Sports Illustrated for Kids Magazine (December 2019)

RHYME TIME

The Decade in Verse
P. 16


SNOWBALLERS II
The Epic NBA

Quest Continues
P. 38


2019 GOTTA
GET IT GUIDE IS OUR
Your Holiday

Wish List
P. 46















P. 32











DECEMBER 2019
SIKIDS.com | VOLUME 31 | NO. 11



DECEMBER
2019


VOLUME 31
NUMBER 11


Cover and Lineup
photographs by
JEFFERY A. SALTER























Meet winner
Ally Sentnor (right)

31 nd the other
a
finalists who have
demonstrated excellence
in athletics and beyond.


DECADE DITTY
16 Remember the past
10 years through rhyme.

PRIME TIME FAVORITES
22 Jamal Murray is coming 2 Freeze Frame
off a breakout season with 7 Sports Cards
the Denver Nuggets.
11 December
SNOWBALLERS II Birthdays
38 The sequel to last 12 LOL
year’s NBA epic. 26 Posters
52 What’s the Call?
PATH TO THE PROS
53 Games
44 New Orleans Saints
54 Art Gallery
defensive end Cameron Jordan
55 Comic Cards
was once an aspiring NBA star.
56 Buzz Beamer
GIFT GUIDE
46 No matter what game
you play—or which galaxy you call
home—we’ve got ideas for you.

FROM THE PAGES OF
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
THE TROUBLE WITH TANKING
48 The Miami Dolphins have
gutted their roster, settling for
bad football in the present in
hopes of hoarding precious draft
picks. Can a teardown of this
magnitude pay off in the NFL?





SIKIDS.COM / 1



First Flight



October 7, 2019 • Atlanta, Georgia

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson scored 16 points in his NBA preseason debut,
a 133–109 win over the Hawks that featured three dunks from the rookie. He
scored his team’s first three points on an and-one play, then immediately
followed up with this posterizing slam over Hawks center Damian Jones.

Photograph by
GREG NELSON



splash downs



October 20, 2019 • Landover, Maryland

San Francisco running back Tevin Coleman did his best to keep his team
undefeated at a sloppy FedEx Field. Behind Coleman’s 62 yards—and three
field goals from Robbie Gould—the 49ers beat Washington 9–0 in the shortest
game played in the stadium’s 22-year history (2 hours, 36 minutes).

Photograph by
SIMON BRUTY



BOO-BOOS




PERILS





OF THE





PASTIME







BY SAM PAGE


Photograph by
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images


BASEBALL IS A SPORT with a long
season and lots of downtime. That means
plenty of opportunities for players to injure
themselves in bizarre ways. Test how well
you remember some of the strangest

maladies from 2019.


1 Nationals ace Max Scherzer ended up
with a black eye and a broken nose in June
after he did what during batting practice?
A) Ran into the batting cage
B) Fought the Pirates’ mascot
C) Walked in front of a pitch
D) Bunted a pitch into his face


2 Already on the injured
list, Mets outfielder
Yoenis Céspedes suffered
RICH SCHULTZ/GETTY IMAGES (CÉSPEDES) Scherzer looked like May doing what?
BRUNT OF THE BUNT
multiple ankle fractures in

he got the worst of a
A) Tripping while walking
bench-clearing brawl,
into the doctor’s office
but the real source
B) Attempting to run the bases
of his shiner was far
stranger.
C) Falling into a hole at his ranch
D) Celebrating a Mets win



SIKIDS.COM / 9

3 In the span of two minutes on 6 How did reigning 8 San Diego first baseman Eric
May 13, the Chicago White Sox used AL Cy Young winner Hosmer needed nine stitches in April
their Twitter account to announce Blake Snell fracture after what caused him to fall?
season-ending injuries for how many his toe in the bathroom A) A scary scene in a movie

players? in April? B) The heat from the team’s sauna
A) 2 A) He accidentally C) A banana peel

B) 3 flushed his foot down D) A piece of trash on the field
C) 4 the toilet
D) 5 B) He dropped a 9 Former MLB pitcher Daisuke
piece of furniture he Matsuzaka was diagnosed with
4 Padres shortstop was moving inflammation in his pitching
Fernando Tatis Jr. accidentally C) He tried to trim shoulder in February after what?
did the splits fielding a throw his toe nail with hedge clippers A) An overzealous fan
to second base in the 10th D) He practiced pitching by yanked on his arm
inning of a game against the throwing a bar of soap, which B) He threw 165 pitches
Nationals. What injury did bounced off the wall and in a game in Japan’s
he suffer on the play? hit his foot Nippon Baseball League
A) Strained hamstring C) He unscrewed a tight lid
B) Sprained ankle 7 Blue Jays outfielder off a pickle jar
C) Pulled groin Dalton Pompey was D) He played Fortnite until 3 a.m.
D) Torn pants scratched before a spring
training game after he did 10 After suffering nerve
5 Astros shortstop what in the clubhouse? irritation during a start in September,
Carlos Correa suffered a A) Stubbed his toe A’s pitcher Mike Fiers had what
fractured rib during what on the watercooler superstitious response?
off-field activity? B) Got a paper cut A) He threw out his jersey
A) Receiving a massage from a Pokémon card B) He traded his favorite
B) Grocery shopping C) Bumped his head yo-yo
C) Lifting weights on his bats C) He shaved his cinnamon
D) Sorting SI KIDS D) Hurt his hand roll–shaped beard
Art Gallery submissions thumb-wrestling a teammate D) He started pitching lefthanded






UNBOXED ANSWER KEY: 1. D, 2. C, 3. B, 4. A, 5. A, 6. B, 7. C, 8. B, 9. A, 10. C



NFL CRUCIAL CATCH
Taking the lid off the Since its inception in

coolest sports gear. 2009, this partnership
has raised over
$18.5 million for
NBA TIP OFF SERIES cancer research JIM MCISAAC/GETTY IMAGES (MATSUZAKA); RICHARD RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAGES (FIERS); COURTESY OF NEW ERA (HATS) CARLOS M. SAAVEDRA (TATIS); KOHJIRO KINNO (CORREA); ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS (TOILET, WATER COOLER, BANANA);
Released to celebrate the and treatment.
start of the NBA season, All proceeds from
the Tip Off Series hat (top) these hats go to the
features three unique American Cancer
designs for each team Society, and much
to gear you up for the new
campaign. The wordmarks and
logos plastered all over each
cap ensure that fans can make
their allegiance known in style. —Kevin Wilemski






10 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

DECEMBER
WATCH
BIRTHDAYS



Atlanta Hawks
2 rookie De’Andre
Hunter celebrates his
TITLE 22nd birthday.


▶ New York Mets
TIME 7 first baseman
Pete Alonso is 25.


8 Midfielder Raheem

Power Five schools? Match the
City turns 25.
team logos to their leagues,
then tune in to the conference ▶ Winnipeg Jets left
CLEMSON’S
championship games to see TRAVIS 9 wing Kyle Connor is 23.
who’s heading to the big bowls! ETIENNE (9)

Buffalo Bills rookie
12 defensive tackle
Ed Oliver celebrates his
22nd birthday.


