Sport magazine
Encyclopedia
SPORT magazine was an American sports magazine. Launched in September 1946
by the New York
-based publisher, Macfadden Publications
, SPORT pioneered the generous use of color photography – it carried eight full colour plates in its first edition – and almost immediately became half-bible
, half-guru
to a generation of men coming of age.
SPORT predated the launch of Sports Illustrated
by eight years, and is remembered for bringing several editorial innovations to the genre, as well as creating, in 1955
, the SPORT Magazine Award. The SPORT Award, given initially to the outstanding player in baseball’s World Series
(Johnny Podres
of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the inaugural winner), was later expanded to include the pre-eminent post-season performer in the other three major North American team sports. What made SPORT the most distinctive from Sports Illustrated, however, was the fact it was a monthly magazine as opposed to SI's weekly distribution.
SPORT was published continually between its launch and August 2000, when its then-owner, EMAP PLC, made the decision to close the money-losing title. Today, the photo archive of SPORT magazine, which represents one of the most significant collections of 20th century sports photography in North America, is housed online.
, but the brainchild of another publishing house, Macfadden Publications
. Launched in September 1946
, Macfadden's SPORT magazine broke new ground, as the first mainstream national sports publication, but also in its editorial innovations. In those years, SPORT had the market for magazine-style sports journalism virtually to itself and, under founding editor Ernest Heyn, pioneered a brand of behind-the-scenes glimpses of the heroes of the day not previously attempted. The emphasis was not on the games or the teams, but on the elements of human drama that lay beneath. SPORT was an icon in the league of Life and Look and the Saturday Evening Post.
Many of the magazine’s editorial innovations—such as its SPORTtalk digest of short items at the front of the magazine, the SPORT Special long feature at the back and, in particular, the use of full-page colour portraits of the stars of the day—were later borrowed by the new kid on the block, SI, when it made its debut as a weekly in 1954
. In fact, Time Inc., tried to purchase the name SPORT, but the company's final offer of $
200,000 fell on deaf ears at Macfadden who would have sold for $50,000 more so Time Inc. went instead with Sports Illustrated, a name used by two, previous failed sports journals.
, John Lardner
, Dan Daniel
, Roger Kahn and Dick Schaap
, and exquisite photographs by such shooting stars as Ozzie Sweet, George Heyer, Marvin Newman, Hy Peskin
and Martin Blumenthal. It continued to thrive for a quarter-century or so, as SI struggled to reach profitability, and to find the right blend of spectator and participatory sports.
for the most valuable player in the World Series
. The concept was expanded over the years until a SPORT magazine award was presented to the outstanding post-season performer in all four major team sports, as sanctioned by the leagues.
, Macfadden, lacking Times deep pockets, was fading, and was swallowed up by successively larger companies, eventually winding up in the hands of the Charter Company
. There was also a corresponding zig-zag in editorial direction, and gradually SPORT lost its way, its distinctive voice and, eventually, its presence. A brief revival occurred in 1981
, when the magazine was purchased by Wick Allison
. Allison installed David Bauer, currently deputy managing editor of Sports Illustrated, as editor. Under Bauer, SPORT sharply improved its design and editorial direction, making the magazine profitable for the first time in years. However, Allison and Bauer soon moved on to other projects, the magazine was sold to another group, and the decline continued.
2000
, after appearing every month for 54 years under 10 different owners, SPORT magazine ceased publication.
SPORTs demise was duly mourned. Allen Barra
, writing in Salon.com
, put it this way: "Though it didn't make any headlines, the news of the death of SPORT magazine ... must have put a lump in the throat of those old enough to remember the greatest of all American sports magazines ... Sports Illustrated was great, but SI, in an era when you couldn't see all the highlights every night, was read for news; SPORT was for reflection." And, in a rare departure for the competitive magazine industry, SI itself paid tribute to SPORT on its own pages with a poignant piece that began, "They closed the barbershop last week, the one in town, the first place -- not counting school or a friend's house -- where your mother would drop you off and leave you ..."
1946 in sports
-American football:* All-America Football Conference begins play. Cleveland Browns win the championship by beating New York Yankees 14-9.* Chicago Bears win the NFL crown by defeating the New York Giants 24-14 in New York.-Association football:England...
by the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based publisher, Macfadden Publications
Macfadden Publications
Macfadden Communications Group is a publisher of business magazines. It has a historical link with a company started in 1898 by Bernarr Macfadden that was one of the largest magazine publishers of the twentieth century.-Macfadden Publications:...
