SI.com - SI 50th - Press Room - Sports Illustrated features state of Kansas in series of 50 state-specific weekly sections

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FEATURES STATE OF KANSAS IN SERIES OF
50 STATE-SPECIFIC WEEKLY SECTIONS

SI Senior Writer and Kansas Native Grant Wahl Reflects on Wilt Chamberlain’s Impact on Jayhawk Basketball New York, NY, November 5, 2003 — This week’s Sports Illustrated highlights the sports scene in the state of Kansas, marking the 17^th of 50 state-specific sections to be published in the magazine as part of SI’s yearlong 50^th anniversary celebration.

Identifying Eight-Man Football as an event unique to the state, the six-page feature also includes an accompanying essay by SI Senior Writer and Kansas native Grant Wahl , plus a wide range of facts, figures and photographs highlighting the most memorable moments and personalities that have shaped the Sunflower State’s sports landscape.

The Kansas edition will begin hitting newsstands on Wednesday, November 5, 2003 . Newsstand copies in Kansas will feature a cover-flap identifying the special Kansas section.

Highlights from the special section include:

In " Eight Is Enough," SI senior writer John Garrity writes how eight-man football is a small-town phenomenon in a state that is filled with small-towns.
In "Wilt’s World," SI senior writer and Kansas native Grant Wahl writes about the indelible mark Wilt Chamberlain left on Jayhawk basketball and the impact the legendary Jayhawk center had on the Sunflower State.

The Poll : Kansans weighed in on their state’s sports scene in a Harris Interactive poll that found these results:

Favorite major league baseball team……………Kansas City Royals (56%)

Favorite NFL team……………………………… Kansas City Chiefs (55%)

Favorite NHL team……………………………….Detroit Red Wings (9%)

Favorite college team……………………………..Kansas basketball (37%)

Greatest Kansas Athlete………………………….Wilt Chamberlain (31%)

State’s biggest rival………………………………………..Missouri (40%)

Enemy of the State –Oakland Raiders team owner Al Davis won with 16% of the vote. Former Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams came in second with 10% of the vote and current Oklahoma football head coach Bob Stoops with 8%. Kansas’ most hated opponent: University of Missouri.

Greatest Moment — Editor’s pick : As a sixth seed with a 21-11 record, Larry Brown’s Kansas Jayhawks got hot in the 1988 NCAA basketball tournament and defeated three teams that had beaten them in the regular season. The tourney culminated in the championship game with Danny Manning’s 31 points, 18 rebounds and five steals against Big Eight nemesis Oklahoma.

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 50^th 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: Allison Keane/SI (212) 522-5542 Stephan Pechdimaldji/SI (212) 522-7644


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