Morrison scores SI cover shot

It’s destined to be the hottest Sports Illustrated cover of the year around here, and we’re not talking about the recent swimsuit issue.

Get ready for “RedMo,” the magazine’s nickname for Gonzaga University star Adam Morrison and Duke’s J.J. Redick, who are pictured back-to-back on this week’s issue as the publication takes a look at the most talked-about one-on-one matchup for national player of the year honors in decades.

“It’s nothing short of what (Larry) Bird and Magic (Johnson) did for college basketball (in 1979),” says Gonzaga coach Mark Few in the SI story. “I know that’s sacrilegious to say, but I really believe this is the 2006 version of that.”

The magazine polled 67 players, one each from teams in the six traditional “power” conferences, on who they think should be player of the year. The nod went to Redick 56.1 percent to 33.3, though the magazine pointed out that there is growing support for having the players share the award.

Morrison, a Mead High graduate, has been on the SI cover once before, in a small “teaser” photo in December. This week’s SI cover spread is the first for a GU athlete. It’s also believed to be the first for a homegrown Inland Northwest athlete since NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton appeared in June 1998. Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg appeared in March 1992 and Super Bowl XXVI MVP Mark Rypien was shown in February 1992.

The cover for this week’s magazine was computer-generatedk. The Morrison photo shoot was conducted last week on the GU campus, according to GU sports information director Oliver Pierce.