Sports Illustrated's Where Are They Now? Stories

Sports Illustrated’s annual “Where Are They Now?” issue catches up with the stars and prominent figures from yesteryear—past features have included Ken Griffey Jr., Brett Favre, Dennis Rodman, Stan Musial and Don King. The 2018 issue tracks down an elusive slugger who helped save baseball 20 years ago, as well as a football team that had a Super Bowl within reach and booted it away. Find all of this year’s trips down memory lane below as SI rolls them out, and scroll on to read the best stories from the ’17 and ’16 issues.

From the 2018 Where Are They Now? issue

Sammy Sosa's Next Act

Twenty years ago he and Mark McGwire juiced baseball with their home run chase—now he’s mostly absent from the public eye and is persona non grata at Wrigley Field. We went to Dubai to check in on Slammin’ Sammy, who’s enjoying a lavish life everywhere but Chicago. Written by Jason Buckland and Ben Reiter

About Those Togas...

What started as an iconic cover for SI’s 1998 Sportsmen of the Year issue lives on as the object of ridicule, now that the shadow of PEDs hangs over every one of Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire’s heroics. A brief oral history of one of the strangest covers in the magazine’s history, as told by the editors and photographers who put it together. Written by Ben Baskin

Sports Movie Memorabilia Heaven

With a 20,000-square-foot facility, featuring approximately 135,000 uniforms, 5,000 pairs of footwear, and 3,500 helmets, the “world’s largest locker room” is able to re-create items from any period, and ensure that they look as accurate as possible. Written by Jeremy Fuchs

Johnny Bench Looks for Something New

Famed for his precocious achievements behind the plate five decades ago, the 70-year-old former leader of the Big Red Machine is now devoting himself to molding children—his own. Written by Jon Wertheim

Million Dollar Moves

With a relentless work ethic and an unimaginable journey, Rinku Singh is trying to make it big in WWE after his Major League Baseball career bottomed out. Written by Jon Tayler

Last of the Straight-On Kickers

The only pure placekicker ever to be NFL MVP, Mark Moseley was also the last of his toe-kicking breed. An integral member of a colorful Redskins Super Bowl winner, he’s now kicking back as a fast food exec. Written by Michael Farber

An Aging Action Sports Superstar

How does a skateboarding rebel do middle age? Tony Hawk just turned 50—50!—and after decades defying gravity, he's learned that a more down-to-earth lifestyle is an adrenaline rush. Written by Jacob Feldman

Martina Navratilova Is Still Active

Martina Navratilova was one of the first athletes who refused to stick to sports. More than a decade after her retirement, she's as outspoken as ever. Written by Jon Wertheim

Percy Harvin’s Long Road Home

Eight years after he started torching NFL defenses, the retired receiver–return man addresses his mental health and how he thinks it shaped his life and reputation as he takes on an unfamiliar role back at Florida: mentor. Written by Michael McKnight

Ahmad Rashad's Celebrity Circle Remains (Mostly) Intact

After a stellar career as an NFL receiver, he was a ubiquitous TV sportscaster in the 1990s, often trading on his access as a friend to the stars. But while many of his relationships endure (Cosby and O.J. excluded), it's his famous daughter who puts the Rashad name on marquees today. Written by Tim Rohan

GUTS: An Oral History

Crew members, on-air talent and contestants relive what made the show special, and how a mountain with a mind of its own captured the imaginations of children everywhere, 26 years after its premiere on Nickelodeon. Written by Jeremy Fuchs

The Greatest Team to Never Make It

Twenty years ago, the Vikings caught lightning in a bottle with a reborn QB and a jaw-dropping rookie receiver named Randy Moss. They piled up points like no other team in history and seemed destined for greatness. The psychic toll of their heartbreak still lingers in Minnesota. Written by Connor Orr

Run TMC's Special Place in Warriors Lore

Nearly 30 years before the Splash Brothers came along, three scoring sensations gave Golden State a revolutionary, wide-open offense with a catchy name. Written by Greg Bishop

