04/23/24
December 11, 2010
The Longest of Heisman longshots: Twenty five years ago, Sports Illustrated editor Mark Mulvoy and first-year writer Rick Reilly made a pitch for an unknown kid from Division III Plymouth State and in the process created a cover story that still resonates today.
"What the heck, why not Joe Dudek?" Still one of my favorite covers.
posted by yerfatma at 09:20 AM on December 11, 2010
Dudek was a great story, and a great door opener. The year after that cover came out or thereabouts (if I recall correctly), folks started making noise about Gordie Lockbaum getting the Heisman.
Lockbaum played both ways at Holy Cross. If you liked the Dudek story, Lockbaum was also deserving. Both sides of the ball, no scholarship.
Dudek has fulfilled not one but two of my daydreams: make the cover of SI and then spend your professional career in the adult beverage industry.
(My wife says I'm familiar enough with the industry on an amateur basis as it is).
posted by beaverboard at 11:52 AM on December 11, 2010
Heck, what memories...being FROM Leominster, remembering both those players. Lockbaum got great press in the Worcester Telegram- which was the BIG paper and daily read for all of Central Massachusetts. I do think that local players get good press in their local papers...if anyone reads them. I still get the Sacramento Bee a few days a week, and gobble the local stories that will never hit KCRA or Sportscenter. Stories like Dudek and Lockbaum...Steve Bedrosian, Rich Gedman...some make it, others make it in other walks of life.
posted by Leominster at 01:20 PM on December 11, 2010
"That's where I felt you had to earn your money -- to make news on the weeks when there was none."
Nothing against Dudek, but that, my friends, explains a lot of things wrong with modern journalism.
/Just started watching Series 5 of The Wire.