When did it become commonplace to have 4 underclassmen on the cover of the magazine referring to them as "NBA ballers"?



I have been on a streak of buying every SLAM magazine every month since I was 17, and I think this will come to an end.

Aren't college players on covers all the time? (SI, ESPN the Mag, etc?)

Two years ago Derrick Rose was on the cover in his Memphis uniform. I thought it looked pretty sharp.

(03-03-2010 02:05 PM)Interminator Wrote:  I have been on a streak of buying every SLAM magazine every month since I was 17, and I think this will come to an end.

I've been buying a certain magazine every month since I was 17 too. However, I'm not going to quit.


Did you say something about the NBA?

(03-03-2010 02:05 PM)Interminator Wrote:  


When did it become commonplace to have 4 underclassmen on the cover of the magazine referring to them as "NBA ballers"?



I have been on a streak of buying every SLAM magazine every month since I was 17, and I think this will come to an end.

Wow! A whole six months???

College athletes make sports magazine covers every day. There's no way the NCAA can control private publications and what they say about star players. They can't outright take money for endorsements or appearances, but they can have their picture taken and be interviewed by the sports media. What's the beef?

(03-04-2010 10:18 AM)TigerTitan Wrote:  

(03-03-2010 02:05 PM)Interminator Wrote:  


When did it become commonplace to have 4 underclassmen on the cover of the magazine referring to them as "NBA ballers"?



I have been on a streak of buying every SLAM magazine every month since I was 17, and I think this will come to an end.

Wow! A whole six months???

College athletes make sports magazine covers every day. There's no way the NCAA can control private publications and what they say about star players. They can't outright take money for endorsements or appearances, but they can have their picture taken and be interviewed by the sports media. What's the beef?

Good one.

Im 21, but nice try.

No Im referring to the coach being on the cover with his players, I know that college athletes are sometimes on SLAM Covers including HS athletes on the Punks issue.

I cant remember any coach willingly going to be on the cover of a basketball magazine with his players.

Its always about Cal. Why not just let the players have the cover?

(03-04-2010 12:14 PM)Interminator Wrote:  

(03-04-2010 10:18 AM)TigerTitan Wrote:  

(03-03-2010 02:05 PM)Interminator Wrote:  


When did it become commonplace to have 4 underclassmen on the cover of the magazine referring to them as "NBA ballers"?



I have been on a streak of buying every SLAM magazine every month since I was 17, and I think this will come to an end.

Wow! A whole six months???

College athletes make sports magazine covers every day. There's no way the NCAA can control private publications and what they say about star players. They can't outright take money for endorsements or appearances, but they can have their picture taken and be interviewed by the sports media. What's the beef?

Good one.

Im 21, but nice try.

No Im referring to the coach being on the cover with his players, I know that college athletes are sometimes on SLAM Covers including HS athletes on the Punks issue.

I cant remember any coach willingly going to be on the cover of a basketball magazine with his players.

I doubt seriously anyone here knows how old you are today. You did not reference "how many years" you'd subscribed.

I missed your point about the coach specifically joining his players for a group shot. Sorry. I must have glanced over that.

But keep in mind the photo shoot might have included hundreds of solo and group shots (with and without the coach). The decision on which photo to use my have been the choice of the editor. Considering his job is to sell magazines, it's likely he thought Cal's face on the cover would make some people snatch a copy that might not otherwise. I'll let you guess what kind of nimrods would do that!!

(03-03-2010 03:12 PM)oldmangrizz Wrote:  

(03-03-2010 02:05 PM)Interminator Wrote:  I have been on a streak of buying every SLAM magazine every month since I was 17, and I think this will come to an end.

I've been buying a certain magazine every month since I was 17 too. However, I'm not going to quit.


Did you say something about the NBA?

Why would you buy it? It's free on the internet.

Oh, wait, I know, it's for the articles. Of course!

(03-04-2010 12:23 PM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote:  Its always about Cal. Why not just let the players have the cover?

I don't remember exactly but I think they wanted just Cal and Wall or Cal, Wall, and Cousins but they told them they wouldn't do it until they had at least Cal, Cousins, Wall, Patterson, and Bledsoe.

(03-04-2010 12:23 PM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote:  Its always about Cal. Why not just let the players have the cover?

Funny you say that.

I had a conversation with one of the main editors at SLAM last year, and he said that the mag came to Memphis to do a photoshoot with the players...

While they didn't have any intention of shooting the coach, Calipari insisted that he pose for some photos. He made them take dozens of pics...all of which were never used.

He just shook his head as if to say, "that's Calipari for you."

(03-04-2010 06:43 PM)iamblue08 Wrote:  

(03-04-2010 12:23 PM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote:  Its always about Cal. Why not just let the players have the cover?

I don't remember exactly but I think they wanted just Cal and Wall or Cal, Wall, and Cousins but they told them they wouldn't do it until they had at least Cal, Cousins, Wall, Patterson, and Bledsoe.

Sounds about right. You knew Cal had to get on the cover to showcase himself along with the players.

Im still wondering why you guys think his NBA dream is somehow over, what is he still auditioning for? If hes at "the best program in college basketball" then why does he need to continue to try to showcase himself? I dont see guys like Coach K or Ol' Roy feeling the need for publicity the way KFC does.

(03-05-2010 01:31 PM)Interminator Wrote:  

(03-04-2010 06:43 PM)iamblue08 Wrote:  

(03-04-2010 12:23 PM)MemphisTigerPawr Wrote:  Its always about Cal. Why not just let the players have the cover?

I don't remember exactly but I think they wanted just Cal and Wall or Cal, Wall, and Cousins but they told them they wouldn't do it until they had at least Cal, Cousins, Wall, Patterson, and Bledsoe.

Sounds about right. You knew Cal had to get on the cover to showcase himself along with the players.

Im still wondering why you guys think his NBA dream is somehow over, what is he still auditioning for? If hes at "the best program in college basketball" then why does he need to continue to try to showcase himself? I dont see guys like Coach K or Ol' Roy feeling the need for publicity the way KFC does.

I can't speak for Calipari but I certainly hope his dream of the NBA is over. I guess it would make sense if he felt his "auditioning" was helping to publicize UK. And Coach K did commercials and other things. But I can't read minds so who knows.

I get all the Cal hate, but sometimes some of y'all really stretch it...

Oh, and by the way, take a looksie at this SI cover with a certain high school junior on the cover.

Here's a much better cover we all can enjoy!

http://www.nba.com/hoop/table_of_content...pr_10.html