New York, NY, January 21, 2004 - This week's SPORTS ILLUSTRATED highlights the sports scene in the state of Arizona, marking the 27th of 50 state-specific sections to be published in the magazine as part of SI's yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration.

Identifying the most attended golf event in the world and the tradition of The Phoenix Open as a unique sporting event to the state, the six-page feature also includes an accompanying essay by avid sports fan and Arizona Senator John McCain , plus a wide range of facts, figures and photographs highlighting the most memorable moments and personalities that have shaped the state's sports landscape. The Arizona will feature a cover-flap identifying the special Arizona section.

Highlights from the special section include:

• Once a year the PGA Tour lets its hair down and goes a little crazy at the Phoenix Open writes senior writer John Garrity in " Desert Storm ."
• In " The Title That Binds ," Arizona's senior senator writes on the Diamondbacks' unifying World Series win.
• The Poll: Arizonans weigh in on their state's sports scene in a Harris Interactive poll that found these results:

o Favorite major league baseball team......Arizona D-Backs (60%)
o Favorite NFL team...........................Arizona Cardinals (10%)
o Favorite NBA team...........................Phoenix Suns (42%)
o Favorite NHL team...........................Phoenix Coyotes (38%)
o Favorite sport to play......................Golf (16%)

• Enemy of the State: Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill claims the Enemy title with 36% of the vote. San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds came in second with 18 percent. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner lands on the list for the 8th time with 7 percent. The enemy item reads: "The Cardinals' owner has pulled off quite a feat: He's top Enemy in both the state from which he moved his NFL team (Missouri) and the state to which he moved it. Respondents' most hated opponent: The San Francisco Giants (20%)."
• Greatest Moment - Editor's pick: John McCain's opinion notwithstanding, we'll still argue that the state's greatest moment was the University of Arizona's 1997 NCAA men's basketball title. No team from the state had ever won a championship of such magnitude until Mike Bibby, Miles Simon & Co. defeated Kentucky 84-79 in an overtime game that was both thrilling and-for Tuscon's Wildcats-historic.
• Sportstown: The city of Scottsdale earns Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Sportstown honors for having Arizona's best community sports programs.

SI's 50th Anniversary program, America's Sports Illustrated: 50 Years, 50 States, 50 Sports, is a wide-ranging multimedia platform that is the most ambitious initiative in the history of the franchise. The grassroots effort, which began in July 2003 and continues through July 2004, is a yearlong celebration of sports in America. It will include editorial coverage in the magazine and online, a community sports outreach campaign with YMCA of the USA and the National Recreation and Park Association, as well as The Toyota Presents Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary Tour that will travel to unique sports events and festivals in cities and towns throughout the country. SI's actual 50th anniversary date is August 16, 2004. Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the Tour; Best Buy , MassMutual Financial Group and Starter are program sponsors.

Contacts: Rick McCabe, SI (212) 522-1375 / Julie Sprich, Edelman (212) 522-9511