I was a 'Concerned Onlooker' Featured in Sports Illustrated
SI Used to Be Required Reading for Everyone Who Loved Sports
Like many sports fans of a certain age, I was saddened to hear the news last week that Sports Illustrated’s run might soon be coming to an end. An end of an era they are calling it.
As a kid, I would read the articles in the iconic sports magazine cover to cover. I am old enough to say I grew at a time before social media, the internet and ESPN.
When it came to Sports Illustrated, I read in detail any and every baseball story. Actually, I devoured all stories related to Baseball, football, basketball and hockey. At one point in my teens, I had amassed a sizable collection of past issues. Just like Baseball Digest, I could never seem to part with the magazines. The covers were certainly iconic.
SI as it is known for short, was founded on August 16, 1954, by Henry Luce, the co-founder of Time Inc. The first issue, featured Eddie Mathews of the Milwaukee Braves on the cover, swinging a bat. Yes, before my time.
One of my favorite issues of all time might have been one published April 1, 1985. One particular story was the story of everyone I knew and talked about for years — The Curious Case Of Sidd Finch. IYKYK as the kids say. Scroll back at the date of publication I just mentioned.
April first.
It was and is the best April fools day prank I have ever come across. Click on the link above to read or reread the story.
Another issue in particular is also very special to me. It has personal meaning. So much so I’ve tucked away a few copies of that issue and placed them in storage. The August 23, 1993, cover featured women’s tennis star Mary Pierce. Other than the headline, the cover wasn’t anything special.
Inside however, is a different story. One of the magazine’s feature stories focused on an up and coming artist. His name: Brent Benger.
Brent and I attended UC Irvine together. We were fraternity brothers. Brent has a special talent as an artist, painter and a fantastic story teller. He uses his paintbrush instead of the written word or a camera lens to convey memorable stories.
As a thank you for helping introduce Brent to my colleagues at the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brent decided to include me in one of his five featured paintings SI featured in the issue. He only told me about it afterwards.
In the image above, I am seated in the second row, just above and slightly right of Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan’s head.
Had a bit more hair in those days…..
I don’t know if I could be characterized as a ‘concerned onlooker’ but certainly I was a happy one. Two other friends who are also included in this painting. In the first row far left, seen clapping is former Dodger executive Brent Shyer. Also, holding a camera, is former beat reporter and current Dodger Historian Mark Langill.
It felt special to be included in a project like this. It was not the first time Brent improved my looks by featuring me in one of his paintings. However, it was the only time I ‘appeared’ in a Sports Illustrated magazine.
In the early days of exploring his career as an artist, Brent asked to include me in a different painting. He pitched me the idea to pose as a catcher for this project he was working on. I remember I was a bit hesitant. However, Brent was easily able to sway me.
So one day he showed up on the front steps of my home up with a camera. He handed me a catcher’s mitt and asked me to pose in the front yard. He had me look off in the distance. No chest protector. No uniform, just the glove. I can still remember squinting and trying to hold still.
I also recall feeling uneasy. Not because he was taking pictures of me, but because I didn’t feel comfortable placing the catcher’s glove over my hand.
While I feel I was certainly born with a baseball glove on my hand, the scene felt awkward actually. Why? Naturally, I am a left hander. A first baseman first and an outfielder second. No catching duties on my resume. Ever. Sliding that left hand into the catcher’s glove was not natural for me, but based on Brent’s final product, who would know?
I have proudly posted that painting in my different work offices over the years. When friends see it, they always comment that it looks like a Norman Rockwell painting.
A terrific compliment for the artist.
Kudos to Brent and kudos to Sports Illustrated. Amazing memories.
That is fantastic!