Former Staffer Provides Inside Look at Sports Illustrated Layoffs

In June of 2001, as I was getting ready to attend a colleague’s wedding, I received a call that would change my life. It was my boss, informing me that I was being laid off from my job at Sports Illustrated. Fast forward to today, and the news broke that SI is being gutted and shutting down just months before its 70th birthday. The current staff, including the Editor-in-Chief, is now facing the same uncertain future that I did all those years ago.

For those of us who spent years at SI, the magazine became a part of our identity. It’s natural to wonder who we are without it. But now, for the first time since 1954, sports fans and journalists must also ask who they are without SI. The magazine played a crucial role in sports journalism, offering both passion and objective observation. It chronicled the world of sports while also serving as a moral compass.

Many of us who worked at SI had a deep connection to the magazine long before we officially joined the team. We grew up subscribing to the magazine, eagerly awaiting its arrival each week. We collected issues, taped favorite covers to our walls, and laughed at clever lines in the articles. We knew that SI was special, smarter and better than any other magazine out there.

Joining the staff at SI was a dream come true. We felt privileged to be part of a team that included legendary writers like Rick Reilly. We fought for coveted bylines, knowing that the competition was fierce. The gatekeeper for young reporters was Myra Gelband, who oversaw the subscriber-only stories. Getting a story into the advance text was a badge of honor.

But now, as we witness the demise of SI, it feels like we are witnessing a slow and sudden death. The magazine has faced numerous challenges, from ownership changes to layoffs. And now, the remaining employees are caught in a game of contract chicken. It’s a heartbreaking end for a publication that meant so much to so many.

As the news of SI’s demise spread, I spoke to a former colleague who compared it to a line from Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises.” He said, “Someone asked one of the characters how he went bankrupt. He answered, ‘Two ways. Gradually, and then suddenly.'” This sentiment perfectly captures the downfall of Sports Illustrated.

In the end, SI’s closure leaves a void in the world of sports journalism. It was a unique and beloved magazine that will be deeply missed. But the legacy of SI will live on in the hearts of the countless readers and employees who were touched by its stories and dedication to the world of sports.