1. THIS WEEK’S SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Tom Brady Does it Again - This Time In Comeback Fashion
NEW YORK, NY(February 4, 2015)– This week’s SportsIllustrated features Super Bowl Champions: The
New England Patriots and QBTom Brady witharecap by Greg Bishop. With the big game in the rearview,
SI offers a look at the needs andwants of all 32 teams, plus a list of the 40 bestfree agentsavailable in an
NFL Off-SeasonPreview. Pete Thamel analyzeshow WesternMichigan’s coach P.J. Fleck excelsin the
cutthroatgame of recruiting. Watch out, Billy Goat: Joe Maddon isready tochange thingsup. Tom
Verducci profiles the new face of the Chicago Cubs.
Also in this issue, NASCAR’s Kyle Larson justmightprovidethefresh air that the all-American sportneeds,
while Alan Shipnuck divesinto the brashand controversiallife of professional golfer Patrick Reed. Luke
Winn analyzesJohnCalipari’sefficient and top-rankeddefenseat Kentucky andBenReiter examines New
York Rangers’ Rick Nashandhisrediscoveredpuck luck. Shipnuck alsointroducesus to TorontoRaptors’
GM Masai Uriri wholeadswithperseverance, integrity and generosity thankstothe influence of his hero,
NelsonMandela, andSI presents Athletesto Watch in 2015, fromtennisandsoccer toswimming and
track, they’re poisedto grab ourattention.
Below is the link tothe highres cover:
https://app.box.com/s/vvn1eef0b7tnp84vczr197p7xm53b0i4

2. Greg Bishop: ELATED
The lead-upto the Patriots-Seahawksdefiedlogic (andmaybe science). The game itself reversed the laws
of probability (and maybeplay-calling). Butafter an instant-classicwin, thiscan’t be questioned:theplace
Tom Brady andthe Pats hold in history. A game full of suspense, fantastic performancesand questionable
calls standsasperhapsthe biggest feather yetin New England’scap.
Pete Thamel: NoGrind, NoGlory
A day in the life of Western Michigan’sP.J. Fleck shows whatis takesto excel at the game of recruiting –
moundsofcaffeine, deep connectionsandan unmatchedenthusiasmforthe sport. The youngestcoach
in the FBS haschanged WMU from an afterthoughtschoolto onethat is hot onthe recruiting trail and a
force onthe field. Orchestratingthe biggest turnaroundinschoolhistory, Fleck knowsthat tocapture a
recruit he needs enthusiasm, sincerity anda routine thatis anythingbutmonotonous. Althoughitseems
to be workingso far, Fleck understandsthatevery day is a new one andnew tricks are required.

3. Tom Verducci: This Isthe…
…Year?! Savior?!Last we’ll ever hear of Billy Goats?!Whatever it is, it’sexciting. Welcome to Joe
Maddon’sChicago. Optimismasbigas Maddon’sisrare for a team that hasbeen so badfor solong, but
Maddon – alongwith Vegas oddsmakers –has the Cubsgoing far this year. There are many questions
swirling aroundthemandas the seasonapproaches, somefans believe this couldbe the year they win it
all. Armed with a solid core of returningplayers anda slew of free-agent signings, thetime of wishful
thinkingis past. To Maddon, thisis the seasonof winning.
“After he was hired, I went to dinner with him at his restaurantin Tampa. I was blown away. He flat-out
told me, ‘The reason I’m cominghere is to win the World Series. There’s no senseaiming for anything
lower.’”- Anthony Rizzo, Cubsfirst baseman
“Maddonisso engaging, youfind yourself sitting upa little more, leaning forward in your chair a little
more, your mindis going a little faster and youwant to makehim laugh. You want torise to his level of
energy, intellect and accomplishment. I think he has thateffect on players. They wantto match his energy
andoffer himideas.”- Marie Epstein, wife of Theo Epstein, president
Andrew Lawrence: Fresh Face in the Race
Poisedto challenge racing’sreigning old guard, 22-year-oldKyleLarsonis already attracting new fansto
NASCAR – at a time when the sportbadly needs a boost. Withfour DNF’sin the past, Larsonhas come a
long way from where he was. Despite winning Rookie of the Year Honors, he knowsthere is a ways togo.
NASCAR is in the midstof a changingof the guardandas it stands, Larsonis set tolead the new crop of
youngstersasthey look to shakeupthe Sprint Cupranksin the years to come.

