SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FEATURES STATE OF UTAH IN SERIES OF
50 STATE-SPECIFIC WEEKLY SECTIONS
Naturalist and Utah Native Terry Tempest Williams Bridges Nature With Karl Malone
New York, NY, October 15, 2003 — This week’s Sports Illustrated highlights the sports scene in the state of Utah, marking the 14th of 50 state-specific sections to be published in the magazine as part of SI’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration.
Identifying 24 Hours of Moab as an event unique to the state, the six-page feature also includes an accompanying essay by Utahn and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams, plus a wide range of facts, figures and photographs highlighting the most memorable moments and personalities that have shaped the Beehive state’s sports landscape.
The Utah edition will hit newsstands today, Wednesday, October 15, 2003 . Newsstand copies in Utah will feature a cover-flap identifying the special Utah section.
Highlights from the special section include:
- 24 Hours of Moab is a high-spirited, gut-busting test for teams of mountain bikers, writes SI senior writer Austin Murphy in "Fat-Tire Frenzy."
- In "Big Game," guest essayist Terry Tempest Williams writes how her binoculars moved from deer to hawks to Karl Malone.
- The Poll
: Utahns weighed in on their state’s sports scene in a Harris Interactive poll that found these results:
- Favorite major baseball team…………………...New York Yankees (10%)
- Favorite NFL team San Francisco 49ers (25%)
- Favorite NBA team………………………………Utah Jazz (72%)
- Greatest Athlete………………………………….John Stockton (37%)
- Favorite Announcer……………………………...Hot Rod Hundley (34%)
- Enemy of the State : Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal won with 27% of the vote. Chicago Bulls’ great Michael Jordan came in second with 20% of the vote, and Former Jazz star Karl Malone (9%) and Dennis Rodman (9%) respectively. Utahns most hated opponent: the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Greatest Moment — Editor’s pick : Overcoming a scandal that rocked the City Games turned out to be a rousing success. The $2 billion Games (nearly twice as expensive as the 1998 Nagano Olympics) ran smoothly–thanks in part to 19,000 volunteers–and gave home fans reason to cheer: The U.S. won 34 medals (10 gold), nearly three times as many as it had ever won at a Winter Game.
SI’s 50
th Anniversary program,
America’s Sports Illustrated: 50 Years, 50 States, 50 Sports ,
is
a wide-ranging multimedia platform that is the most ambitious initiative in the history of the franchise. The grassroots effort, which began in July 2003 and continues through July 2004, is a yearlong celebration of sports in America. It will include editorial coverage in the magazine and online, a community sports outreach campaign with YMCA of the USA and National Recreation and Park Association, as well as
The Toyota Presents Sports Illustrated’s 50th Anniversary Tour that will travel to unique sports events in cities and towns throughout the country. SI’s actual 50th anniversary date is August 16, 2004.
Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the Tour;
Starter and
Best Buy are program sponsors.
Contacts: Rick McCabe/SI (212) 522-1375
Julie Sprich/Edelman (212) 522-9511
