Chad Johnson Graces Cover--and Guest Edits--ESPN The Magazine “Revenge of the Jocks II” Issue

Rick Reilly Writes Again: “Life of Reilly” Column Debuts in ESPN The Magazine
ESPNthemag.com has Exclusive Bonus Content and Video from Jocks Issue

Chad Johnson, a.k.a. “Chad-the-Athletainer”, has done more this off-season than just threaten to stay home in the fall.  The TD-celebrating, trash-talking drama king has also spent some of his free time serving as guest editor of ESPN The Magazine’s second annual athletes-take-over-The-Magazine issue, “Revenge of the Jocks II” - on newsstands Wednesday, June 4.

While Chad leads his colleagues as they run wild over the pages of The Magazine, he also takes the opportunity to tell it like it is, from his perspective, of course. In “Have you Hugged Your Boss Today?” Chad writes:

“Me editing a magazine? Why not?...Taking over the NFL?...Pushing the envelope? Why not?”

“It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing: My light is gonna shine…If I can get out of Cincinnati, the sky’s the limit.”

“This is a business. Period. Maximize yourself to the fullest every moment that you’re here. Because if you get hurt, they don’t care about you.”

“I love the fans in Cincinnati. They dealt with so much losing before I got there. But they got to understand this is a business.”

“My numbers speak for themselves.”

“Am I coming back?...I may come back to the Bengals as early as June. I may be crazy but I’m not stupid.”

Also in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine Rick Reilly debuts “Life of Reilly” with a telling and emotional piece about his relationship with his deceased father, Jack.  “He was an Irish tenor, a yarn spinner, a songwriter, a father of four, a crack golfer and a first-class drunk…And then one day, out of the blue, maybe 25 years ago, my dad went to one AA meeting and quit….I forgave him and cried,” Rick writes.

Fans can find bonus content and video from the “Revenge of the Jocks” issue on The Magazine’s website – ESPNthemag.com – video includes a behind-the-scenes exclusive of the Chad Johnson photo shoot, Baron Davis’ Kobe Bryant interview and much more.

Other exciting athlete-powered features include:

SOLVING THE RIDDLE. Baron Davis stars as an ace reporter trying to get to the answer of a simple question: How can he get his Warriors to the NBA Finals? Kobe, Chauncey and Tony give some pointers.

JOCK SNAPS. Guest athlete-photographers including snowboarders Danny Davis and Kevin Pearce, skier Lindsay Vonn, NHLers Georges Laraque and George Parros, basketball player Tyson Chandler, football player Antonio Pierce and boxer Shane Mosley contribute to the second annual player’s photo portfolio.

MIKE COMMAND. The Mag and ESPNU gave 49ers Michael Robinson a chance at his on-air dream job. Boy, did he get a surprise.

WE KNOW BEST. We asked Tom Brady, Derek Jeter and 199 other pros to crown the Best Athlete on Earth. Long live the Air – sorry, heir – to the throne.

HALL IF I KNOW. Three big-time pros (Edgerrin James, Kerry Wood and Diana Taurasi) make the Hall of Fame case for their on-field heroes.

JUST BETWEEN US GUYS. Mariners lefty Erik Bedard has a well-known disdain for the media.  Luckily, his trusted current and former teammates were willing to do the dirty work for us. 

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ESPN THE MAGAZINE COVERS AVAILABLE AT BUSINESSWIRE.COM AND ESPNMEDIAZONE.COM