PGA Tour golfer Rickie
13 Fowler turns 31.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
CHRIS KEANE (ETIENNE); CARLOS M. SAAVEDRA (ALONSO); JOE PUETZ/NHLI/GETTY IMAGES (CONNOR); LINTAO ZHANG/GETTY IMAGES (MBAPPÉ);
8 p.m. ET, ABC
▶ Paris Saint-Germain
20 forward Kylian
Mbappé is 21.

Houston Rockets
25 shooting guard
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
Noon ET, ABC Eric Gordon celebrates
his 31st birthday.


Kicker Adam
28 Vinatieri
of the Indianapolis
4 p.m. ET, CBS Colts turns 47.


▶ USWNT and Utah
29 Royals FC forward
Christen Press is 31.
7:30 p.m. ET,
SIMON BRUTY (PRESS); JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (JAMES) 8 p.m. ET, Fox 30 forward LeBron
ABC
▶ L.A. Lakers


James turns 35.


Relief pitcher
31 Alex Colomé of the
Chicago White Sox celebrates
his 31st birthday.
ANSWER KEY: B. KANSAS STATE (2); C. TEXAS (2); D. FLORIDA (3); E. STANFORD (1); F. MICHIGAN STATE (5); G. ARKANSAS (3); H. IOWA (5)



SIKIDS.COM / 11

Submit your caption at SIKIDS.com/
FunnyPhoto. Your entry could appear
in a future issue of the magazine.







FUNNY PHOTO Throwback time! Here’s “O.K., MAN, I’LL TRADE YOU


a contest from 2009:
A TOM BRADY FOR A PEYTON

MANNING.”


— Franco, 12 (now 22), Florida




“If we stare at it long enough,
I’m sure it’ll come to us.”
— Devin, 13 (now 23), Texas


“Let’s play rock, paper, scissors
for the ball.”
— Sophie, 11 (now 21), New York

“Hey, everybody, help me look for
my contact lens!”
— Bryce, 9 (now 19), Ohio

“If you watch it closely, you’ll see
it move.”
— Bradley, 11 (now 21), Kansas


“All three of us are having a staring
contest with the football. Go!”
— Casey, 9 (now 19), Virginia




I’d start by
getting on my bike
SOUND OFF and picking up a coffee.
From there I’d head down to
the lake and would sit in a nice
quiet spot and listen to music,
Describe your ideal day do my crossword, and

view the skyline.
and all the fun things you ALYSSA NAEHER DAVID BERGMAN (FUNNY PHOTO); RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES (NAEHER); MONIKA MAJER/RVS.MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES (MADDOX); RYAN PIERSE/GETTY IMAGES (FIELDS)
Chicago Red Stars
would do. and USWNT goalkeeper



My ideal day would
be busy! I’d wake up early
My ideal day so that I could fit everything that
would be a I wanted to do into the day. I’d have
Saturday. I’d wake a big breakfast with bacon, eggs with
up in the morning soldiers, and waffles with real maple syrup.
and go out to a nice Then I would play basketball near the beach
breakfast. After that, I’d with my 3 x 3 teammates! I’d go for a swim in
take my dog to the park and spend the ocean and have fish tacos for lunch. After
time with my fiancée. Wouldn’t that I would go to a theme park and ride
mind hitting the golf course after the biggest roller coasters I could find. I’d
with some friends, and the day also go-kart race. Finally, I’d read a great
would end at T-Mobile Arena book, like Harry Potter and the Goblet
to watch the Vegas Golden of Fire, my favorite in the series.
Knights get a win!
KAREEM MADDOX
CONNOR FIELDS 2019 FIBA 3 x 3 World Tour
2016 Olympic BMX Masters gold medalist
gold medalist
12 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

15-time World Champion Swimmer
KATIE LEDECKY’S

FAVORITE


THINGS



BRANDON DILL/AP IMAGES FOR NATIONAL 4-H COUNCIL (WILLIAMSON IN TRACTOR AND WITH HELSEL); JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES (WILLIAMSON ACTION); MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES (LEDECKY); WALIK/GETTY IMAGES (HOCKEY STICK) MORGAN LIEBERMAN/
FIELD WORK
WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES (GRANT); ROBERT BECK (PHELPS); BRIAN ACH/GETTY IMAGES FOR BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION (SPRINGSTEEN); URBANO DELVALLE/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES (BOOK); ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES (ANIMAL)
Back home in Tennessee,
Williamson operates SPORT OTHER
a tractor and tends to THAN SWIMMING
the cabbage, which he Hockey
shared with 4-H youth
Joyona Helsel.
ACTOR
Hugh Grant


FRESH TAKE






ATHLETE
GROWING UP
Michael Phelps


his great-grandfather became an
EMOJI
washing dishes ever since he was a kid independent farmer after acquiring
growing up in rural Milan, Tennessee. land just down the road from where
As a result, he and his sister Erika Williamson’s parents live today.
made a deal: She handled the inside “That was pretty rare back in

chores he didn’t enjoy, while he looked those days, for a black farmer to be
after the family’s cattle with their independent,” Williamson says. MUSICIAN
Bruce Springsteen
father. Williamson welcomed the “It was a big deal.”
farming responsibilities, and that When an ambassador from 4-H,
hasn’t changed since the 27-year-old which has historically focused on SERIES
became a defensive standout in the youth mentorship and development in Harry Potter
NFL. Each year during the offseason, agriculture, spoke to Williamson’s
he returns home to tend to his family’s fifth-grade class, the organization
farm by growing vegetables in the seemed like a natural fit. He remained SUBJECT
IN SCHOOL
garden, baling hay, and operating active in 4-H throughout high school
Psychology
the tractor. and now hopes his presence in the
“[Farming] taught me to do my network will teach kids that anyone
work before it’s time to play,” he can get involved in working with ANIMAL
says. “It teaches me now that I crops and animals. Porpoise
have to do my film study, Says Williamson, “It’s cool
work out—I’ve got to do to show kids that an NFL
that before I go out and athlete was part of this
enjoy myself.” organization, that you
Williamson’s family began can do multiple things, not just
Interview by Ethan Thomas
working in agriculture when play sports.”



SIKIDS.COM / 13

TIPS FROM THE PROS



ROUTINE





MAINTENANCE




When Chiefs quarterback

PATRICK MAHOMES isn’t trying to be
the best athlete on the field, he’s focused

on preparing his body to perform.
By Elizabeth McGarr McCue


HETHER MAHOMES IS 100% healthy or
battling injuries as he’s done throughout this
W season, the 2018 NFL MVP relies on head
athletic trainer Rick Burkholder and his staff to help
ensure that he’s as prepared as possible to step onto the
field. “Our very first job as an athletic trainer is athlete
health and safety,” says Burkholder. “And
then we talk performance after that.”

