Launched in September 1946[1] by New York–based publisher Macfadden Publications, Sport pioneered the generous use of color photography—it carried eight full-color plates in its first edition.

Each month its pages were filled with evocative writing by the likes of Grantland Rice, John Lardner, Dan Daniel, Roger Kahn and the magazine's editor, Dick Schaap, plus exquisite photographs by such shooting stars as Ozzie Sweet, George Heyer, Marvin Newman, Hy Peskin and Martin Blumenthal.

It continued to thrive for a quarter-century or so, as SI struggled to reach profitability, and to find the right blend of spectator and participatory sports.

But by the early 1970s, Macfadden, lacking Time's deep pockets, was fading, and Sport eventually wound up in the hands of Downe Communications.

Under Downe and Charter, there was a zig-zag in editorial direction, and gradually Sport lost its way, its distinctive voice, and circulation declined.

Beeler quickly restructured the personnel of Sport and named Don Hanrahan, a former publisher under Downe, to return to that role.

Beeler then sold MVP Sports to Raymond Hunt of Dallas, who integrated it into his existing publishing enterprises, Southwest Media, which included the very successful D magazine, which was headed by Wick Allison.

In 1997, Sport was relaunched by media industry veterans and new Petersen Publishing Company owners/operators Jim Dunning, Neal Vitale and Claeys Bahrenburg (known for his successful tenure at Hearst).

Garrett, who formerly had served as Editor-in-Chief at the start-up College Sports magazine, assumed the mantle from LA-based EIC Cam Benty, and hired a new team in New York City and, along with new President Polly Perkins, led an aggressive editorial overhaul of the brand.

In August 2000, after appearing every month for 54 years under 10 different owners, Sport magazine ceased publication following EMAP's decision to shutter the title.

And, in a rare departure for the competitive magazine industry, SI itself paid tribute to Sport on its own pages with a poignant piece that began, "They closed the barbershop last week, the one in town, the first place – not counting school or a friend's house – where your mother would drop you off and leave you...".