Earlier this week, I showed you that Sports Illustrated put actor Brad Pitt on the cover to hype the movie, “Moneyball”. SI now tells us that what’s in this week’s issue.
More from Sports Illustrated’s Moneyball Package
Cam Newton Silences Critics, Makes His Jon Gruden Interview a Distant Memory
Is Baylor QB Robert Griffin III the Perfect College Athlete?You’ve seen the Sept. 23 cover featuring Brad Pitt (which you can download by clicking here) and read our review of Moneyball. Here’s what else readers can find in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands now.
Outtakes from Brad Pitt’s Photo Shoot
To say that Brad Pitt enjoyed his photo shoot with photographer with Simon Bruty would be an understatement. Check out some of the outtakes that hit the cutting room floor by visiting Sports Illustrated’s Facebook page today. To view the photos, click the “Like” button at the top of the page (if you’re not already a fan) and click the “Fan’s Only” section on the lefthand side of the page.
Cam Newton Silences the Skeptics—Including a Teammate
Says Ryan Kalil, Carolina’s sixth-year center, on Newton’s Week 1 performance vs. Arizona: “There were at least two times where I made a protection call and he changed it. Basically he said, ‘No, they’re coming from over here.’ And both times he was right. Hey, I saw the Gruden thing too. I wondered what he could handle. But we got both of those blitzes blocked in Arizona.”
Click here to read more.
Quarterback: The Pillar of an NFL Franchise
According to a poll of 272 NFL players, Patriots QB Tom Brady (24%) is the player they would pick first if they were building a team from scratch. Brady is followed in the voting by Colts QB Peyton Manning (18%), Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (14%), Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (7%) and Eagles QB Michael Vick (6%).
- Seven of the top 10 vote getters (and 10 of the top 15) play QB
- Lions DT Ndamukong Suh (4%) was the only defensive player to crack the top 10
Is Baylor QB Robert Griffin a Better Athlete than Two Olympic Track Gold Medalists?
Says Baylor track and field director Clyde Hart, who has coached Olympic gold medalists Michael Johnson and Jeremy Wariner: “You can put limitations on even the great ones. With Robert, you can’t do that. He’s … different.”
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Bob Arum Says Floyd Mayweather Will Never Fight Manny Pacquiao
After Mayweather’s victory over Victor Ortiz last Saturday, Bob Arum expressed pessimism that a fight with his fighter, Manny Pacquaio would ever happen. Arum told staff writer Chris Mannix: “We agreed to everything he wanted a year and a half ago. What the f— is he talking about? I have no optimism. He will say we can’t use WADA [the World Anti-Doping Agency] when we are in the Philippines. He will say Manny can’t train in the Philippines. Mayweather will find some reason for this fight not to happen.”
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Does Rays Manager Joe Maddon Sense Panic in Boston?
As he told Dan Patrick: “I was involved with the Angels in 1995 when we lost an 11-game lead. It was really awkward walking to the ballpark. There was a weight [on you]. Your legs didn’t want to work. It’s an odd life experience. When things are slipping like that, it can be really difficult. You need a couple of guys to lift that burden somehow. But it’s hard to get that burden off you when you’re feeling that heavy.”
Blame a Lack of Offensive Identity for the Falcons’ Early Struggles
As All-Pro wide receiver Roddy White told senior writer Jim Trotter after Atlanta’s 35–31 win over Philadelphia on Sunday: “Right now we don’t have an identity. That’s half our problem. We haven’t played our style of football yet, which is running the ball, play-action pass and [converting] third downs.”
Twins are the Most Likely Cellar Dweller to Win Their Division in 2012
This according to SI contributor Joe Sheehan, who says that key contributors in 2011 who were injured at one point this season—Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Denard Span, Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano—can make a difference if healthy in ’12.
The Problem with ACC Football
Florida State’s 23–13 loss to Oklahoma last Saturday was the ACC’s 33rd straight defeat to a nonconference opponent ranked in the top five. The conference last expanded with the goal of catching the SEC; now, as it prepares to expand again, it may be farther behind than ever.
And there you have it.