EARLY RISER
QUARTERBACK SCHOOL When rehabbing,
All the QBs on the roster attend specialized Mahomes arrives at
workouts with the athletic training staff as the practice facility
at 6 a.m. to work with
part of their weightlifting program three Burkholder (far left)
times a week. These “quarterback school” and his staff.
sessions, which last 20 to 30 minutes, are

designed to strengthen and lengthen
muscles. “We work legs, core, and shoulders
in unison,” says Burkholder, who is in his
27th year as an NFL athletic trainer and
seventh with the Chiefs. They work a lot on
joint mobility, focusing on the shoulder. “We
prepare ourselves to be in awkward positions
if we fall, and do [exercises] to help us be
preventative of causing further injury,” explains Mahomes. LEARNING GOOD SLEEP habits DON JUAN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES (MAHOMES WITH BALL); STEVE SANDERS/KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (MAHOMES WITH BURKHOLDER)
Mahomes used to stay up late and get up early, and it wasn’t
REFUELING THE RIGHT way until he got to the NFL and worked with the athletic
“We’re real sticklers about hydration,” says Burkholder. trainers that he began taking a different approach.
“We make sure they’re getting the right amount of fluid “They’ve helped me understand I need to get that right
and the right amount of electrolytes and carbohydrates.” amount of sleep in order to be my best at every moment of
Players step on a scale before and after practice, and the day I’m awake,” says Mahomes, who has discovered
Burkholder recommends they consume 20 ounces of that he needs eight hours per night. He also quits looking at
fluid—a combination of water and some kind of sports electronic devices—including his phone—30 minutes before
drink—for each pound lost before working out again. he needs to go to bed.
Explains Burkholder, “We really carbohydrate-load them For more information about athletic trainers and their roles for

after a heavy workout. We do starchy carbs like rice, teams at all levels of sports, go with a parent to www.nata.org.



14 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS







By ELIZABETH MCGARR MCCUE and SAM PAGE
































Remembering the past



10 years through rhyme.

























Our story starts with Sid the Kid in OT clinching gold

For Canada, Olympic hosts, against the U.S. Bold!

LeBron was a free agent. So which team would he choose?

He picked Miami on TV and Cavs fans let out boos.

The Giants won the Series; ’twas their first since moving West.

They beat the Rangers 4–1 and proved they were the best. COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP: NATHANIEL S. BUTLER/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES; DAMIAN STROHMEYER; ROBERT BECK; TODD WARSHAW/GETTY IMAGES FOR NASCAR

Jimmie Johnson: NASCAR’s champ! His fifth win in a row.

He now has seven—tied for most!—that JJ sure can go.

Marshawn Lynch dashed down the field against the Saints. Touchdown!

The Seahawks fans then cheered so much they truly shook the ground.

LeBron, Wade, Bosh—the Heat’s Big Three—just couldn’t get it done.

In the end Nowitzki’s Mavs were having all the fun.

Rangers fans groaned, “Not again!” this time against the Cards,

As David Freese tied Game 6 late; in extras, he went yard.

The Lynx chose really well when drafting Maya Moore. That’s clear.

They won that season’s Finals and three more over six years.



CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: ROBERT BECK; DAMIAN STROHMEYER; TERRENCE VACCARO/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES;






DAVID E. KLUTHO; JOHN W. MCDONOUGH; PETER READ MILLER; ROBERT BECK; JOHN BIEVER














The Super Bowl was Giants-Pats (again) and New York won.

Another MVP for Eli; Brady fans were stunned.

Jeremy Lin, who rode the bench, stepped in to lead the Knicks.

Linsanity swept o’er the land as he showed all his tricks.

In London, Michael Phelps increased his gold count to 19!

Most all-time and certainly the best we’d ever seen.

1967 was the last Triple Crown spree;

Miguel Cabrera won it on the last day easily.
















SIKIDS.COM / 17

Alabama: back-to-back. The Tide was on a roll.

Add in ’09, and then two more: five times atop the polls.

The Ravens beat the Niners when the Harbaugh coaches met.

A power outage stalled the game; how crazy can you get?!

The Sandman closed games for the Yanks, the best without a doubt.

His pals Jeter and Pettitte were the ones to take him out.

One tick left and tied with Auburn, Bama’s field goal failed.

The Tigers ran 100 yards—a touchdown! They prevailed!



















Mikaela Shiffrin skied so fast she won Olympic gold—

The youngest slalom champion, only 18 years old.

Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. soon became the man CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: DAVID E. KLUTHO; SHAUN BOTTERILL/GETTY IMAGES; DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES; SIMON BRUTY; JOHN IACONO; DAMIAN STROHMEYER; SIMON BRUTY; KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES; ROBERT SABO/NY DAILY NEWS/GETTY IMAGES; ROBERT BECK; ROB CARR/GETTY IMAGES

When he caught that crazy TD in prime time with just one hand.

LeBron decided he was through in South Beach, he’d head home.


Cleveland welcomed back their fave and hoped he’d never roam.
Two wins and a big-time save meant Series MVP


For Bumgarner. The Giants’ trophy haul was up to three!




















In four consecutive majors, Williams couldn’t be beat;

She completed the Serena slam, her signature feat.

American Pharoah won the 12th ever Triple Crown,

A blanket of carnations complemented his coat, a glistening brown.

The Seahawks fans cheered, then Malcom Butler ended their fun,

When you’ve got Marshawn Lynch at the goal line, why not just run?

Meanwhile in Chicago, the Hawks again proved too gritty:


Their third Cup this decade, but the first clinched in their city.

Behold the magic year when droughts did end and curses broke.
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: GREG NELSON; AL TIELEMANS; RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES: MICHAEL REGAN/GETTY IMAGES; BECK DIEFENBACH/AFP/GETTY IMAGES; DAVID E. KLUTHO; ROBERT BECK; JOHN W. MCDONOUGH
It started in March, when ’Nova’s Jenkins refused to choke.

Fans in Leicester must’ve sacrificed to the soccer gods:


Their Foxes won the league despite 5,000-to-1 odds.

The Warriors thought they had the Finals well in the bag,

Before LeBron James’ unreal play proved to be quite the snag.

After a century, the Cubs finished on a high note,

Finally sticking it to that old accursed billy goat.



















Durant joining Golden State proved predictably unfair,

Then Melo and Paul George joined the Thunder—a short-lived pair.

The NHL celebrated a century of puck,

As the Penguins proved last year’s Cup was not a stroke of luck.

Brady missed four regular-season games for Deflategate,

Then led a Super Bowl comeback, 34–28.

The Astros and Dodgers set records for World Series bombs,

But in the end the ’Stros, like their fan base, were Houston Strong.



















SIKIDS.COM / 19

It was a breakout year: Chloe Kim won gold shredding the pow,

Then Pat Mahomes put up some stats that made the fans go, “Wow!”

After one of the craziest U.S. Opens in years,

Naomi Osaka accepted the trophy in tears.

The biggest debut belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights,

Who made it to the Cup finals and put up quite a fight.

Chiefs quarterback Nick Foles had seemingly played out his string,

Before he returned to Philly and delivered a ring.



























