Media members who either worked at or were fans of Sports Illustrated praised the iconic magazine Friday along with the news of its possible closure.
On Friday afternoon, all staff at this publication were told their positions would be eliminated by Arena Group.
“One of the greatest magazines in history, rest in peace. Gone but never forgotten.” Rick Reilly wrotehe wrote the magazine's famous “Backpage” column for years.
“I'm hurt,” Jenny Vrentas wroteand has covered the NFL for Sports Illustrated.
“This is the outcome that many of us feared and fought tooth and nail to prevent when SI was sold in 2019. In solidarity with all of our incredibly talented @si_union members who will protect the soul of the place.”
ESPN's Adam Schefter Posted: “Sports Illustrated was an institution, both at its peak and for some time afterwards. Its coverage and reporting was legendary. There was so much great work done there. And now it's over. . It's a bad day for the employees who work there.”
Many also took the opportunity to share the impact sports publications have had on the industry.
Milin Fader, a writer and senior staff member at The Ringer, posted a photo from Sports Illustrated's “Fifty Years of Great Writing” collection from 1954 to 2004.
“I'm heartbroken, sad and angry.” she wrote to x. “Lee Jenkins is one of the only reasons I wanted to become a sportswriter. Sports Illustrated Forever.”
“The cover of Sports Illustrated has been the No. 1 star in sports for decades.” ESPN's Kevin Clark wrote about X. “It was what Carson was to comedians, or SNL was to bands. *Sports* is worse without them. It's unfathomable and completely avoidable that things could go sour so quickly.”
“If the people who own things like what they buy, I think that's broadly a good thing.”
ESPN's Scott Van Pelt shared a cover featuring the Washington Redskins before they changed their team name.
“If you were older than me, you probably knew exactly what day Sports Illustrated arrived in your mailbox.” Van Pelt wrote:. “I found this just last week and it took me back to the days when teams were great, when they were called different things and if your team could make it to the cover, it was the greatest thing ever. Rest in peace.”
Former NHL star PK Saban shared a collection of covers featuring Canadians.
The move stems from Authentic Brands Group, the licensing group that acquired Sports Illustrated from Meredith for $110 million five years ago.
company Terminated contract with Arena Group According to Front Office Sports, publishing the magazine in print and digitally.
