Sports Illustrated Kids - USA (2022-05 & 2022-06)

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16 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

WARMUP


LOL


K JEFF BOTTAREVIN MAZUR/GETT Y I/NHLI/GETTY IMAGESIM FOR TB12 (BRAAGES (EICHEL); TODY ); JOE NY TRSKIIOLO (TOMPPER/GETTY MY JOHIMNAGE); S (ICHIRO)

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS SEEM
like one big club. Tom Brady
hangs out with Cristiano Ronaldo
after the Manchester United
game. LeBron James throws tight
spirals to Dallas Cowboys stars
in pregame warm-ups. You can
name every athlete who’s ever
lived, so surely everyone else can
too, right? Especially other pros!
But it’s not so. Here are some of
the funniest circumstances in
which someone didn’t recognize
or couldn’t name a star player.

Never


Heard


Of ’Em


THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
star arrived in Vegas after a
falling out with his original
team, the Buffalo Sabres, about
what kind of neck surgery he
should get. Eichel preferred a
procedure no NHL player had
ever undergone. The Sabres
ultimately blocked his ability
to choose that operation, and
he held out until he was traded
to a team that would let him.
Justifying his decision later,
Eichel cited whomever was the
first pitcher to get Tommy John
surgery. We’ll give you a hint: It
rhymes with Jommy Tohn.

Ichiro Suzuki


THE SEATTLE MARINERS legend
had a reputation for many
things, including a unique
stretching routine and a dry
sense of humor. The former
explains why Tom Brady asked
Ichiro via text message for tips
on keeping limber. The latter
may explain why Ichiro asked
his teammates upon receiving
the text, “Who is Tom Brady?”
with a bad word added
for emphasis.

“I’m an example of somebody who
went against what their team
thought was best for them and
stood up for what they wanted.
I mean, there was a baseball
player who was the first guy to
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