As the teens ended, familiar faces made an encore, CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/GETTY IMAGE; KOHJIRO KINNO; TOM LOVELOCK/SILVERHUB; DAVID E. KLUTHO (2); SIMON BRUTY (2); JOHN W. MCDONOUGH

Tiger Woods, stuck on 14 major wins, managed one more.

Four years after Carli Lloyd shocked the world with a hat trick,

Megan Rapinoe beat the Dutch with her own clutch kick.

The Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard, going all-in.

The star forward rewarded them with their first Finals win.

There’s distance between other gymnasts and Simone Biles;

When she set the worlds medals record, she proved it is miles.



Jamal MURRAY













team
Denver Nuggets




position
Point guard




spotlight
In a breakout season, the 22-year-old

was a high-scoring guard who ceded
playmaking duties to a 7-footer. How
he continues to grow into his role will

determine Denver’s fortunes.




BY ROB MAHONEY


he Nuggets have one of the best distributors
´
in the game. He’s Nikola Jokic , a 7-foot
center who could find the passing angles in
a corn maze. Denver wisely runs much of its
´
offense through Jokic , giving the big man
T the ball and letting him operate.
So where does that leave the team’s point guard, who
plays the position normally tasked with flinging passes
and generally making the offense go?
In a strange spot, to say the least.
But Jamal Murray is not your typical point guard. The
´
Nuggets knew that Jokic was going to be the focal point
of their attack shortly after he broke into the league in
2016. So when they scouted players to bring aboard, they
looked at prospects through the prism of how they would
fit alongside Jokic .
´
“We didn’t think we needed a ball-dominant, walk-the-
ball-up guy who’s going to play pick-and-roll and have the
ball in his hands 10, 15 seconds a possession,” says team
president Tim Connelly. So with the No. 7 pick in 2016,
Denver drafted Jamal Murray.
Some teams may have been torn by the fact that
Murray ran the offense for the Canadian national team
but played off the ball in his one season at Kentucky.

The Nuggets, however, saw that versatility as a plus.



22 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

MIDRANGE ROVER
Murray put up a team-high
15.6 shots per night, but
an increasing number were
from inside the arc; only
34.9% of his attempts were
threes, down from 47.1%
two years ago.





Photograph by
Bart Young/NBAE/
Getty Images

“It’s just basketball, at the end of given the Nuggets
the day,” Murray says. “I know how to the lead with nine
come off a handoff and a pin down. I seconds left. He
played the two guard in college, and didn’t have a single
´
playing point guard is what I’ve done assist. (Jokic had 14.)
all my life. It’s a simple game.” After the final

buzzer, Murray
HEAD IN THE GAME stormed up to the

Before the 2018–19 season, NBA.com practice court at the
surveyed the league’s 30 general Pepsi Center to try
managers for their input on an his hand at time
assortment of topics. When asked travel. Now he would
which player was the most likely to make the go-ahead
have a breakout season, they chose jumper, the catch-
Murray. But Murray doesn’t think and-shoot three, the
that a season featuring career highs uncontested
in points (18.2 per game), rebounds 19-footer.
(4.2), and assists (4.8) qualifies as a “I’m used to rough
breakout campaign. “I appreciate the starts,” Murray said
GMs thinking about me in that way,” after his postgame
he says. “I also saw it myself. It didn’t shootaround. “So I’ll
happen last year.” bounce back.”
Part of the reason was his What came next
inconsistency. “I’ve just got to be was distressing: 25 THEY’RE NO JOKE
disciplined,” Murray says. He has a miserable minutes to Murray (with Juancho
Hernangómez, 41)
wild, impulsive streak—but he also start Game 2.
paired with Jokić
has a clear desire to calm it. Structure Murray was a mess to lead Denver to
is what he knows. His father, Roger, at both ends of the 54 wins and the No. 2
trained him to be free of distractions. court. He failed to seed in the West,
tying the franchise’s
No cellphone. No television. hit a single shot. best NBA finish.
Murray says that one of his earliest Two losses at home climbed his way out of the

memories was learning to meditate. would have all but ended gutter for a near-perfect
As a teenager, if he felt his mind the Nuggets’ season. Their roster frame: 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting
wander during an exam, he would be called into question. in what would be a series-saving
meditated. Before Murray ran track, Down by seven entering the fourth 39-point quarter for the Nuggets.
he meditated. Even now, when quarter, it would have been reasonable “He made me look like I knew
Murray feels his game start to drift, for coach Michael Malone to consider what I was doing,” Malone says
he meditates. “I get to be honest with his alternatives. “But I knew full well through a smirk.
myself, without having anybody’s it wasn’t just about that moment,” Denver lost its second-round
opinions or worries on my back,” he Malone says. “If I would have taken series, but the Nuggets entered
says. “Just kind of look at myself, look him out then, that would have been 2019–20 as one of the favorites in the
at what I can do to get better, and go really detrimental to his growth as a West. It’s no coincidence that
out there and do it.” player—and to us as an organization. Denver’s rise has aligned with
That mental toughness was on Sometimes you have to take a step Murray’s, considering that he can’t
display last spring in the playoffs. The back and think big-picture.” help but aim high. “I’m not just here
Nuggets had the second-best record in After three of the worst quarters of to get a paycheck and leave,” he says.
the Western Conference and were Murray’s professional career, Malone “I’m here to be one of the greatest
playing the San Antonio Spurs. told Murray that he loved him. That he basketball players to ever play.”
In his debut, Murray shot just 8 of believed in him. That he trusted him. “He’s a no-ego guy until he gets
23, played poor defense, and missed “And he goes out there and wins between the lines,” Connelly says. JAMIE SCHWABEROW

a wide-open jumper that would have us that game,” Malone says. Murray “And then he has a lot of ego.”



24 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

NEXT BIG THINGS



So who is poised for a breakout this year? These four youngsters
play crucial roles for teams with playoff aspirations.







JOSH RICHARDSON

76ERS SHOOTING GUARD
Replacing JJ Redick’s outside
shooting is of paramount
importance for the Sixers, but
Richardson has a bigger role than
that. Coach Brett Brown called him
the team’s “mortar.”







CARIS LEVERT

NETS SMALL FORWARD
A two-way playmaker nicknamed
Baby Durant in college, Levert
was Brooklyn’s best player in its
postseason series with Philly. If he
improves from three, look out.








DERRICK WHITE
´
Denver needs that. Jokic and
forward Paul Millsap are much more SPURS POINT GUARD
unassuming by nature. It’s often Murray Sure, San Antonio’s backcourt
who supplies the Nuggets their nerve, is crowded, so White’s numbers
for better or worse. might not dazzle. But he
MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY IMAGES (RICHARDSON); ROB TRINGALI (LEVERT); GREG NELSON (WHITE);
showed flashes in the playoffs
NBA defenses are far too good for a
(a 36-point game) and played
contending team to never take chances.
his way onto Team USA.
There will always come a time for
players to do more than they should.
To step beyond themselves. Murray is
suited for that, because of the way his
game fits any moment. BAM ADEBAYO
“You don’t want to be the selfish point HEAT CENTER
KENT SMITH/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (ADEBAYO) makes plays, and see the ball move stretch. He’ll see more time with
Adebayo averaged 11.6 points and
guard,” Murray says. “You want to be
9.2 rebounds in 22 starts down the
the guy that gets everybody open, that
Hassan Whiteside gone. His size and
before it goes in. That’s kind of our
speed make him a threat against
team. That’s how we play. But I could
any lineup.
be a much better scorer. I’ve got a lot
of stuff that I haven’t been able to

show yet.”
■


SIKIDS.COM / 25

In schools


to unlock


potential.




