PDA

View Full Version : OT Crisis: ESPN the Mag vs. Sports Illustrated

minibronco
03-11-2006, 10:29 PM
Hey everybody!

For those of you who don't know, I'm younger than 18, and somehow my parents overdid the Sports Illustrated for Kids subscription and it's lasted until now. I'm faced with making a decision now- since I'm already subscribing to Time Magazine, Popular Science, and SLAM, I can only subscribe to either ESPN the Magazine or Sports Illustrated. Here are my upsides (pros) and downsides (Cons) for each of the two magazines.

ESPN the Mag:

PROS:

Lot's of info (looks like lots of text)
Very deep fantasy sports analysis
bigger than normal paper and very thick
Good for short/quick reads in the W.C. or breakfast
Comes only every 2 weeks (every week is too much for me)
Better portraits?
Access to ESPN.com Insider for free during subscription
Input by anchors and reporters from the TV version
More grand and impressive

CONS:

Lack of layout (looks like MTV mangled and smashed)
newsprint paper (Very cheap and feels like it will rip any day)
not as many action photos
writing targeting to people who have 2-second attention spans
Very hard to follow
Isn't as popular as Sports Illustrated
A lot of gossip and rumors

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

PROS:

Higher level writing
More layout
Very structured and easy to follow throughout each issue
More action photos
Very popular
Longer and deeper articles
I'll get a free broncos t-shirt with a subscription

CONS:

Kinda looks like SI for Kids with less bright colors :)
More boring
Thinner and smaller
Comes every week (almost unmanageable for me)
no fantasy coverage
Overblown and overhyped???


I'm kinda in a pickle right here, so I need some help from those of you who have had experience with these two magazines (before my SI for kids subscription expires) Please try to stay objective in the fact that ESPN is the worldwide follower and focus on the magazine itself instead of the brand. Your input is greatly appreciated!!!!

-minibronco
SouthStndJunkie
03-11-2006, 10:34 PM
Get the USA Today Sports Weekly instead.

BTW.....never use the words: Huge size and much thicker when describing anything in the future.
HEAV
03-11-2006, 10:54 PM
BTW.....never use the words: Huge size and much thicker when describing anything in the future.

I second that statement.

I also would say that The Sporting News is much better than both ESPN and SI.
minibronco
03-11-2006, 11:00 PM
I second that statement.

I also would say that The Sporting News is much better than both ESPN and SI.

hmmm, but I heard the Sporting News news is like more delayed.
minibronco
03-11-2006, 11:14 PM
I dunno, Sporting News and USA today is more news than articles i think.
SouthStndJunkie
03-11-2006, 11:27 PM
You may want to edit this line as well:

Longer and deeper articles
minibronco
03-11-2006, 11:56 PM
You may want to edit this line as well:

Longer and deeper articles
hahahahahahahahaaaaaa
Breck Bronc
03-12-2006, 12:53 AM
Sports Illustrated still has the best articles and is more relavent than ESPN or TSN. With the internet you probably don't need any of them, but SI at least has the best quality.

Back in the day I had SI, Sport, and Inside Sports subscriptions. The latter two are no longer around.
Atlas
03-12-2006, 12:56 AM
since I'm already subscribing to Time Magazine, Popular Science, and SLAM, I can only subscribe to either ESPN the Magazine or Sports Illustrated.

With the internet why would you have 4 magazine subscriptions???

The only two you need is Time and Maxim. THat's it... Well, blender is good if you like music.
labronx
03-12-2006, 04:05 AM
Sporting News.
I prefer ESPN the mag over SI as it has more info an has more topics and I really like the layout of their league reports. I actually think they have real good stories and the writers are real good.

The actually come with posters and biger pictures than SI.

SI does have the famous writers (i.e)Reilly, Dr. Z. and King, however it's been called the POPLE Magazine of sports.

I used to subscribe to SI. Plus I think ESPN the Mag is cheaper.
watermock
03-12-2006, 04:11 AM
SI has turned into the "we will side your house for free" magazine. I can't imagine how lame SI for Kids is. I don't know how young this kid is, but sheesh...full SI reads at about a 6th grade level. Plus you get the swimsuit issue to tuck under your bed.

Print needs subscribers to support advertising revenue. Period. Giving me a mini football isn't cutting it for me. I will grab print if I am away from the puter but otherwise, pass. I'll grab a USA today, decent sports section and you know if nuclear war is imminent.
-Slap-
03-12-2006, 08:36 AM
Sports Illustrated still has the best articles and is more relavent than ESPN or TSN. With the internet you probably don't need any of them, but SI at least has the best quality.

Back in the day I had SI, Sport, and Inside Sports subscriptions. The latter two are no longer around.
Sport magazine was pretty cool. Especially the old school covers they featured in the 70s and 80s. (http://www.kityoung.com/kyc/40274.jpg)

http://www.bigbruno.com/senators/graphics/sportcov.jpg

I hated Inside Sports as much as I hate ESPN the Magazine today.
Nuggets4
03-12-2006, 09:14 AM
Sporting News is the way to go. Only non-music mag I get.
Jason in LA
03-12-2006, 10:27 AM
With the internet why would you have 4 magazine subscriptions???

The only two you need is Time and Maxim. THat's it... Well, blender is good if you like music.

That's what I was thinking. I get all my info on the web. There really isn't any need to buy any of those magazines.

Minibronco, you are a man now. Get Maxim, FHM, and all the other guy magazines.

I always felt that SI sucked. It doesn't cover everything. I always like The Sporting News because they covered every major sport, and every team in those sports, in every issue. I could always open it up and they'd have something about the Broncos. Even if it was something that I already new, it was atleast something. And I could read something on all the other teams. SI focuses on the current sports, but they don't say something on every team. The coverage is very weak.

My brother is a big SI fan. We are both sports photographers. He made the point that it's "Sports Illustrated". Emphisis on "Illustrated". It's all about the pictures with that magazine. I look through it, check out the pictures, then toss the thing down.
minibronco
03-12-2006, 10:53 AM
Thanks everyone!
gunns
03-12-2006, 10:56 AM
I just get it from the web now but if you have to choose between the two I'd take ESPN. The only props I give SI is Rick Reilly.
sirhcyennek81
03-12-2006, 11:06 AM
SI is cursed. ESPN isnt. Go with the uncursed Mag with pretty pictures...

:Broncos: