GeezerJock is Sports Illustrated in seniors’ clothing
Let’s cut to the chase. The new issue of GeezerJock magazine is far better than anything we’ve seen for our niche. If it folds, it’s our own friggin fault. Not that I have any insider knowledge of its balance sheets. But when you get the Spring 2005 issue (and you WILL get it if you have a lick of sense), you’ll see that it’s embraced the Sports Illustrated formula of fine photography, great writing, jazzy snippets and old-fashioned imagination. It rocks.
One thing it does especially well is giving recognition to those “faces in the crowd” that mainstream media traditionally ignore.
GeezerJock has unveiled its first nominees for Michelob Ultra GeezerJock of the Year. Among them are M45 sprinter James Chinn of California and M85 multi-eventer Milt Silverstein of Virginia. The magazine and Web site are soliciting other nominees, who presumably would also be written up in the magazine.
GeezerJock sez:
The ultimate winners of the Michelob ULTRA GeezerJock of the Year awards will be announced in the December issue of GeezerJock. We will recognize a dozen award winners in various categories, including an overall winner, the Michelob ULTRA GeezerJock of the Year. We will also recognize both male and female winners in five age categories: 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-plus. Additionally, we will announce a GeezerJock executive of the year award, recognizing the association head who has done the most to advance Masters athletics.
As usual, one of the best parts of the magazine is its Letters section. The first two letters — from Paul McGuffin of Arizona and Frank Johnson of Minnesota — rake GJ over the coals for naming itself GeezerJock. (But they still look forward to future issues.) Another letter-writer called for more triathlon coverage. And one said she’d like to see an article on masters gymnastics.
Quite a challenge — covering everything that geezerjocks are doing.
The cover story is about the American Birkebeiner ski marathon, a 30-mile race where more than half the entrans are over 40. Another revelation.
Don’t be surprised if future issues touch on masters rodeo or sumo wrestling.
But to ensure that GJ has a future, please make sure you and your masters friends sign up for a free charter subscription, which entitles you to every issue of 2005 and 2006 gratis.
Editor Sean Callahan and crew will have their senior moments, of course. (In the Spring issue, Flo Meiler is called the world record holder in the W70 110-meter hurdles. The ladies run 80.)
But the overall effort is stunning — a professional journalism that masters athletes have rarely seen. Let’s get on the horn and talk it up.
