Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx

The Sports Illustrated cover jinx is an urban legend associating featured athletes with subsequent injuries or bad luck. One explanation suggests that athletes are often featured after exceptional performances, leading to a perceived decline in performance due to regression toward the mean. Examples like Eddie Mathews, who suffered an injury after appearing on the cover, are cited, but Sports Illustrated addressed the jinx in a 2002 issue featuring a black cat on the cover, suggesting a humorous take on the superstition.