At the beginning of his
freshman year, Jalen’s
ambition wavered. He lost
sight of his goals and found

himself straying from his path.
Toriano from Communities In
Schools became his trusted
guide, working with Jalen to
improve his attendance, raise ELENA LAMAR
his GPA and set clear goals

for the future. Now a senior, DELLE DONNE vs. JACKSON
Jalen is a first-chair trombone
Washington Mystics, forward Baltimore Ravens, quarterback
player and drum major in
his high school marching
30 AGE 22
band. He’s exploring musical
scholarship opportunities for 6' 5", 187 pounds HEIGHT, WEIGHT 6' 2", 212 pounds
college, and he has dreams
of becoming a U.S. Marshal. Wilmington, Delaware HOMETOWN Boynton Beach, Florida
There are millions of at-risk
Dubbed “the female LeBron” NICKNAME Was called Smiley Face when he
kids like Jalen who need a in high school. was a child.
caring adult to help them stay
in school and succeed in life. Her foundation raises funds for GOOD WORKS Helped raise money for Blessings in
Lyme disease research and a Backpack, which provides food to
special-needs programs. schoolchildren in need.
See how we help
all kids succeed. Led her high school volleyball team to Ran track in high school and
a state championship and played one OTHER SPORT showed off hoops skills by making
CommunitiesInSchools.org season of the sport in college a full-court shot (football-style).
at Delaware.

The McDonald’s All-American was Was largely ignored by major
one of the most sought-after recruits RECRUITING programs until the middle of his
in years. She eventually picked ROAD junior season, and was just the
UConn, but left the school after two 409th-ranked player in the nation.
days to be nearer to her family.


Has a very close relationship with her Was surprised at the 2018 draft with
sister, Lizzie, who has cerebral palsy a video message from his younger STEPHEN GOSLING/NBAE/GETTY IMAGES (DELLE DONNE); GAIL BURTON/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK (JACKSON)
and is blind and deaf. Elena plans to brother, Jamar: “From when we were
be Lizzie’s caretaker when their SWEET SIBLING outside playing, to you jumping over
parents can no longer do the job. my head in the backyard, I knew
“That’s my girl,” she said. “I’m not there was something special
going to let anybody else be taking about you.”
Liz in. She’ll be with me.”

Posed with her rescue dog Rasta in CANINE COLLECTION His Era 8 Apparel sells hoodies and
an ad for animal adoption. shirts with wild dogs on them.





26 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

DECEMBER 2019
Career Photograph by
SCOTT TAETSCH/
HIGHLIGHTS GETTY IMAGES


2019 After becoming the ninth player—
and first woman—to join the 50/40/90
club (at least 50% shooting overall,
40% from three, and 90% from the
free throw line), Delle Donne won
her second WNBA MVP award. She
also became the first player to
win the award for different
teams. She fought through
various injuries to lead the
Mystics to the league
championship, her first title.
2015 Delle Donne won her first
MVP award, as a member of the
Chicago Sky. She led the league in
scoring (23.4 points per game) and made
a team-record 54 straight free throws.
2012 As a junior at Delaware, Delle Donne—
who had originally committed to play for
UConn—led the nation in scoring (28.1 ppg) as
the Blue Hens won their first NCAA tournament
game. Following her senior season, the Sky
made her the second pick in the WNBA draft.










































ELENA WASHINGTON MYSTICS













FORWARD

Photograph by
CHARLIE RIEDEL/AP/
SHUTTERSTOCK

Career

HIGHLIGHTS


2019 Through seven games, Jackson
led the NFL in yards per rushing
attempt (6.9) and all quarterbacks in
rushing yards (576). He also had
11 passing touchdowns. In a Week 2
victory over Arizona, Jackson became
the first player in league history to
throw for 250 yards and rush for
120 in a game.
2018 Jackson was drafted by the
Ravens with the 32nd pick in the
draft. He took over as the starter in
Week 11 and set an NFL record for
most rushing yards by a quarterback
in his debut (119). He went 6–1 as a
starter, throwing for 1,114 yards,
rushing for 556, and leading the
Ravens to an AFC North title. The
21-year-old Jackson also became
the youngest quarterback to start
a playoff game.
2016 As a sophomore at Louisville,
Jackson became the youngest player
to win the Heisman Trophy. He set
ACC records for most rushing yards
(1,571) and most rushing touchdowns
(21) by a quarterback. He also threw
for 3,543 yards and 30 TDs.


















LAMAR QUARTERBACK

























BALTIMORE RAVENS

As individual performers

and teammates, these


five phenomenal finalists


have demonstrated

athletic excellence—


and a determination

to achieve


more.






CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT:
WINSLOW TOWNSON; FRED VUICH;
KEVIN D. LILES; BEN VAN HOOK;
DAYMON GARDNER

oung Allyson Sentnor was so dominant on the soccer fields of Hanson, Massachusetts, that her father, Rich, who was also her coach, told his right-footed daughter that she could no longer play with her dominant foot. “She would go out in the yard and shoot for hours with her left foot until it became as good as her right foot,” recalls Rich. “That’s her in For the last decade, Allyson, who goes by Ally, has continued to practice—and to improve. As an eighth-grader, she helped Thayer Academy’s varsity to its first


















a nutshell.”













BY MCGARR MCCUE PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFFERY A. SALTER ALLY SENTNOR

ELIZABETH

has committed to play for the 21-time NCAA champion North Carolina Tar Heels in the fall of 2022. “She can execute technically and at a speed that I’ve never seen anyone think, Wow, that kid is just incredibly gifted. what she does when no one’s watching.” Lima, who remembers the day seven- year-old Ally walked into her club, grows emotional when describing the impact the young player has had on the culture of the program. “It’s amazing to me to have someone with that kind of talent who has [her] ability to be so selfless and so When coaches talk about Ally Sentnor, t


















ROOTING INTEREST Ally is a big Boston sports fan and also looks up to international soccer players such as Barcelona’s star: “I just want to be the female version of Messi.” else do,” says Liz Lima, the owner and director of Ally’s club, South Shore Select. “A lot of people, when they see Ally, they I’d love for people to even know half of humble,” she says. SportsKid of the Year. NATURAL FIT

Ally would end up playing the
beautiful game. “Soccer’s a very big
deal around here,” says her mom,
Lee. “It’s just kind of what you did.
You signed your kid up for
kindergarten, and you signed
them up for soccer.”

