SI Star Going Hi-Def

Life Without Reilly

November 30th, 2007

Today I opened the mail box and had that weekly moment of joy come over me, much like the joy you get when the fresh made brownies are ready to come out of the oven – my Sports Illustrated arrived! Just like I do every week I go into the house, grab a class of coke and sit in my favorite chair.

I quickly look at the cover and review the different stories and determine the order I will be reading them. This week’s cover has Chase Daniel of Missouri and makes reference to the fact this is the first time since 1960 the Tigers have been ranked number one. Then I saw the Heisman Race and how Tim Tebow leads the pack and finally I see the top banner announcing “How the Browns Learned to Win”. In my mind, Tebow story 2nd – GO GATORS! – Browns story third – and the only thought that crossed my mind about Mizzou is how they have now been cursed and have no chance of finishing number one.

You see, I don’t open my Sports Illustrated from the front. The first thing I read every week – really the main reason I have continued a subscription for years and years – is Life of Reilly. Today when I opened the December 3rd edition and read the title of Rick Reilly’s column “Giving Up The Life” I thought it would be about some high school coach in small town USA or a skydiver instructor who’s students parachute didn’t open, you know, tear jerking stuff.

But that wasn’t it! Mr. Reilly has decided to leave Sports Illustrated, announced back in October but this column makes it real. He is leaving the storied magazine after 23 years to continue “writing a column and working on TV.” The column will be featured in ESPN Magazine.

I haven’t agreed with everything he has written but each article has been entertaining – I have laughed out loud while reading some and actually had tears during others. He is one of my favorite writers.

I will now have to learn all over again how to read Sports Illustrated – whom ever they put in his place, you have huge shoes to fill.

You can keep up with Rick Reilly via his new web site Rick Reilly On-line.