Each week I open Sports Illustrated excited to see what is inside. You can usually predict some of the content based on the season, but the weekly sports magazine usually provides some sort of suprise with its features and columns.

In a recent issue, the surprise for me came after I flipped open the back cover. I should explain to people who might not be regular readers that many people read their “SI” by reading the last article first. This is a holdover for the days of the “Life of Reilly,” where Rick Reilly would write columns on a variety of subjects that were laugh out loud funny, insightful or pieces that just made you bawl your eyes out. Reilly departed for ESPN in late 2007 and the space has been filled lately by former New York Times scribe Selena Roberts.

In an issue that featured standout pitcher Tim Linnecum with the words “The Freak,” on the cover, Roberts wrote about a program designed to try to make the loners in high school feel less like freaks. The program involved having athletes, club leaders and prom queens reaching out.

A crucial part of the article was its mentioning about the harassment and bullying that occurs electronically.

“If it’s a physical confrontation, you have a chance to fight back,” a program member was quoted as saying. “It’s the emotional stuff  - the online stuff - that leaves the scars.”

Robin

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