From the 2017 Where Are They Now? issue

Clinton Portis's public bankruptcy and private rage

For the elite running back who once pulled on colored wigs and novelty glasses to embody playful alter egos, life after football turned serious—and nearly compelled him to do the unthinkable. Written by Brian Burnsed

Vince Young's quest to rewrite his football ending

"I didn’t stop because I wanted to. Now, I can’t blame anyone but me.” Vince Young won a national title and Rookie of the Year, but he’s remembered more for flaming out and financial snafus. At 34, he decided to play again—and quickly learned how hard that is. Written by Greg Bishop

The Answer finds his way home

As Allen Iverson returns to the court for the first time in seven years, the NBA's best player calls him "a god" and the man he immortalized with a ruthless crossover wants him on his coaching staff. But what The Answer really wants to talk about is the winding journey back to his family, which could be his most important (and most surprising) victory. Written by Lee Jenkins

Away from the Olympic spotlight, Sasha Cohen adjusts to a new normal

After a childhood spent chasing Olympic glory, the 2006 silver medalist explains why learning how to be an adult in the real world out of the spotlight—and how to be vulnerable—was a different challenge entirely. Written by Sasha Cohen

Marcus Lattimore launches a new football career

Five years after he played his last down, Marcus Lattimore has returned to Columbia and set up a new career in football that suits him just as well as his old labels of Gamecocks hero and surefire first-rounder once did. Written by Jonathan Jones

Justin Leonard left the course to find his peak

The former Ryder Cup hero couches his Rocky Mountain makeover as a mid-life opportunity. Written by John Garrity

Gatorade Players of the Year who didn't become household names

The list of Gatorade High School Players of the Year includes LeBron James, Clayton Kershaw … and these other athletes who went on to flourish elsewhere once their playing careers wound down. Written by Jeremy Fuchs

Garry Kasparov tries to stay a move ahead of Putin

Perhaps the greatest chess player ever, the former world champion has become a fierce critic of his homeland and an advocate for freedom around the world. Written by Jack Dickey

How MJ taught B.J. to be an NBA agent

For B.J. Armstrong, being Michael Jordan's sidekick had its perks, like three rings and an inside look at the NBA world that offered him preparation for his second career as an agent like no other player could have. Written by Matt Dollinger

Meet the stars of TBT (again)

The Basketball Tournament deals in nostalgia for former stars of college basketball and the NBA. Catch up with Ohio State's Aaron Craft, UConn's Josh Boone and Missouri's Kareem Rush. Written by the Crossover staff

Boomshakalaka: The oral history of NBA Jam

Nearly a quarter century ago, the mischievous developers at Midway created NBA Jam, marrying video games and sports in a way never seen before. SI gathered those involved—behind the scenes and on the screen—to reminisce about the iconic coin-gobbling arcade game. Written by Alex Abnos and Dan Greene

Generation Shaq: The kids named after larger-than-life star

They are clarinetists and youth pastors and rappers and aerospace engineers, NFL players and valedictorians. But they all have one thing in common: the instantly recognizable first name of one of sports' most magnetic stars. Written by Alex Prewitt

Inside the life of the modern pro athlete in retirement

A gathering in Florida provides a telling glimpse into the (golf-heavy, yarn-filled, still-aspirant) life of the modern professional athlete after hanging up the uniform. Written by Jon Wertheim

One Nation, Under Dog: An ode to the hot dog

Let's take a moment to appreciate the food that's emblematic of the United States of America: the hot dog. It doesn't just contain connective tissue. It is the connective tissue. Written by Steve Rushin

Midnight basketball, two decades later

Community leaders across the country, using hoops as a hook for social programming, started leagues modeled after a tiny operation that began in Glenarden, Md. But what made Chicago’s league memorable was its prominence and its promise—even if its impact remains hard to measure. Written by Joan Niesen

Eric Lindros keeps his head up

Ten years after repeated head injuries brought his star-crossed career to a close, the former Flyers phenom is, in his words, doing better—and working to improve conditions for brains everywhere. Written by Michael Rosenberg

