The Mag’s 2011-12 NHL Preview on Newsstands Today
Seven titles in 10 years, franchise values through the roof, iconic stadiums packed with rabid fans – love them or hate them, Boston teams schooled yours this decade.
The latest issue of ESPN The Magazine on newsstands Friday, September 23, explores what has contributed to Boston’s decade of dominance. In the past few years, no city has come close to Boston in winning championships, thanks to an early embracing of analytics by its teams, which attribute to the overall success with a winning formula.
In its first ever issue committed so exclusively to one city, The Mag offers readers an array of stories such as “Why Boston is Better Than You,” providing insight on how Boston teams have managed to dominate for so long; “Here’s The Thing About You and Your Town,” an artful display of trash-talk with Boston-lover Denis Leary and hater Artie Lange who square off on the city’s sporting success and its fans – and then turn on each other; and Boston’s biggest fan, Bill Simmons’ take on what this issue may do to his teams.
The Boston Issue:
How to Rob Fenway Park
He did it in a novel. Then came the film. The author reveals how he concocted baseball’s perfect crime.
By Chuck Hogan
A Farmer’s Market
We have the scouting reports for some homegrown Red Sox stars (such as Dustin Pedroia) to see why Theo Epstein’s guys liked ‘em. By Gordon Edes
Bradywood
In 2002, Tom Brady was the Patriots’ humble gridiron hero. But his skyrocketing brand and supermodel wife have opened a gulf between the quarterback and his fans. By Jason Schwartz
The End Game
Trading Kendrick Perkins might have set the Celtics up for a title. By Ric Bucher
The (Dis)Passion of John Henry
John Henry loves to win, and for that Red Sox Nation is grateful. But don’t start getting all emotional. By Steve Wulf
Where Nobody Knows Your Name
Boston diehards can’t pick some of the city’s best athletes out of a lineup. But that won’t stop the BC football team. By Luke Cyphers
NHL Preview:
Reports for each of the 30 teams include Eliminator data, rankings and offseason activity. Plus, The Mag goes deeper, with a statistical look at commonalities between Stanley Cup winner and regular-season conference champs since the lockout, expert picks for each conference and the Stanley Cup, and a panel of award predictions in “A Tale of Two Seasons.” The preview also offers fans a photo essay, “The People’s Champions,” which highlights why the Stanley Cup champion Bruins are the most Bostonian of all the pro athletes in the Hub, capturing the Bruins in and around their home city to showcase vignettes of their daily lives and what they love about Boston. In addition, The Mag examines the tentative return of Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby who suffered post-concussion syndrome last season and if he returns will it be in MVP form in “Lingering Impact,” a story with statistical analysis looking at the aftermath this example of post-concussion syndrome will have for the team, fans and league moving forward.
Beyond Boston and the NHL:
- Can Cowboys’ Jerry Jones get America’s Team back on its feet and back to its winning ways after a disastrous 2010 season
- As the division races (or lack thereof) wrap up, MLB teams are looking ahead to set their playoff pitching rotations. For most teams bound for the post-season, it’s easy to pinpoint who’s going to start Game 1, but the pitchers to follow are a bit trickier to figure
- Is anybody tired of Jimmie Johnson? His domination on the circuit (five straight titles and a sixth in his sights) means NASCAR has got to mix up the Chase
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