Saturday flashback: Classic covers from ESPN The Magazine; Remember Ricky and Ditka?

ESPN The Magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week. Check out my interview with editor Chad Millman.

I thought I would roll out a few of the more memorable covers.

When it comes to all-time bizarre, nothing beats the beautiful couple of Ricky Williams and Mike Ditka. By the way, how long did that marriage last?

Here the first cover in 1998 featuring the next crop of sports superstars. Kobe Bryant and ARod did alright for themselves. Eric Lindros dominated, but his career got cut short. Kordell Stewart? Not so much.

 

This one just makes me laugh. Who should go first in the 1998 draft: Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf?

Here was a true Next: LeBron James’ first cover in 2002.

The full Serena from the first Body issue.

Sometimes you just need to run a cover with a unicorn.