Titles by Russ Bengtson

<div><p><strong>A nostalgic romp through modern NBA history as documented by basketball&#39;s most iconic and innovative magazine covers. </strong></p><p>Every magazine cover is the result of a series of intentional decisions. <em>Cover Story</em> shares the behind-the-scenes stories of these deliberate choices, which led to the most iconic basketball-related magazine covers during a period from 1984 to 2003. <br /><br />Through 100-plus interviews conducted with writers, editors, publishers, photographers, creative directors, and the players themselves, the book explores Michael Jordan’s relationship with <em>Sports Illustrated</em>, Shaquille O’Neal and the hip-hop generation’s impact on newsstands, the birth of <em>SLAM</em> and the inside stories of their most iconic covers, how the 1996 USA women’s basketball team inspired a new era of women’s sports magazines, the competition among publishers to put high school phenom LeBron James on the magazine cover first, and much more. </p><p>Offering an immersive look at some of the most impactful moments in a golden era for modern basketball, this engaging read will appeal to basketball fans, pop culture enthusiasts, and those who want to take a deep dive into understanding how the individual components of a classic magazine cover come together. <br /><br /><strong>Features four full-color inserts showcasing a collection of notable magazine covers!</strong></p></div>

<div><p><strong>A nostalgic romp through modern NBA history as documented by basketball&#39;s most iconic and innovative magazine covers</strong></p><p>Every magazine cover is the result of a series of intentional decisions. <em>Cover Story</em> shares the behind-the-scenes stories of these deliberate choices, which led to the most iconic basketball-related magazine covers during a period from 1984 to 2003.<br /><br />Through 100-plus interviews conducted with writers, editors, publishers, photographers, creative directors, and the players themselves, the book explores Michael Jordan’s relationship with Sports Illustrated, Shaquille O’Neal and the hip-hop generation’s impact on newsstands, the birth of SLAM and the inside stories of their most iconic covers, how the 1996 USA women’s basketball team inspired a new era of women’s sports magazines, the competition among publishers to put high school phenom LeBron James on the magazine cover first, and much more.</p><p>Offering an immersive look at some of the most impactful moments in a golden era for modern basketball, this engaging read will appeal to basketball fans, pop culture enthusiasts, and those who want to take a deep dive into understanding how the individual components of a classic magazine cover come together.<br /><br /><strong>Features four full-color inserts showcasing a collection of notable magazine covers!</strong></p></div>