Vigilante Sports » Media

How to opt out of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Kendall — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:32:31 +0000

I pretty much want one thing from my weekly sports periodical… Sports. There is one issue a year from the only sports periodical that I subscribe to that is not focused on sports, the Swimsuit issue. Even if it was focused on the upcoming season’s hot swimwear (which it’s not), that still would be out of place in a magazine devoted to sport. We get too much sexual marketing in the regular pages of Sports Illustrated as it is. But that’s a different soap box for a different day.

I was very pleased to see in the “Letters” section of the February 4, 2008 issue, there is a box at the bottom that describes how subscribers can “opt out” of the Swimsuit issue. I was glad to see that. In the past, I have simply thrown the issue directly into the trash. I have been a SI subscriber for over 20 years. The Swimsuit issue regularly has the highest single issue page count of the year. They offered a service that I just didn’t want. Sports Illustrated and their parent company Time Inc. made it very easy for me to “opt-out” of the Swimsuit issue.

If you would like to opt out of the Swimsuit issue, simply call (866) 228-1175. You’ll need your account number, which is on the cover of your issue above your name. Today, February 4th is the last day to opt out for this year’s issue, so act now.

Who will save us from Chris Berman and the Home Run Derby?

Kendall — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:14:52 +0000

The fact that I totally missed on my prediction about the Home Run Derby seems so irrelevant now that my ears have been poisoned by Chris Berman. It’s obvious that ‘Boomer’ got the tour of the Bay Area. His incessant dropping of Bay Area landmarks in his ‘trademark’ home run calls made me sick (see below). One thing I did enjoy about the broadcast (and it’s really kind of difficult to come up with one), is that I think that Dusty Baker was making fun of Berman. He was definitely stepping on Leather’s toes with the infamous ‘Back, Back, Back’ home run calls. It definitely could have been Dusty just being the leader of the Get-along Gang, but I hope that it was Dusty adding a little wit, and humor to and otherwise blathering broadcast (and existance for that matter).

Below are the Bay Area landmarks that I caught. Please drop the one’s I missed in the comments.

Coit Tower
Sausalito
Alcatraz
The Presidio
Stinson Beach
The Golden Gate Bridge
Burlingame

Deadspin is a day late (well, make it 223 days late)

Kendall — Thu, 03 May 2007 18:14:53 +0000

On September 23, 2006, Jay Gibbons hit a foul ball that struck, of all people, his wife. It was widely reported at the time. Today, one of the finest sports blogs in the universe, Deadspin broke the cover off of this story (a full 223 days later).

Kudos to the crew at Deadspin for their amazing journalism. For the most part, we love their work. Count on Will et al to have their collective finger on the pulse of the 2006 MLB season. Perhaps we chalk this won up to a World Series hangover. Will, get some sleep and keep up the good work.

Chicks dig the long ball

Kendall — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 21:27:49 +0000

There was an article in the Chicago Tribune Magazine, dicussing Greg Maddux’s career. It was interesting to hear, in his words, about his successes, and his failures. There was also a section that had interviews with former managers, teammates, and opposing players that provided a glimpse into what it is like to face Greg Maddux. All of this Maddux talk brought back to my mind the great ad campaign from Nike that featured Maddux and Tom Glavine. It’s one of my favorites campaigns ever. Enjoy.

Super Bitchfest XL

Kendall — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 14:11:25 +0000

I haven’t gotten too excited about Super Bowl XL yet. I’m sure that come Sunday afternoon I’ll get into the spirit of things. But as of right now… frankly the most memorable thing about this Super Bowl week is how much the media is bitching about the fact that the game is in Detroit, and not is some warm weather city. And that it’s cold and that Detroit is a terrible place. I haven’t spent too much time in Detroit, but I do have some friends who live there. And from what I know of it, firsthand and through friends… it’s not a terrible place. As in all cities, there are places to avoid and places that are nicer than others. But to discard a city, and it’s residents because it’s cold, and there’s not a beach with scantily clad women on it, is ridiculous and shows me more about the prima donas in the media more than the city or residents of Detroit. Give it a rest, and enjoy the fact that your job sends you to watch, and write or talk about a game.