis Grizzlies (6) |
Utah Jazz (8) | Phoenix Suns (10) | Dallas Mavericks (7) |
Minnesota Timberwolves (9) | Golden State Warriors (11) | New Orleans Hornets (12) |
Portland Trail Blazers (13) | Sacramento Kings (15) | Houston Rockets (14) |
CONFERENCE FINALS |
Heat over Knicks, Lakers over Thunder |
NBA FINALS |
Heat over Lakers |
THAT’S A CROWN QUESTION, BRO – MICHAEL ROSENBERG (@Rosenberg_Mike)
Miguel Cabrera may be the best hitter in baseball, but the Detroit Tigers are in the World Series because he’s an unselfish gamer who understands the team comes first. He moved from first base to third base so the Tigers could sign Prince Fielder in January; he sprained his right ankle in mid-August, but waited a week to tell Detroit trainers and missed one game. While he is quick to highlight team accomplishments over his own, Cabrera’s Triple Crown season and lighter attitude have helped him shed the image he made after two alcohol-related arrests in 2009 and 2011.
Even though the pitcher has the ball, it often seems as though Cabrera controls it. As he has perfected his game of cat-and-mouse with pitchers, the idea that he would miss a pitch completely almost offends him. He says of the rare at bats in which he strikes out: “Nothing! You didn’t do nothing. It’s not fun. Put the ball in play, please. It’s like everything’s wrong” (page 36).
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MR. OCTOBER – MICHAEL ROSENBERG(@Rosenberg_Mike)
The most honest and most ridiculous thing you can say about Joe Buck is that he got his job because of his dad. The son of legendary broadcaster Jack Buck, Joe did not really grow up on sports. He grew up on sportscasting, and he began his career early, calling his first NFL game on Fox at age 25 and his first World Series at 27. Buck has cut down his workload in recent years in order to spend more time with his daughters, but in the climactic month when his football and baseball worlds collide, we are reminded Joe Buck is as good as it gets.
Tim McCarver, Buck’s partner in the booth for MLB games, says of Buck’s ability to manage a game and bring humor to his work without stealing the show, “[He’s] the greatest multitasker I’ve ever met. Fifteen things going on at once is right up his alley. He loves that. Those are his moments of relaxation.” (page 44).
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MERRILY THEY (PICK AND) ROLL ALONG – LEE JENKINS(@SI_LeeJenkins)
The pick-and-roll has been a pillar of NBA offenses since Oscar Robertson and Lenny Wilkens were delivering pocket passes, but never has the set permeated playbooks as it does today. Powerhouses like James Harden, Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh may make it look simple, but Sports Illustrated’s “Data by Synergy Sports Technology” proves that a skilled pick artist has become a standby that teams are relying on more than ever before. Weber State coach, Randy Rahe is convinced that the pick is now invaluable to college basketball, “Pick-and-roll is such a big part of the NBA … so it only made sense to add more of it to our offense” (page 66).
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THE LAST DAYS OF 63 – TIM LAYDEN (@SITimLayden)
In the 42 years since Tom Dempsey kicked the longest field goal in NFL history, his mark has been matched three times but never surpassed. Now the most mysteriously enduring record in sports may finally be ripe to fall.
Sixty-three should have fallen years ago, as kickers became more deadeye snipers–more explosive, more accurate and better schooled from a younger age-but the record remains intact, shared by a logjam of four kickers across 42 years of football. It has been protected by circumstance, strategy, worship at the altar of field position and, in no small part, the inherent challenge of guiding a football 63 yards through an opening 10 feet off the ground and 18 feet, 6 inches wide.
Senior writer Tim Layden traveled to the remote village of Soldotna, Alaska where former Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam now flies his Piper two-seater airplane on hunting excursions. Elam became the second kicker in NFL history to nail a 63-yard field goal 14 years ago this Oct 25, “After my kick I thought [the record] might be gone in a week. I’m still shocked it’s still there.”
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THIS WEEK’S FACES IN THE CROWD
- Gracia Leydon Mahoney (Newton, Mass./Durham Academy) – Diving
- Gabe Myles (Starkville, Miss./Starkville High)– Football
- Shanice Robe (Valley Stream, N.Y./Mount Saint Mary College) – Soccer
- Jack Boyle (Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) – Cross-country
- Timbrelee McNair (Girard, Kans./Girard High) – Golf
- Clay Youngquist (Battle Creek, Mich./University of Texas at Austin) – Swimming
To submit a candidate for Faces in the Crowd, go to SI.com/faces. Follow on Twitter @SI_Faces.
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