Aug. 25--Kris Bryant and the Cubs made this week's cover of Sports Illustrated, which could be a very good or a very bad thing, depending on whether you believe in the famous SI cover jinx.
Then again, it's only a regional cover for issues sold in nine Midwestern states. The rest of the country gets a Serena Williams cover, so perhaps the Cubs have found a loophole as they begin their big West Coast trip.
Sports Illustrated senior editor Emma Span pointed out the Cardinals were on the cover recently, and that one was a national issue.
"So if that makes Cubs fans feel any better..." she said.
Sports Illustrated understands the alleged power of the cover jinx, and has had some fun with it. The editors don't factor the jinx into the equation when choosing covers, so they're equal opportunity jinxers.
"We definitely take language into account," Span said. "We definitely wouldn't say, 'Hey, it's the Cubs' year to win the World Series.' That would be pushing it a little bit. But we're certainly aware of what the likely reaction is (to being on cover)."
Asked if the regional cover provides the Cubs with a loophole, Span said she'd like to see a "scientific study" on the theory.
"It's a good question," she said. "I'd like to argue it doesn't count. Indians fans may disagree."
The Indians were on regional cover back in April when Sports Illustrated picked them to win the World Series.
Oops.
Longtime Cubs fan and writer Rich Cohen wrote the article on the Cubs, with photos by Charles Cherney. The issue, which will be on newsstands Wednesday, was already in the works before the Cubs' walk-off win over the Indians on Monday, which provided the cover shot by Cubs photographer Stephen Green.