4. Alan Shipnuck: DreamTeam
Brash?Absolutely. Controversial?Nodoubt. Patrick Reed hasbeen deemedthe bad guy and hascertainly
paid for it. Puttingaside pastrelationships, college controversiesanda near-deathexperience involving
his wife Justine, the 24-year-oldgolfernow looksto pair his maturationandinternal drive to continuea
winning resume thatincludes four Tour events - a feat accomplishedby only an elite few. Withthe help
of the fearless Justine, Reed battled for his Tour card the hardway and hasalready shownhe has the
game to back up his ambition.
“I don’twantto be the bad guy;I just want people torealize how passionateandhow determined I am
andhow much love I havefor the gameof golf.” – Reed
“When he came out he was a little mean, he was a little tooconfident. He’s still confident, butnow he
does it in a nice way. I could learn a lot from him asa player andas a person.” – BubbaWatson
Luke Winn: The DeepBlue D
Kentucky islittered with NBA first-roundtalent, but the Wildcats aren’tfocused on offense. Rather, coach
JohnCalipari and the Catshave puttogether the best defensive team in the nation – possibly inhistory –
en route to holdingan undefeatedrecord anda no.1 seed. As the Big Dance approachesKentucky has

5. mastered defensive schemesand formed a substitutionmethodthatsacrifices nothingwhile costing
opponentseverything. Theirdefense is oppressive, theirenergy is never ending, andas the season
continues, we just might see history being made.
“[They are] the best defensive team I’veseen in the last 20 years, in terms of the way they get over
screens, andthe physicality of the way they play, the way they block shots.”- Rick Pitino, Louisville head
coach
“The only film we watch is 10 clips duringthe pregame meal. It’sall abouteffort andenergy. It’sabout
youversushim, like, I’mnotgoing tolet him makehis name off me.”- Calipari
Ben Reiter: Goalsin Bulk
Rick Nashhadthe Rangers playingfor their first Stanley Cupin 20 years, butlost his puck touchwhen it
mattered most. Nowthe provenscorer, who combinessmall-manskillswith a big-manframe, is working
to putthe Rangers back in the Cup discussion. Nashwentscoreless in three of New York’sfour playoff
series and scored only three times in 25 postseasongameslastseason. He was booedby New York fans
as it seemed he may havelost his ability to score. This year, thankstoimprovedfitness andhealth he is
on pace for his first 50-goalseasonandpossibly anMVP award.
“He knew howto play in tight spots. Now, he’s6’4”[but] playinga little man’sgame, stickhandlingin
small areas. We watched him developfrom not a very big kidinto a monster.” – Mark Hunter, GM of the
LondonKnights, CanadianHockey League
“It’sunbelievably uniquein the NHL, thatcombo. He is a power forward, but he’sa different type of
power forward– a power forward with great skill. Usually [power forwards] will bull throughyou. He
doesn’t. - DougMacLean, Blue JacketsGM

6. Alan Shipnuck: ‘He Lifts Us All’
Like his hero, NelsonMandela, RaptorsGM MasaiUjiri leads by example, with perseverance, integrity and
generosity. His approachhas resultedin a team thathas capturedthe Torontofan base, as well as a
brighter future for his fellow Africans. The Raptorshave become the mostbelovedteam in the staunchest
of hockey towns andit’s notby accident; Ujiri commandsrespect andtreats everyonein the organization
with honesty. His playerssing his praisesas he hasbuilt chemistry like noother, while holdingeach player
accountablefor success. So far it’s working, as Ujiri’s team is playingbefore sellout crowdsand is possibly
a title contender.
“Youcan’t buy this kindof goodwill in the community. Masaiisthe perfect ambassadorforwhat we’re
tryingto accomplish here. Inmany ways he’sbecome the face of the franchise.”- Ujiri’s boss, Tim
Leiweke, CEO of Maple Leaf SportsandEntertainment
“Youdon’thear thank you alot in this business, soI alwaysremembered that. We hadexchanged emails,
butI assumedI would never hear from him. I was wrong. That’soneof Masai’sstrengths:He reaches
out.”- NBATrainer DavidThorpe