In yet another sign that this show has entered mainstream pop culture, this week Sports Illustrated is launching their inaugural Power 50 issue and the cover features NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sitting on the Iron Throne. The feature article includes numerous references to the show and an amazing illustrated map of a sports-themed Westeros. There is also an exclusive podcast with George R. R. Martin on SI.com.
Adam Duerson, SI Senior Editor and project editor for this package, talks about why they chose Game of Thrones as a tie-in for this issue.
Steve Rushin’s piece which opens the power package does a great job of defining what we meant by power. It’s why we use the “Game of Thrones” analogy because the show is all about different interpretations of power. Ten different people can think they have power at the same time. Power is in the eye of the beholder. All of the people on this list can change the sports landscape with a single decision. Money, titles, properties, etc. all weigh into it.
The issue is available on newsstands now or check out SI.com.
Winter Is Coming: As a sports fan, this issue is doubly awesome. I especially love that map. Also, you gotta love the timing of this issue, coming out a few weeks before the season 3 premiere. Would it shock you to find out that HBO and Sports Illustrated are owned by the same company? Corporate Syngergy.
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29 Comments
Love the map.
KosisQuote Reply
First! Glad to see that the word is getting out in more unconventional means than simple ad promotions. Looks like this is going to be an excellent issue!
Dang missed it by a minute
Anthony JohnsonQuote Reply
As a New York Jet fan, I am happy to hear that GRRM thinks that Bill Belichick would be a Greyjoy.
mariamb18Quote Reply
nice front cover
kvotheQuote Reply
this excites me
feyrbandQuote Reply
mariamb18,
Haha, that’s kind of awesome. Being a Saints fan myself, I have no opinion on Bill, but Ryan strikes me as a Baratheon.
TheAnchoressQuote Reply
Awesome – love it. Holy crap only 25 more days. This season’s gonna be SO freakin’ epic.
EdQuote Reply
Remember when there were a few people spouting off about HBO not putting much of a marketing push behind this season? Seems a little silly now since every freaking day we are being bombarded with GoT stuff in almost every outlet you can conceivably think of.
King TommenQuote Reply
that map is insanely cool
MattQuote Reply
King Tommen,
HBO didn’t pay Sports Illustrated to do this cover so this isn’t part of their marketing campaign. If anything SI probably had to pay HBO to use a GOT inspired image on their cover.
JamesLQuote Reply
King Tommen,
True. They’ve been smart about not oversaturating too early, not dumping it all out at once, but really ramping it up just before the premiere.
chrisQuote Reply
JamesL,
HBO and SI are both Time Warner companies. I guarantee SI did not pay a dime for any images, etc. and that HBO and/or Time Warner were a part of making it happen. That’s how modern marketing works for big media.
chrisQuote Reply
JamesL,
Marketing has nothing to do with who pays who for what, it has to do with promoting a property by whatever means you have at your disposal. If you don’t believe that the timing of the release of this issue by a company which as mentioned, is under the same corporate umbrella as HBO is not part of a designed strategy, then you may be operating under a bit of a misconception.
King TommenQuote Reply
You know, as soon (literally, as soon) as I saw the cover I knew that GRRM and some New Jersey fans would be trashing the Patriots — who haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004, mind you. Let it go! Coach is no Greyjoy. You can make an argument that Vince Wilfork is a eunuch, that Brady is … well, a knight of the flowers, and even that Kraft is, in some respects, like Tyrion. But leave Bill Belichick alone!
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Lol I’d have to say bill strikes me as a greyjoy and Ryan well he seems like Oberon Martell talks good and almost gets the BIG win but alas dies at the last minute, I could not resist oh and by the way go Redskins :) season 3 is going to be really popular a man thinks.
Friend Of fireQuote Reply
As someone who works in Marketing (albeit not quite at the HBO/major media level), I think they’re doing a phenomenal job this season. As a die hard fan of the books for the last 16 years and the show more recently, I can never get enough information/details/etc. It really is an obsession. HBO is giving me just enough to keep the addiction at bay but not so much that I’m not immediately coming back for more.
Are they hiring Marketing Managers for GoT? ;-)
EDIT: I also love the map, and I’m not even enough of a sports fan to get more than 50% of the references!
Anguissette1979Quote Reply
Really like the map – the Narrow Sea becomes the Revenue Stream, the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) Futhills are over in Essos and the hockey dudes are north of the Wall – that’s cool!
Tereeza777Quote Reply
Belichick is Tywin. Through and through. He’s brilliant, cold, calculating, and his response to the idea that he couldn’t win without cheating was to put together one of the most merciless offensive seasons in football history.
JacarbQuote Reply
Oh, that was good. Belichick a Lannister. “And who are you, the proud coach [Eric Mangini] said …”
Mike ChairQuote Reply
I love how just about anything applies to the strategy and game playing that is the Game of Thrones. LOVE the map! Concussion cliffs and Hockey Land made me chuckle.
MimsyQuote Reply
LOL, thanks for deciphering the FIFA initials . Did you notice how small
” Stannistan ” is ?
WildSeedQuote Reply
Owned by the same company, you say? I think we all know what needs to happen… Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition featuring the Lovely Ladies of Game of Thrones!
Ye Olde WolfeQuote Reply
The map is cool!!! :D article is a good read as well.
vic sageQuote Reply
Whoever made the map had a good understanding of the books and Westeros geography/politics. Very well done!
MATTHEWQuote Reply
Map looks so awesome! And I love their reasons for making it GoT themed
ATGQuote Reply
I actually ran into this article on an MMA site (Dana White is #45) and was chuckling at all the GoT references.
Damryn of DorneQuote Reply
I don’t know anything about American sports but that looks immensely cool.
EleanorQuote Reply
I like this magazine!
Juego de tronosQuote Reply
does this mean Goodell’s gonna get his head chopped off? i’m all for it.
RyanQuote Reply