Victor Conte is still hustling

Just a few miles from his BALCO lab that served as the epicenter of the steroid scandal that rocked multiple major sports, Victor Conte is building his name up all over again in the supplement and fitness world. Written by Tim Layden

Progress rounds off the Golden Eagles' edges

A curtain call for Al McGuire, the Bumblebees, the Milwaukee Arena and the strange, fantastic 100-year history of Marquette basketball. Written by Charles P. Pierce

Tom Meschery finds new purpose amid Golden State revival

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A member of the first Golden State Warriors team had lost touch with basketball and retreated into a life of isolation ... until the current squad brought him back. Written by Jack McCallum

From the 2016 Where Are They Now? issue

The Kid’s in the Hall

After his sudden retirement, Ken Griffey Jr. is finally set for the baseball farewell he deserves. Written by Ben Reiter

Floyd Landis reaches the other side of scandal

After admitting to doping, being stripped of his Tour de France title, and whistleblowing, Floyd Landis has finally found happiness on the other side of scandal. Written by Austin Murphy

Tecmo Bowl still going strong as a cult classic

Before Madden, there was Tecmo Super Bowl, and a superstar running back who could not be tackled. These days diehards continue keep those digital glory years alive. Written by Chris Burke

Fitness star Billy Blanks is still kicking

The inventor of Tae Bo is no longer the face of late-night infomercials, but he hasn’t stopped getting people fit with his famous workout. Written by Jack Dickey

An oral history of American Gladiators

The inside story of how a half-baked backwoods movie idea made reality TV history. Written by Andrew Lawrence

Theo Fleury helping survivors

The former Flames star turned country music singer is using music to help fellow survivors of abuse. Written by Alex Prewitt

Once an NBA GM, always a pirate

The former 76ers GM famous for an outsize draft lottery celebration is still eccentric as he enjoys his retirement. Written by Mitch Goldich

Athletes in the vineyard

It’s not a straight line from the Bud Light–sponsored, sports-bar-viewed NFL to the cuverie, but Drew Bledsoe is not the only retired player to have walked it. Written by Stephanie Apstein

Kobayashi in exile

The man who legitimized competitive eating is now barred from its marquee event, even though he lives nearby. Written by Ben Baskin

Baltimore’s heart, soul and stomach

Colts great Gino Marchetti’s name is inseparable from the story of “The Greatest Game Ever Played”—and from an East Coast burger chain. Written by Alexander Wolff

Christy Martin gets off the mat

Six years after her husband shot her and left her to die, former boxer Christy Martin has built a new life up from scratch. Written by Jacob Feldman

The Bunch looks back

The cast and creators of The Baseball Bunch reflect on what went on behind the scenes. Written by Pete Croato

E-sports’ first superstar

What do you do with your life after you win nearly half a million dollars playing video games? Written by Alex Prewitt

Brad Johnson is taking it slow in retirement

A Super Bowl victory defined his unlikely career, but in retirement Brad Johnson has learned the world doesn’t revolve around the NFL like he thought. Written by Don Banks

An NFL bust’s second chance

Mike Williams nearly ate himself out of the NFL, but a late-career surge under the watch of an old coach energized him to give back to the game as a high school coach. Written by Doug Farrar

Black Superman’s life after hoops

For a few months in the early ’80s, Billy Ray Bates was unstoppable for the Blazers. Now he’s having trouble getting out of his own way. Written by Jon Wertheim

The Fridge’s stubborn spiral

Today, the Fridge is not the picture of happiness or stability, as an old friend discovered. Written by Rick Telander

Jorge Campos’s reflections on a colorful career

After hanging up his neon uniform, the vibrant goalkeeper at the heart of Mexico’s national team for years is happy going unnoticed in L.A. Written by Michael McKnight

Her historic NHL cameo frozen in time

The legacy of Manon Rheaume, the first and only female to play in the NHL, lies with her descendents and the players who look up to her. Written by Jeremy Fuchs