Sports Illustrated Magazine, Dec 26, 2005 - Jan 2, 2006 (Year in Sports Double Issue)

This is a collectible 2005 Year in Sports special double issue of Sports Illustrated magazine. The cover features USC football stars Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, titled 'The Best of 2005'. Physically, the magazine consists of high-gloss paper stock with a full-color cover. The central image shows Bush and Leinart in their cardinal and gold jerseys against a red background. The publication date printed on the bottom left is December 26, 2005 - January 2, 2006. Notable features include the original white mailing address label prominently displayed in the lower left corner, which generally reduces the premium value compared to newsstand versions. Condition issues include visible spine stress marks (color breaks along the edge), minor corner blunting on all four corners, and slight surface scuffing on the cover's gloss finish. There is also horizontal creasing on the bottom right corner of the front cover. The craftsmanship is typical of high-volume commercial printing from Time Inc. During this period, this specific cover became significant as it highlighted the height of the mid-2000s USC football dynasty. It includes supplemental articles like 'The Best of the Worst' and 'The Liars Club' as detailed on the bottom right diagonal banner.