European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 14, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Bob Sipchen los Angeles times hat do Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs have in common Wilh Muhammad Ali and Kareen Abdul Jabbar they Veall made record numbers of appearances on the cover of sports illustrated aug in Marks sports Illus rated s 35th anniversary an event that has inspired the Magazine to sir up enough arcane lads to Complete a set of trivial Pursuit playing cards. Ali and Abdul Jabbar for example have appeared on the cover of the weedy sports Magazine 29 and 25 times respectively followed by Jack Nicklaus 22 appearances Pele Rose 17 and earm magic Johnson 15 Tiegs and Brinkley. Along with Elle Macpherson hold the record for making the cover of the Magazine s swimsuit issues with three appearances apiece. Sports illustrated has Grov a from a circulation of 450,000 in 1954 to 3,150,000, playing a key role in shaping spoils literature along the Way in the Magazine s first year alone contributors included not Only renowned sports writers such As red Smith and Jim Murray but also mainstream literary celebs John Steinbeck and William Faulkner. Of fishing Steinbeck wrote Here is no sentiment no contest no grandeur no economics. From the Sanctity of this occupation a Man May emerge relic bed and in control of his own soul Hoir not Idle. He is fishing Alono with himself in dignity and peace " of hockey. Faulkner wrote to the innocent who had never seen hockey before in scorned discarded and i consequent bizarre and paradoxical like the frantic darting of the weightless bugs which run on the surface of stagnant  Over the years sports illustrated has developed a stable of staff writers widely regarded As among the Best in the business ii s got As Many legends As the Yankees said pole Dexter a columnist for the Sacramento Bee the author of the novels pans Trout and Deadwood and an occasional contributor to sports illustrated i think it s the Best Magazine out there bar none. I m not going to say it s Tho Best written Magazine but the mix the Way it looks and the Way it sounds makes it As successful As any Magazine i can think  As an example of this mix Dexter Points to a 1980 Story in which sports illustrated rounded up All the fighters Muhammad Ali beat in his career. I can t preseason previews have been a regular feature of sports illustrated. 35 years of sports remember being so moved by anything i be seen in a Magazine. It just stunned  not All observers Praise sports illustrated unequivocally. The concern for excellence has Long since been superseded by the Ledger and the accountants said Frank Delord. Who is widely acknowledged As one of the finest sports writers in the country and who recently left spoils illustrated to become Tho founding editor of Tho National a soon to be launched daily sports newspaper the present editor is simply More interested in pretty pictures and breaking stories soil no longer casts the kind of Shadow it did once upon a time he said. It s simply not Tho writers Magazine ii once  Deford conceded that his views May be tinged Wilh the bitterness of his current dispute Wilh sports illustrated Over $215.625 in company Stock. Oxford contends that managing editor Mark Mulvoy reneged on a Promise to keep him on the payroll until he became vested in the Slock. Mulvoy who could not be reached for comment has publicly stated that Deford misrepresented the nature of the Job for which he was leaving sports illustrated a claim Deford vehemently denied. Bill Wyro sports editor of the los Angeles times had a different sort of complaint about sports illustrated. The Magazine he lamented has saddled him Wilh a whole new age of Yuppie sports writers who Admire sports illustrated s features and think the leisurely creative Pace of that weekly can carry Over to daily newspaper reporting. Another area that just infuriates me Dwyre said is thai they Are paying some sports figures to spill their  Dwyre gave the october 1988 Story on steroid abuse by University of South Carolina Loo Ball Star Tommy Chaikin As an example Roger Jackson a spokesman for sports illustrated said that Tho Magazine pays Only for first person or As fold to accounts and runs those Only rarely. Even then he said we re not really doing anything i Ferenal than Newsweek or time do when they pay for the memoirs of Henry Kissinger or Jimmy  Dwyre conceded that some of the spleen he Venus against sports illustrated will sound like sour grapes. I got sour because they steal my Good people to said. I m sometimes a farm learn Tor Mark Mulvoy and i Don t like in and despite his complaints he believes sports illustrated has been the Leader in making sports writers some of the Best writers in the country sports illustrated which won this year s National Magazine award Lor general excellence won t celebrate its anniversary till november when in plans to lure out a cast of 1954 sports heroes for an affair in new York. In the meantime the aug. 14 edition features Michael Jordan on its cover and a feature on the basketball Star s love of Golf. Jordan Hopes to join the professional Golf circuit when he hangs up his High lops. Sports illustrated reports. The difference Between youth and maturity can Best be described by what happens the moment a person enters the House. Maturity runs to the bathroom. Youth punches the Button on the answering machine to see who called. I Don t think i be Ever seen a generation so consumed Wilh the Telephone. It reminds me of Tony Roberts in the old Woody Allen film. Whenever Tony hit a new location he automatically reached for a phone and announced i m at 555-5473." As if someone cared he never got a Call. The joke would t play today because reaching out and touching anyone has hit epidemic proportions. Tho Telephone Cord has replaced the umbilical Cord to sustain life sever it and we die. Ivana and Donald Trump have 235 phones aboard Page 16 the stars and stripes their yacht., nearly one for every linear foot. Motorists Call their offices from cars to describe Iro Eway conditions and travellers Call from planes mostly to say guess where i m calling from conference Calls automatic dealing Call screening Calls Are yours for the dealing Call an 800 number and order a Crackpot. Call a 900 number and listen to women talk about their fantasies. Get an Extension Cord that will Lake you to another time zone. All of this is enough to make Maxwell smart s phone shoe seem obsolete i am one of the few people who have always regarded a phone As an inconvenience. It s something that rings when i am in the Shower putting dinner on the table or when i m watching a pet psychologist on to explain How to keep the dog from wetting on furniture legs. For my children life begins when the phone rings. I figured out once they spend about 75 percent of every waking hour fiddling with the phone. We recently vacationed in a Remote part of Mexico monday August 14,1989 with a son who sends Mabell a Mother s Day card you can imagine his horror to discover our hotel did not have a phone. Forget the Blue sky. The beaches the snorkelling the fishing the food the Tranquillity. He had a phone credit card and no place to stick it. Half crazed he got in the car and Rode around for half a Day trying to find a push Button phone so he could get his messages from his phone at Home. He never found one. Ever watch someone go through phone withdrawal it is not a pretty sight. It s like he slopped existing and had to keep looking at his social Security card to know that he was still an entity. When the plane touched Down in los Angeles he rushed to the nearest phone and i saw him Jot Down a phone number and then hang up and begin dealing. Why would you get so excited to hear from your dental hygienist that you were due for an appointment All of it is sick e 1989 Erma Bomick