Do we care about steroids in baseball? Who is the greatest running back of all time? Will the U.S. men ever win the World Cup? What would a world be without sports? (This was one of the few debates The Mag was not willing to entertain.) For the first time, ESPN The Magazine has dedicated an issue to settling the questions that keep us up at night.
ESPN The Magazine’s “Debate” issue, a double-issue to hit newsstands Friday, June 15, features Los Angeles Dodgers Centerfielder Matt Kemp, projected No. 1 NBA draft pick Anthony Davis, Milwaukee Brewers Leftfielder Ryan Braun, “Great Debaters” Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, and Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban among others, and previews for Summer X Games, Wimbledon, and the NHL Draft.
DEBATE Features
Matt Kemp cares more than anyone else in baseball
For an athlete as good as he is, Kemp is surprisingly insecure; much of that stems from enduring racism as a kid playing baseball in Oklahoma. Critics and fans alike have railed him for partying in L.A. and dating the likes of Rihanna. But perhaps that has all changed this year—and has become what drives him to be better. By Molly Knight (VIDEO)
There’s never been a better time to fail a steroid test
You know the deal: Ryan Braun tested positive for steroids, but the arbitrator didn’t turn in the sample on time, so Braun, on a technicality Braun doesn’t miss a day of baseball. What now? MLB was furious, but there’s no uproar among the fans—or even the players—because Braun is the last remnant of baseball’s tainted past, and everyone is apathetic. By Tim Keown
Anthony Davis is the next Bill Russell. Or not
The projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft is always subject to hyperbole, but not usually from the likes of Bobby Knight and Larry Brown. And let’s not forget that Davis went 1 for 10 with six points in the NCAA championship. So how good is he, really? By Bethlehem Shoals
Blowing up the BCS will solve everything
Possibly as soon as this fall, college football will have its playoff. But this only creates more arguments and divides among conferences. How many teams? How to choose them? Where to play the games? In the end, this is a struggle for power. And money. By Mark Schlabach
The Top 25 all-time sports debates…decided
The Mag staff did its best to “resolve” many of the greatest debates in sports history, from concussions in football to the best college basketball team ever to Michael Jordan, executive.
Additional Debate Issue Highlights:
- Action Sports/Summer X Games Preview: The Mag’s action sports experts take a look at the perfection versus progression argument in sports throughout freestyle motocross and Nate Adams https://es.pn/M3NiHV. They also identify their favorites for gold in five events. X Games will be held in Los Angeles June 28-July 1).
- NHL Draft Preview: The signing period doesn’t officially being until July 1, but teams will still be maneuvering on draft day, whether in free agency or through trades. With the Stanley Cup Finals fresh in their minds, teams will gather on June 22 for the NHL draft. Who will they covet most? The Mag’s NHL experts take a look at the hottest prospects for the upcoming draft and a forecasting of the major free agent and trade moves to come this off-season.
- Tennis/Wimbledon Preview: The Wimbledon grass is looking greener for No. 4 Andy Murray, thanks to a retooled game courtesy of new coach Ivan Lendl.
- Photo Acts:
- The Mag takes a look at the best “debaters,” a.k.a. arguers, whiners, and call-fighters (think DeSeanJackson and Jonathan Papelbon) across various sports in “Face the Face.”
- Also making an appearance throughout the issue are Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith of ESPN’s “First Take” in interstitials throughout the issue entitled “The Battles of Bristol.”
- And after being named ESPYs host, Rob Riggle received an all-access pass to a variety of sporting events. To coincide with the upcoming ESPYs (in Los Angeles July 11) The Mag documents some of the most epic (if photo-shopped) images from his sports world tour in “Beer and loathing on the ESPY trail.”
– 30 –
Media Contact: Carrie Kreiswirth – 860-766-6042
-
-
-
-
-
