The Sports Guy is Back: Bill Simmons Muses on Kobe, Coach K and USA Basketball Gold

THE GIANTS GOT A GREAT DEAL. THE SAINTS GOT A BETTER DEAL. Jeremy Shockey, now on the cover of ESPN The Magazine Jeremy Shockey has a lot to say in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine, which hit newsstands Friday, September 12. In a first-person cover story, Shockey tells The Mags David Fleming how it felt to watch the Giants go to the Super Bowl without him and what its like to be in a new city, playing for a new team the Saints. Shockey says: Everyone wants to know what it feels like to watch your team go to the Super Bowl and win without you. Ill tell you: Its like how every year you get older and fewer and fewer people realize its your birthday. Its supposed to be your special day, and youre not being noticed. I flew myself out on a five- to six-hour flight in a middle seat ¦ Then the Giants wouldnt let me sit on the sideline ¦ I didnt get invited to the parade or the party or the celebration¦ You gotta love the chance Ive been given. Im in an offense like Sean Paytons ¦ Im playing with guys like Reggie Bush and a quarterback like Drew Brees? Thats a pleasure, man. Drew is such a high-energy guy. Thats different from what Im used to. Eli Manning is a great guyhe was just built differently. Drews very active ¦ and he never messes up. I mean, the guy is like a machine. Hes a hard-working, professional guy. Also in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine, everybodys favorite Sports Guy, columnist Bill Simmons, is back and basking in the afterglow of USA Basketballs big gold-medal win in Beijing. But he is also disappointed in what he feels is an anticlimactic response by those who challenged the Redeem Team to reclaim its place atop the hoops world. We wanted a selfless team that cared. We wanted a team to come through when it mattered. We wanted one unforgettable game. We got all of it well, those of us paying attention, anyway, Simmons writes. Other exciting features include: CHICAGO STYLE. The Cubs and White Sox could be in the playoffs together for the first time in 102 years. Its time to celebrate prematurely! Nick Swisher and Geovany Soto get the party started. BF¦F? Joey Logano is the best driver to hit NASCAR in more than a decade. Does that mean hell have to leave his best pals in the dust? By Melba Newsome. THE GRIND. Breaking down the Chase for the Cup contenders. By Ryan McGee. THE GUY BEHIND THE GUY BEHIND THE CENTER. When theyre looking to polish their QB skills, everyone whos anyone turns to Steve Clarkson. By Alan Grant. THE AUTHENTICATORS. Meet the last line of defense against forgery in the memorabilia biz. Plus: the battle over the most coveted baseball card on the planet. By Colin Fleming and Peter Keating. RYDER CUP PREVIEW: A TALE OF TWO TOURS. Why Europe keeps whipping the U.S. every two years. By Jeff Bradley.