Special Sub-Topic: Jinx Illustrated Click Here To Play: Jinx Illustrated

Who was the first person affected by the "cover jinx"?

Eddie Mathews. Milwaukee Braves power-hitter, Eddie Mathews was on a nine-game winning streak, when he was featured on the cover of the first issue of 'Sports Illustrated'. He lost the very next game, and a week later he suffered an injury that kept him out for seven games.

Swimmer Carin Cone was undefeated for four years, when she appeared on the cover of the magazine. What happened to her, shortly after?

She was beaten and failed to qualify for the Olympics. Carin Cone was beaten in the nationals and subsequently failed to qualify for the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Another athlete, Jim Beatty, failed to make the Rome Olympics, due to a foot injury suffered shortly after his cover appearance. In what event was supposed to compete?

5, 000 meter race. He was the U.S. record holder in the 5,000 meters.

The 'Sports Illustrated' 1958 preview of what famous race featured driver Pat O'Connor on the cover?

Indy 500. Pat O'Connor was sadly killed in a 15 car pile-up, during the first lap of the gruelling event.

Skier Jill Kinmont suffered what fate in the week that the magazine featuring her on the cover hit the newsstands?

She was paralyzed from the neck down. During a practice run in 1955, Jill struck a tree and was left paralyzed from the neck down.

Two days after being featured on the cover, skater Laurence Owen was killed in a plane crash. What was the title of the cover story?

'America's most exciting girl skater'. Laurence, and the rest of the U.S. skating team were lost in the tragedy, in 1961.

The goalie of NHL team the Boston Bruins got the cover 'treatment' in January of 1962. What was his name?

Don Head. Poor Don didn't believe in the jinx, even when his teammates teased him by saying 'You're doomed', but later in the month he was sent to the minor leagues by the Bruins and never played in the NHL again.

Basketball great, Larry Bird, was hit by the jinx three times, as a college player, as a professional player and as a coach. True or false?

true & T. The jinx struck when he was featured on the cover as a college player for Indiana State, as a pro-player for the Boston Celtics and as a coach for the Indiana Pacers.

After appearing with Lawrence Taylor in a 1986 cover, Mark Gastineau missed his first football game for seven years. Which team was he playing for at the time?

The Jets. The two rival players appeared on the cover of an issue featuring the rivalries of New York football teams.

The man who was to have been 'Sports Illustrated' Sportsman of the Year for 1955, was struck by the jinx after posing for the cover photo, and had to be replaced. What was his fate?

He was accidentally shot and killed by his wife. Bill Woodward Jr, a horseman, was replaced by Brooklyn Dodger pitcher, Johnny Podres after the tragedy, which happened on the weekend the magazine was to print. All these events can be explained away as unfortunate coincidences, maybe... During the creation of this quiz, my computer froze... And I had to start over THREE TIMES... Coincidence? You decide.