Sports fans “of an age” recognize the value of Sports Illustrated. We grew up with SI, and it influenced us. Now, this venerable sports institution is on the rocks.
I realize that things change and that they will continue to change for the rest of my life. But when I look back, a tipping point in my life came at about age seven. It was exposure to Sports Illustrated and the emergence of ESPN. Those additions to my life coincided with the Lake Placid Olympics and Michigan State winning the NCAA basketball championship.
Forty-five years later, much has changed about how sports entertainment is delivered and consumed. Sports Illustrated and ESPN (now owned by Disney) might be no more. For sure, one reason is our changing interests and how we allocate our time. But another reason is how venture capitalists suck every bit of profit from a resource and then discard the remnants.
I hope that Sports Illustrated—a historic and established institution—will not just disappear. But there’s no question that it is embarking on a new path, which may be the beginning of the end for offering new content.
What a shame! Visiting a doctor’s office or barber shop will never be the same.