, SPORT pioneered the generous use of color photography – it carried eight full colour plates in its first edition – and almost immediately became half-bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, half-guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
to a generation of men coming of age.
SPORT predated the launch of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
by eight years, and is remembered for bringing several editorial innovations to the genre, as well as creating, in 1955
1955 in sports
-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns won 38-14 over the Los Angeles Rams* Oklahoma Sooners - college football champions.-England:* First Division - Chelsea win the 1954-55 title.* FA Cup - Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1....
, the SPORT Magazine Award. The SPORT Award, given initially to the outstanding player in baseball’s World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(Johnny Podres
Johnny Podres
John Joseph Podres was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the inaugural winner), was later expanded to include the pre-eminent post-season performer in the other three major North American team sports. What made SPORT the most distinctive from Sports Illustrated, however, was the fact it was a monthly magazine as opposed to SI's weekly distribution.
SPORT was published continually between its launch and August 2000, when its then-owner, EMAP PLC, made the decision to close the money-losing title. Today, the photo archive of SPORT magazine, which represents one of the most significant collections of 20th century sports photography in North America, is housed online.
1946-1960s
For many of the middle years of the 20th century, the king of sport magazines in North America was not Time Inc.'s Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, but the brainchild of another publishing house, Macfadden Publications
Macfadden Publications
Macfadden Communications Group is a publisher of business magazines. It has a historical link with a company started in 1898 by Bernarr Macfadden that was one of the largest magazine publishers of the twentieth century.-Macfadden Publications:...
. Launched in September 1946
1946 in sports
-American football:* All-America Football Conference begins play. Cleveland Browns win the championship by beating New York Yankees 14-9.* Chicago Bears win the NFL crown by defeating the New York Giants 24-14 in New York.-Association football:England...
, Macfadden's SPORT magazine broke new ground, as the first mainstream national sports publication, but also in its editorial innovations. In those years, SPORT had the market for magazine-style sports journalism virtually to itself and, under founding editor Ernest Heyn, pioneered a brand of behind-the-scenes glimpses of the heroes of the day not previously attempted. The emphasis was not on the games or the teams, but on the elements of human drama that lay beneath. SPORT was an icon in the league of Life and Look and the Saturday Evening Post.
Many of the magazine’s editorial innovations—such as its SPORTtalk digest of short items at the front of the magazine, the SPORT Special long feature at the back and, in particular, the use of full-page colour portraits of the stars of the day—were later borrowed by the new kid on the block, SI, when it made its debut as a weekly in 1954
1954 in sports
1954 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* NFL Championship – Cleveland Browns win 56-10 over the Detroit Lions* Ohio State Buckeyes - college football champions.-Artistic gymnastics:* 1954 World Championships...
. In fact, Time Inc., tried to purchase the name SPORT, but the company's final offer of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
200,000 fell on deaf ears at Macfadden who would have sold for $50,000 more so Time Inc. went instead with Sports Illustrated, a name used by two, previous failed sports journals.
Notable writers for SPORT
From its launch in September 1946, with Joe DiMaggio gracing the inaugural cover, SPORT magazine thrived. Each month its pages were filled with evocative writing by the likes of Grantland RiceGrantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, John Lardner
John Lardner (sports writer)
-Career:Lardner attended Phillips Academy, graduating in 1929. He completed on year at Harvard, he left for the Sorbonne, where he wrote for the Paris branch of the International Herald Tribune. He never finished his degree, but instead worked for the Herald Tribune in New York from 1931, following...
, Dan Daniel
Dan Daniel (sportswriter)
Dan Daniel , born Daniel Margowitz, was an American sportswriter whose prolific contributions over a long period led him to be called the Dean of American Baseball Writers....
, Roger Kahn and Dick Schaap
Dick Schaap
Richard Jay Schaap was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author.-Early life and education:...
, and exquisite photographs by such shooting stars as Ozzie Sweet, George Heyer, Marvin Newman, Hy Peskin
Hy Peskin
Hyman "Hy" Peskin was a Jewish-American photographer notable for several famous photographs of American sports people and celebrities published by Sports Illustrated and Life...
and Martin Blumenthal. It continued to thrive for a quarter-century or so, as SI struggled to reach profitability, and to find the right blend of spectator and participatory sports.
The SPORT Award
Representative of SPORT magazine's stature, in the hearts and minds of the reading public, but also of the men who ran the leagues and teams across North America, was the magazine's success in establishing the SPORT Award in 19551955 World Series
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn . The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World...
for the most valuable player in the World Series
World Series MVP Award
The World Series Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the Major League Baseball postseason...