Younger sister Katelyn, now 14,
and brother William, 11, followed
suit. As much as Ally adored
soccer—“I look back at all the
pictures and see a huge smile on
my face,” she says—she also really
liked gymnastics.
“My dream was to go to the
Olympics in both soccer and
gymnastics,” says Ally. “I thought I
was going to be this insane double-
sport athlete.”
By the time she was nine, she was
doing well in gymnastics age-group
competitions, traveling for soccer
tournaments, and spending up to
four hours a day after school
participating in one or both sports.
HOME AWAY
“I would keep missing gymnastics
FROM HOME
practice because I would just want Ally (33), who has
to stay after for soccer,” recalls Ally. been at South
“We would have scrimmages after Shore Select since
she was seven,
practice just for fun for whoever
now plays with its
wanted to stay, and I was like, ‘Mom, girls’ development
can I please stay?’ She was like, ‘Yes, academy team. She

of course, but you’re going to have to also trains with the
boys’ academy
tell your gymnastics coaches that
team once or
you’re not going to do gymnastics twice per week.
anymore.’ I was like, ‘O.K!’ ”
One spring day in 2016, U-14 national team coach
April Kater was at a regional combine in Pennsylvania.
She had been hearing from a program scout in
New England about an up-and-coming player from
Massachusetts, and she was eager to see the talented
12-year-old play against the best in the Northeast.
“We had to bump her up to the older group because it “My first camp I was really nervous,” says Ally. “I don’t
was too easy for her,” remembers Kater, now the director think I spoke a lot at that camp. I was cooped up in my
of club development at Real Colorado Soccer. “We were room. My roommate [current U-17 teammate Emma
putting her two years up. That’s when I knew she was Egizii] was awesome, though. She tried to get me into the
ready to bring into youth national team camp.” mix of things. I played O.K., but I didn’t really play as well
Ally, again playing up two age groups, impressed the as I could have.”
coaches at that U-14 camp in Colorado—“Right away, you She did, however, have a blast. “She loved everything
could tell she had the ability, the mentality, the focus, the about it,” says Lee. “She loved meeting all these other kids WINSLOW TOWNSON (2)
competitive edge,” says Kater—despite the fact that she who loved soccer as much as she did. She loved getting

was the youngest one there. pushed. She loved getting honest feedback and people



34 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

telling her how to before the event, and they brought little gifts for the girls
It’s amazing to get better.” and at the tournament they cheered for them.”
Adds Rich, “She was Ally has spoken twice, at coaches’ requests, to younger
have someone like, ‘Now I see what it athletes about her soccer journey, first at her club and
takes.’ It was one of those then to around 100 girls at an Olympic Development
with that talent moments that lit a fire Program camp. She created a Power Point presentation
under her even more.” for the occasions. Ally volunteers every weekend that
who has [her] she’s in town with either a Boys & Girls Club Challenger
GOING FOR Sports program or the Special Olympics Young Athletes
ability to be HER GOALS program, which both offer athletic opportunities to kids

The national team kept with intellectual disabilities.
so selfless and inviting Ally back. “Her Ally enjoys giving back, and she’s also benefited from
rate of progression from USWNT players wanting to do the same: She’s had a
so humble,” that point is conference call with Mallory Pugh and Lindsey Horan,
phenomenal,” says U-17 and she’s exchanged emails with fellow Hanson native
says Lima. coach Tracey Kevins, who Samantha Mewis, who attended the same middle school
began with the U-15 program. that she did. (“I remember in history class once I got a
“She’s had that very distinct drive textbook and inside it said sam mewis, and I was like,
to want to get better in all areas.” Whoa. I’m keeping this book forever,” says Ally.)
That drive is evident at Thayer, where Ally’s long-term goal, of course, is to follow in their
Ally started off this semester with straight footsteps, and she seizes every opportunity she can to
A’s. Her national team commitments mean that find out how to improve her recovery and her mental and
she misses one to two weeks of school at a time. “I physical strength. “Ally’s self-regulation and ability to take
still see her and see all of her teachers,” says Amy responsibility off the field really stands out in our
Hawkins, a middle-school math teacher at Thayer who program,” says Kevins. “Every challenge we put in front of
was Ally’s eighth-grade advisor. “Her teachers are saying her, no matter how hard it is, she continues to hurdle that
she’s a dream come true. Anytime she’s away, the work is challenge. I would not bet against her playing for our
done, and it’s done to perfection.” women’s team.”
Ally, who is 5' 3", embraces the challenges that come First, however, Ally will try to make the squad that will
with playing against athletes who are bigger and older. attempt to qualify for the U-17 2020 Women’s World Cup,
She scored two goals in two games against England with which will take place in India in November. “I just love
the U-18 team this past February. “She’s come up against being part of a team,” she says. “Just to be able to play the
some 5' 11", 6-foot center backs, and she’s been undaunted game I love so much with them means the world to me.”

in taking them on and holding up the ball under severe Ally and her U-17 teammates frequently text on a
pressure,” says Kevins. group chat and FaceTime, and they were especially
In holding her own against those athletes, she excited to watch the Women’s World Cup final this
earns the respect of her peers. “Her leadership is summer. “We just had such
something we’re really impressed with,” says HEAD IN a fun time talking about the
Kevins, whose staff selected Ally as one of three THE GAME game because we know a
rotating captains for the U-17 team. “It’s not easy to Ally was the little about what those
youngest of four
lead a group that are all older than you. That says women go through and
finalists for
something about you as a player.” U.S. Soccer’s what they have to do to get
Lima saw it at South Shore Select, when 2018 Young Female there,” she says.
13-year-old Ally suggested a big sister–little Player of the Year. For now, Ally will
sister program centered around important continue playing for Lima
tournaments. “She came to me and was like, in the development academy at South
‘Hey, I want to do this for my Shore Select, where she’s a celebrity
teammates,’ ” recalls Lima. “She of sorts. “So many young girls do
paired everyone with a younger look up to her. I can’t wait to see what
player. They got to ask she does,” says Lima. “To have someone
JEFFERY A. SALTER questions, talk about things you want your little girl to grow up to see.” n
like her have the success that she’s having
and hopefully will continue to have, it’s what
they were excited about.
They had follow-ups right



SIKIDS.COM / 35

here’s something about driving a
T go-kart 60 miles per hour down a road
course that just makes 12-year-old Olivia
happy. “It’s really fun because you get to be
free,” she says. At 10, while driving with the
Sports Car Club of America, she earned the
Hawaii SCCA Most Improved Driver award.
Her dad, Bill, is her mechanic, and since
moving to Florida, she has continued to get
better. In September, Olivia became the first
female driver to win a Formula Junior Kart
national championship at SCCA Solo
Autocross Nationals. She won the B division,
for eight- to 12-year-olds, one year after
coming in second. In solo autocross, drivers
maneuver around cones and race against
the clock. Olivia has also begun wheel-to-
wheel racing (against other drivers) and has
competed in BMX, rifle, karate, and archery.
“In solo, the best drivers are going through
the corners with the car sliding a little bit,” AUTO RACING
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA
says Terry Tabor, the SCCA solo chairman
for Central Florida. “Most of the other kids,
they get uncomfortable. . . . She is fearless.”









