Sports Illustrated is an American sports magazine owned by Meredith Corporation….which was first published in August 1954….and today in 2018 has over 3 million subscribers….and is read by 23 million people each week….including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twice. It is also known for its annual swimsuit issue….which has been published since 1964….and has spawned other complementary media works and products.
James Edmund Caan (born March 26, 1940) is an American actor….who after early roles in The Glory Guys in 1965….for which he received a Golden Globe nomination….El Dorado in 1967…. and The Rain People in 1969….he came to prominence in the 1970’s with significant roles in films such as Brian’s Song in 1971….Cinderella Liberty in 1973….The Gambler in 1974….Freebie and the Bean in 1974 ….Rollerball in 1975….Funny Lady in 1975….A Bridge Too Far in 1977….and Chapter Two in 1979….with his signature role in The Godfather in 1972…where he played a hot-tempered Sonny Corleone, the eldest son of the Godfather, Don Corleone….for which Caan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe.
James Caan was a sports fan extraordinaire….who thoroughly loved such gigs as Host for the 1979 Sports Illustrated 25th Year Anniversary Show….as seen in this video herewith…..where he highlights the decade of the 1970’s….featuring Ingemar Johansson taking the world heavyweight title from Floyd Patterson…..NFL Saints place kicker Tom Dempsey kicking his historic 63 yard field goal…..and more.