Page 41 - Sports Illustrated KIDS Magazine (January - February 2020)

Arguably no player has ever been
more valuable to his team than Peyton
Manning was to the Colts. The proof:
TANKED IN 1996–97 They went 2–14 in 2011 while their
QB recovered from neck surgery.
If the Warriors really need a plan for rebounding from
That lost season luckily coincided
this season, they should look no further than this
with the draft year of another
fellow NBA dynasty. The Spurs have missed the
generational signal-caller, Stanford’s
playoffs just once in the previous 30 seasons:
Andrew Luck (right). After their nine-
1996–97. Injuries cost Hall of Famer David
season playoff streak
Robinson 76 games. Forward Chuck Person sat out the whole
snapped, the Colts
season. (Sound familiar?) What did Spurs fans get for their
simply drafted Luck,
suffering? New bench boss Gregg Popovich and top
cut Manning, and
overall pick Tim Duncan (right), the greatest
proceeded to go
coach-athlete duo this side of
11–5 in each of
Belichick-Brady.
the next three
campaigns.

TANKED IN 2012 TANKED IN 2012

Under the leadership In the previous 10
of Diana Taurasi, the seasons, the Sox
Mercury won the 2009 had averaged a 93–
WNBA title and reached 69 record and won
the conference finals in ’10 and ’11. Then Taurasi played just two World Series. Then Bobby Valentine (below)
eight games in ’12 while battling hip and ankle injuries. Phoenix took over in 2012, and things got really, inexplicably
finished 7–27, but it was a good season to bad. Their starters had a combined 5.19
stink. The upcoming draft class featured the ERA, fourth worst in the majors. And
“Three to See”: Brittney Griner, Elena Delle the bullpen tied for the third-most blown
Donne, and Skylar Diggins. The Mercury saves (22). Next year, after a few tweaks,
took Griner (right) first overall, returned the staff had 3.84 ERA and won the
to the conference finals that same World Series. Your guess as to what
season, then won another title in ’14. happened here is as good as ours.

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