o wasn’t even one week old when he began sporting
B wrestling gear, a onesie emblazoned with the name of
his future club, Young Guns. He was a water boy for his dad,
the wrestling coach at a nearby high school, then took up the
sport at seven. He idolized older Young Guns athletes such as
Spencer Lee, currently a junior at Iowa and a two-time NCAA titlist.
Now 13-year-old Bo is a three-time champion at USA Wrestling
Nationals (2019 14-U 83-pound freestyle and Greco-Roman, and
’18 novice 74-pound freestyle). For the last four years, he’s swept
titles in his division in folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman in the
most competitive wrestling state in the country. He learned so much
from Lee and others and takes every opportunity to set a similar
example. “They’d always be really nice and positive,” says Bo, who’s
sometimes asked for autographs. “I want to have that same effect
on the kids who are little now.”
Jody Strittmatter, the co-owner of Young Guns, says Bo’s
consistency makes him stand out. “Wrestling is his passion,” says
Strittmatter. “He just completely committed at a young age.” BEN VAN HOOK (OLIVIA); FRED VUICH (BO)

WRESTLING
FOREST HILLS, PENNSYLVANIA

BASEBALL
DESTREHAN, LOUISIANA







efore his fourth trip to the plate against Hawaii in the
B Little League World Series U.S. championship game—and
fourth attempt at breaking the tournament record for hits—
Eastbank’s Reece spoke to assistant coach Kevin Johnson.
“I normally tell the kids to focus, one-pitch-at-a-time type of thing,”
says Johnson. “I don’t have to have that conversation with Reece.
I was just keeping him loose. I didn’t bring up the record. He knew it
was there.” Reece drove the ball to center for a two-run single, the
record-setting 15th hit of the tournament. “Inside, I was going crazy.
It created a bond between everyone on the team, and I couldn’t
have beaten the record without the rest of my team,” says Reece,
now 13, who also plays football, basketball, and swims the butterfly
and freestyle. (He won the 50-meter free for St. Charles Borromeo
at the 2019 Catholic Schools Metro League Championships.)
Eastbank, the team representing the Southwest, beat Hawaii
9–5 and defeated Curaçao the next day to win the LLWS. Says
Reece, who finished with 17 hits, “Once we got that last out,
I mean, shoot. It was the best feeling ever.”















TRACK & FIELD

SUWANEE, GEORGIA

hen Aiden broke the national eight-and-
W under 200-meter record at the 2018
USATF National Junior Olympics, his coach at
the Jackrabbit Track Club, Andre Al-Ghani, saw
the race unfold from the stands across the field.
“Aiden was happy and excited, but he’s not one
who jumps up and down,” says Al-Ghani. “He
doesn’t pump his chest out; he’s a very humble kid.
I know he’s saying to himself, Job well done; I still
want more.” And Aiden did do more at the 2019
AAU Junior Olympics, winning the nine-year-old
200 meters and the long jump and taking second
in the 100. (He had won the 100 at the USATF
meet in ’18.) His goal is to make the Olympics
and break Usain Bolt’s record in the 200, and to
“become the fastest running back in the world.”
DAYMON GARDNER (REECE); KEVIN D. LILES (AIDEN) before track season begins, though, is improving
This fall, he scored 12 touchdowns in eight games
for the Peachtree Ridge 9-U Lions. His main focus


his speed out of the blocks, which he practices
in a hallway at home. Says Al-Ghani, who thinks
Aiden could also excel in the 400, “He’s one of the
special ones.”









SIKIDS.COM / 37

38 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS



40 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS



42 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS



MY
ATH
P ROS








P

THE
TO














BY CAMERON JORDAN

MCCUE
MCGARR

AS TOLD TO ELIZABETH








I was born in Minnesota—Pops played
AMERON JORDAN HAD BIG PRO DREAMS when he was
for the Vikings. My mom did a
a kid, but he saw himself in the NBA, not in the NFL, phenomenal job of hiding my siblings

C where his dad, Steve, had been a six-time Pro Bowl and me from our dad’s limelight. I
don’t think I understood how good of a
tight end. As Jordan grew to love football—and realize football player he was until I was

he, too, was really good at it—his dreams changed. In four almost in high school. MARK LOMOGLIO/AP/SHUTTERSTOCK
I’ve been in organized sports for as
seasons at Cal and nine with the New Orleans Saints, he has
long as I can remember. Mom
established himself as one of the game’s top defensive ends. immediately put my older brother,




44 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

THROWBACK



I modeled my game after his. My I have no love for shot put.
parents were on the same page with Discus? Absolutely. My junior year, I
not allowing me to play contact sports took second at state. My senior year
until I was a teenager. That was the I won it and broke a school record. I
rule in the house. Geoffrey turned 13, was even a wrestler at one point my
senior year for a couple weeks.
I played basketball my freshman

year and then sophomore year,
midway through football season, I
got my first C, and Mom shut
everything down. It was in science.
She took me out of football and shut
down the idea of basketball. She sat
me down and started going to my
Then he dropped me off at classes, no less. I sat out a couple
games. I did all the extra credit, all
the makeup assignments. It was a
crash course in biology in two weeks
just to get it back up to a B. Anita
Jordan doesn’t play.
Junior year I started getting
recruited for football, and that was
it! Basketball was sort of nixed
because I wasn’t a dominant player;
I wasn’t a starter.
Somewhere around my
sophomore year at Cal, I realized
I was really good at football. I was
starting, and I had so much going
By the end of freshman year, I for me. Junior year, the defensive
end opposite me, Tyson Alualu, was
a first-round guy. In my mind, I was

Though Jordan (above
gritty attitude to me; I like to finish like, If I can be better and more
and top right) and
off blocks, and maybe Coach saw that dynamic than him, I can lock myself
his older brother,
I had some intangibles. I started at in as an NFL player. That was the
Geoffrey (top left),
followed their father left tackle on varsity my sophomore goal junior year. Senior year it was:
(top middle) to the year and then transitioned over to I have this first-round grade, how
gridiron, they dabbled defensive end. I got a little taste of high can I go? Then I fell through
in many other sports the better side of life and never the floor.
and activities first. looked back. I was 24th overall, and I’ve
Freshman year, I went out for always carried a chip on my
track. I think I signed up and then I shoulder because I didn’t go as
Geoffrey; my younger sister, talked my brother into signing up. high as my other guys.
Steffanie; and me in soccer as young We did discus and shot put, and I My first couple years in the NFL,
as three or four. From soccer we went was out there running the open 400 I kept my head down and kept
to ballet and tap dancing, basketball, a couple times too. I could win a working. Whatever was around me,
COURTESY OF CAMERON JORDAN (2) into everything, and the sad thing is, every now and again. But then I time I hit my third-year stride, I was
track, piano. She tried to throw us
I was just absorbing it. Then by the
B heat, and I could slide into an A
like, All right, this is what works.
I can’t read a sheet of music. Just
thought, Run a whole lap as fast as I
Then I had my first Pro Bowl, and I
can? I’m gonna stick to this football
wasted her money, completely.
thing, where at most I’m going to have
was like, Lock it in. Exactly this for
Basketball was the love of my life. I
to go 100.
n
the foreseeable future.
grew up watching Kevin Garnett, and
SIKIDS.COM / 45

Gotta Get

No matter what game you

play—or which galaxy you call

home—we’ve got gift ideas for


you this holiday season.


