Fans Take Over ESPN The Magazine for Annual Issue

Fan: – noun – an enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of a sport, pastime, etc.: a baseball fan 

Origin: 1885–90, Americanism; short for fanatic

Synonyms: supporter, enthusiast, partisan, booster, addict.

Source: dictionary.com

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Fans: Sometimes we “can’t live with them,” and we certainly “can’t live without them.” At least, that is if you work in the world of sports.  ESPN’s mission is clear: Serve the fan. ESPN The Magazine takes it a step further on an annual basis by dedicating a whole issue to the fan.  The Mag’s “Fan Issue,” on newsstands now, is chock-full of fan engagement, from finding the most fan-friendly pro athlete in cover subject, Twins catcher Joe Mauer to unleashing its “Fan Army” of reporters to report the sports news that’s fit to print to inviting a fan to invent a basketball play for a pro team to a list of “thou shalls” and “thou shall nots” to which fans should pay close attention!

Fan Issue Features Include:

“Thanks for Writing” Do athletes bother with their fan mail? ESPN The Magazine created Joe Phan to find out. Five hundred handwritten letters went out to pros in June 2009, and the January results reveal… yes, they do and Twins catcher Joe Mauer is the fan-friendliest, with a little help from his mom. By Ryan Hockensmith

“Fans with Benefits” ESPN The Magazine writers handed over their tape recorders to the fans, gave them press passes for their favorite events. How did they do? By The Fans

“Your Playbook, My Play” The Mag convinced Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe to try out a play designed by a fan…and he went for it. Don Franco, “the fan,” talks about his experience. By Don Franco with Ric Bucher

“Stand, Cheer, Drink Some Beer” Stadium-goers have rights and responsibilities. The Mag outlines the fan dos and don’ts. By Carmen Renee Thompson

“My First Crush” Athletes are fans too, and The Mag features Bobby Abreu, Chris Bosh, Frank Gore and Morgan Pressel in all their fandom. By Stacey Pressman

“We Will Rock You” Ever wonder how Queen’s triumphant opus became the “sports national anthem”? The Mag wondered too – and found out. By Seth Wickersham

Covers:                        Joe Mauer

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