The world has changed over the last half century—how’s that for a stunning historical and cultural insight? As obvious as that is, it’s still fun to take stock of the evolution. Especially since we’ve been thinking a lot here lately about what this magazine and brand have been and where they’re going.
Take the Jan. 20, 1969 issue of Sports Illustrated. Joe Namath on the cover, following the Jets’ epic upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Tex Maule’s game story, with then-hipster references to the Jet Age and “swinging” nights on the town.