BLOWN COVERAGE

Most of SI's regrettable stories and headlines over the years have at least been buried inside the magazine, out of view of casual observers. The same can't be said about some lamentable covers. Overall, we're proud of our track record, but a small percentage of SI's 3,069 covers have left us scratching our heads. Shirley MacLaine in shoulder pads? Fall foliage? And the animals—oh, the animals. To assess the damage, we rounded up the 42 worst book-openers, classifying each by its offense: political incorrectness, poor predictions, flat-out preposterousness.... So, which was the worst? You'll have to go online to find out. Visit our interactive gallery of gaffes at SI.com/regrets

THESE COVERS ARE RATED ...

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

Overcelebrations of the human body

SI WEEKLY

cover subjects who were topless

66/3,069

6/51

SWIMSUIT ISSUE

cover subjects who were topless

First topless Swimsuit cover: Daniela Pe≈°tovà 2000

65

Male athletes who have appeared shirtless on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's weekly magazine.

1

Female athletes— U.S. soccer player Brandi Chastain, in her sports bra—who have lost their shirts for the weekly cover.

In an 11-month span: Three strange and skin-tillating covers

Cal Ripken Jr.

Aug. 7, 1995

Bo Jackson

Oct. 30, 1995

Emmitt Smith

July 1, 1996

SIX PHOTOS