. The concept was expanded over the years until a SPORT magazine award was presented to the outstanding post-season performer in all four major team sports, as sanctioned by the leagues.
1970s-2000
But by the early 1970s1970s in sports
-Major events:The 1970s will be forever associated in terms of sport with the great Pittsburgh Steelers teams of that decade.The 1970s was known for three renegade sports leagues that challenged older, established organizations in need of an energy boost and fresh perspective on their respective...
, Macfadden, lacking Times deep pockets, was fading, and was swallowed up by successively larger companies, eventually winding up in the hands of the Charter Company
Charter Company
The Charter Company of Jacksonville, Florida was a conglomerate with more than 180 subsidiaries that was in the Fortune 500 for 11 years beginning in 1974 and ranked 61st in 1984 before it sought bankruptcy protection in late 1984 and spiraled into obscurity....
. There was also a corresponding zig-zag in editorial direction, and gradually SPORT lost its way, its distinctive voice and, eventually, its presence. A brief revival occurred in 1981
1981 in sports
1981 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup –** Men's overall season champion: Phil Mahre, USA** Women's overall season champion: Marie-Theres Nadig, Switzerland-American football:...
, when the magazine was purchased by Wick Allison
Wick Allison
Wick Allison, birth name Lodowick Brodie Cobb Allison , is an American magazine publisher and author. He currently is the owner of D Magazine, a monthly magazine covering Dallas-Fort Worth, which he co-founded in 1974, and the principal owner of People Newspapers, which he purchased in...
. Allison installed David Bauer, currently deputy managing editor of Sports Illustrated, as editor. Under Bauer, SPORT sharply improved its design and editorial direction, making the magazine profitable for the first time in years. However, Allison and Bauer soon moved on to other projects, the magazine was sold to another group, and the decline continued.
The end of
SPORT In AugustAugust 2000
August 2000 was the eighth month of 2000. It began on a Tuesday and ended after 31 days on a Thursday.-Portal:Current events:This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from August 2000....
2000
2000 in sports
2000 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Renate Götschl, Austria-American football:...
, after appearing every month for 54 years under 10 different owners, SPORT magazine ceased publication.
SPORTs demise was duly mourned. Allen Barra
Allen Barra
Allen Barra is an American journalist and author of a number of sports books. He is a contributing editor of American Heritage magazine, and regularly writes about sports for the Wall Street Journal. He has also written for the New York Times and New York Observer, and was formerly a columnist...
, writing in Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, put it this way: "Though it didn't make any headlines, the news of the death of SPORT magazine ... must have put a lump in the throat of those old enough to remember the greatest of all American sports magazines ... Sports Illustrated was great, but SI, in an era when you couldn't see all the highlights every night, was read for news; SPORT was for reflection." And, in a rare departure for the competitive magazine industry, SI itself paid tribute to SPORT on its own pages with a poignant piece that began, "They closed the barbershop last week, the one in town, the first place -- not counting school or a friend's house -- where your mother would drop you off and leave you ..."
The SPORT Collection
Today, the archive of the magazine, comprising tens of thousands photographic images and illustrations, lives on, forming the base of The SPORT Collection, which is housed in Toronto, Canada, at The SPORT Gallery.Publishers
| Dates | Publisher |
|---|---|
| 1946 – 1961 | Macfadden Publications Macfadden Publications Macfadden Communications Group is a publisher of business magazines. It has a historical link with a company started in 1898 by Bernarr Macfadden that was one of the largest magazine publishers of the twentieth century.-Macfadden Publications:... |
| 1961 – 1976 | Bartell Publishing |
| 1976 – 1978 | Downe Communications |
| 1978 – 1981 | Charter Company Charter Company The Charter Company of Jacksonville, Florida was a conglomerate with more than 180 subsidiaries that was in the Fortune 500 for 11 years beginning in 1974 and ranked 61st in 1984 before it sought bankruptcy protection in late 1984 and spiraled into obscurity.... |
| 1981 – 1988 | Southwest Media Corporation D Magazine This article is about the magazine about Dallas. For the Italian magazine, see La Repubblica.D Magazine is a monthly magazine covering Dallas-Fort Worth. It covers a range of topics including politics, business, food, fashion and lifestyle in the city of Dallas. The first issue was published in... |
| 1988 – 1998 | Petersen Publishing |
| 1998 – 2000 | EMAP EMAP Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences... |