It Guide

































































1. Moleskine Colouring Kit
3. FIFA 20 and NHL 20
moleskine.com, $39.95
For the young artist who has graduated ea.com, $59.99 each
from coloring books comes this When we find two sports that translate to
notebook/watercolor pencil set from console gaming better than soccer and 5. HyperStrike Bow
Moleskine. Get a leg up on next month’s hockey, we’ll let you know. Meanwhile, zing.store, $38
Art Gallery contest! here are the gold standards for As you can see on the box, these
real-sports-as-esports. whistling foam arrows can travel
2. Wilson Evo NXT Basketball 250 feet, perfect for recording some
4. Reebok Aztrek Shoes ridiculous trick shots with friends.
wilson.com, $79.95
How do you expect to get into a shooting reebok.com, $90
rhythm throwing up those glorified The color and style of this runner is a 6. NFL New Era Knit
kickballs they give you in gym class? throwback to 1993. I was alive in ’93. neweracap.com, $29.99
This ball has a special core that makes You, however, have no concept of ’93. Hit the playground with all the style of a
it easier to shoot from deep—plus extra You can’t even fathom it. But yeah, this is backup quarterback in one of these hats
grip and cushioning for smooth handling. what shoes looked like back then. from New Era. Clipboard not included.



46 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

7. Rory 4+ Kids Set
taylormadegolf.com, $299.99
Parents who wants to start developing a
future golf partner can buy this Rory McIlroy
beginner club set, designed for kids ages four
and up.


8. Easton ADV 360
easton.com, $459.95
For a top-of-the-line experience in the
box, grab this composite bat with a 90%
carbon-fiber handle.


9. Ring Fit Adventure
nintendo.com, $79.99
Rather play video games than exercise?
Why not both? The Ring-Con and leg strap
accessories allow you to beat bosses with a
wide range of movements.


10. Star Wars Legos
lego.com, prices vary
The saga comes to an end this month,
but that doesn’t mean your Star Wars
collection has to.



SIKIDS.COM / 47

FROM THE PAGES OF














T H E










T R O U B L E










W I T H















































MIAMI DOLPHINS




hope of potentially great football in the future. The goal: to hoard precious draft picks.

THE QUESTION: Can a teardown of this magnitude pay off in the NFL?

TROUBLING IGN
S
Against the Chargers,
Dolphins fans were treated
to a brief lead, followed by
another scoreless second half
resulting in a 20-point loss.



















































BY JENNY VRENTAS PHOTOGRAPH BY ROB TRINGALI




URING ONE of the historically bad losses, in what is on pace to be a historically bad season, there
was some mercy in the fact that the Dolphins’ home crowd started streaming out of the stadium
after a fourth-quarter pick-six. That meant there was a smaller audience for the second one, which
came four plays later.
Like so many Sunday-afternoon moments for the 2019 Miami Dolphins, this one played out like a blooper reel.
On the Patriots’ second defensive touchdown of their Week 2 visit to Miami, running back Kalen Ballage, wide open
after running a simple route into the flat, handled Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass like a hot potato; the football bounced off
his left hand, his left knee, his right hand—and straight into the grasp of linebacker Jamie Collins, who returned

it for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 37–0. Ballage, head between his knees, was consoled by teammates. His
despair couldn’t last long—he needed to get back on the field for the ensuing kickoff. By the end of the afternoon,
the “Patriots’ pummeling,” as the CBS broadcasters dubbed it, stood at 43–0.

S
THE Y HALL
P
NO T A SS
Miami’s quarterbacks,
Ryan Fitzpatrick (14)
and Josh Rosen, have
been overwhelmed by
opposing pass rushers
while playing behind
an overmatched
offensive line.











By the time Ballage had showered and changed about overall draft picks Baker Mayfield and Myles Garrett—but
an hour or so later, the frustration hadn’t abated. “Losing,” four games into the 2019 season they sat at 2–2.
Ballage said. “It stinks.” Elsewhere in the locker room, cen- The only guarantee for the Dolphins is that this season
ter Daniel Kilgore, a team captain and nine-year veteran will be painful. After that, it’s a binary path: They will ei-
who emphasized the need to remain positive, acknowledged, ther become analytical darlings who prove the concept of
“This is a difficult time to be a Miami Dolphin.” tanking in the NFL, or, as some around the league believe,
They’re the latest test case in a strategy that has been they will become a cautionary tale.
sweeping pro sports. We’ve seen it from baseball teams (the
Astros and the Cubs in the last decade), NBA franchises RIAN FLORES was officially hired as the Dolphins’
(the pre-LeBron Cavaliers and “the Process” 76ers), and, B new head coach just hours after calling the defensive

in football, the analytics-driven Browns. All, including the plays in Super Bowl LIII, his fourth championship
Dolphins, have refused to utter the T-word—tanking. But as a member of the Patriots. He held a variety of
there’s no denying that the Dolphins are, purposely, not roles in his 15 years with the organization—scouting as-
constructed to win. sistant, position coach, de facto defensive coordinator—but
Stephen Ross, frustrated with entrenched mediocrity the one constant since he was first hired in 2004 was the
during his decade of ownership, decided after consecutive team’s success. This season has been, and will be, unlike
losing seasons that the team needed a radical change of anything he has experienced.
course. Since August 31, it’s traded away three starters: two Flores and GM Chris Grier are resetting their books,
of them recent first-round picks, left tackle Laremy Tunsil which carry a league-high $55 million in dead cap hits from
(to Houston) and defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick (to players they cut or traded. Through trades they’ve bolstered
Pittsburgh), and the other a trade acquisition who earned a their future draft assets to include three first-round and
OCTOBER 7, 2019 lucrative extension, wideout Kenny Stills (to Houston with two second-round picks in 2020, plus two first-rounders

and two second-rounders in ’21.
Tunsil). Miami has a cash payroll that’s $26.2 million less
Still, there’s evidence to suggest that this rebuild has been
than the next lowest team’s.
even more extreme than Miami originally planned. Grier
The Cubs and the Astros emerged on the other side with
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED • a championship. While the Sixers have not advanced past said in a mid-September press conference that the Dolphins
weren’t looking to trade Tunsil, until the Texans presented
the conference semifinals stage they reached two seasons
before their teardown began, they are now among the five
an offer that even Tunsil agreed they couldn’t refuse. They
didn’t foresee a frustrated Minkah Fitzpatrick forcing his
heaviest favorites to win the 2020 NBA title. But in the NFL,
there’s no definitive example that this strategy works—at
Around the league, the Dolphins’ approach has elicited
least not yet. The Browns’ 1–31 stretch helped build what way out of town.
50 some see as a championship-caliber core—anchored by No. 1 mixed reviews, the most common being skepticism. There are LAURA HEALD