Aggressiveness will be key for Taquan Dean and the younger, deeper Cardinals
After last year's cameo in the spotlight, the Mountaineers are ready for prime time
The Wildcats can go far if their center is eligible and their point gets his points
For starters the boys in red are looking on the bright side: They have their health
There is a sense of optimism around Pauley Pavilion that at first glance seems hard to justify. The Bruins are led by two sophomores; their three seniors are still trying to establish themselves...
The unexpected return of their power forward makes the Deacons a power again
The season's most likely Cinderella is this small school with an undersized lineup
Can a pair of fiery seniors help the Hawkeyes fight their way to a Big Ten title?
Two holdovers from the national finalist have their work cut out on offense
November 21, 2005
Comin' at Ya In the Red Wings' 3-1 home victory over the Wild on Friday, Detroit right wing Daniel Cleary got an up-close look at both the puck and a camera mounted behind a small hole in the...
The Huskies look to a scrappy freshman for a much-needed dose of toughness
The 65-team NCAA tournament includes 31 automatic bids and 34 at-large selections. SI predicts the 45 teams to round out the field
November 21, 2005
The NFL The Panthers don't play pretty, but they do play smart • An early look at the top of the 2006 draft • Dr. Z's forecast for Week 11
November 21, 2005
Stealthy Cats
HOT READ
If I passed the Eagles on the street I don't think I'd recognize them. They used to have a quarterback named McNabb. A little wild, full of fire. I sure enjoyed watching the show he put on when...
Out of Line
HOT TOPIC
After Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal against the Canadiens last Thursday and then won the game for Pittsburgh in a shootout, he received a call from former Montreal coach Scotty Bowman....
The A-Team
Brotherly Love
On Smush Parker (right), the undrafted former NBDL point guard who at week's end was averaging 14.0 points and 3.5 assists starting alongside Kobe Bryant in the Lakers' backcourt:
Should your brain pack up and move to Pluto, leaving you to volunteer for Jeff Burton's NASCAR pit crew, as I did, here are the actual, helpful safety tips they will give you, no joke:
November 21, 2005
White Hot
MAY 19, 1986
The interview that knocked Terrell Owens out of football was done by a teenager--he looks like Doogie Howser, acts like Morley Safer--in TO's New Jersey living room. "Actually, it was his cigar...
With its heavyweight chumps and forgettable fights, the once mighty sport of King (Don, that is) is staggering toward oblivion
Surly stars are finding out that teams have limits when it comes to obnoxious behavior
Charged With attempted murder, relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina, 31. The free-agent righthander, who appeared in 81 games for the Tigers and the Phillies this season, was jailed in Venezuela for his...
NASCAR's playoff system has produced the sport's closest finish in years By Lars Anderson
The two-time Olympic gold medalist's new book (written with SI's E.M. Swift) is called Only with Passion
Three weeks ago, St. Louis-- born rapper Nelly figured his Nov. 2 birthday would be part of an ongoing bash celebrating a Cardinals World Series win. The Houston Astros ruined that plan, but...
Sometimes Mary Pierce takes this whole take-the-net strategy thing a bit too seriously. Pierce got tangled up during a victory over Kim Clijsters at the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships in Los...
The NCAA took Division III Carthage College off its list of schools with banned Native American nicknames after the school changed its nickname from Redmen to Red Men.
What to watch and watch for
Emma Lavy FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. > Golf
HERE ARE some new names to keep an eye on as the NFL season heads deeper into its second half.
JAGUARS QUARTERBACK
WHO'S HOT
Who is the NFL's most overrated running back?
Last year Celtics rookie Gerald Green, 19, was scoring 33 points per game as a McDonald's All-American forward for Houston's Gulf Shores Academy. After signing a two-year, $2.6 million contract,...
November 21, 2005
WITH Derrick Mason, Ravens receiver
November 21, 2005
[This article contains a table -- Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
On yet another crazy Saturday in the Southeast, LSU spoiled Alabama's perfect season--and that wasn't the half of it
Once billed as the Greatest Show on Turf, the St. Louis Rams have seen their dynasty-in-the-making crumble, in large part because of a power struggle between the front office and coach Mike Martz
Mike Martz (above) isn't the only coach to suffer a post--Super Bowl letdown. Call it the punitive effect of parity or simply bad luck, but times have not been kind to some of those who've led...
November 21, 2005 | GRANT WAHL
After finishing in the lower third of the regular-season standings, the Galaxy was an unlikely MLS title contender. More improbable still was the hero who would deliver Los Angeles its second Cup...
November 21, 2005 | GRANT WAHL
A fabulous freshman class has the Blue Devils ranked No.1, but those frosh are in for vigorous training in Coach K culture
November 21, 2005 | GRANT WAHL
SI's Survey of America's Basketball Boomtowns
Longhorns star DANIEL GIBSON, who honed his skills at a fabled Houston hoops mecca, is now of Final Four quality
UConn's Rudy Gay is the latest can't-miss product of Baltimore's legendary Cecil-Kirk Rec Center. But can the mild-mannered star muster enough swagger to lead the Huskies to a title?
Her much-heralded debut was canceled by injury last year, but CANDACE PARKER is now ready for her close-up at Tennessee. Will the women's game ever be the same?
Its roster jam-packed with talent, Tennessee, without a title since '98, will reign again in April
A fast-break index of the players, teams and trends to keep an eye on this season
November 21, 2005
TOP 20
With seasoned stars and ACC-ready recruits, the Blue Devils are due to win it all
Having learned his lesson, P.J. Tucker looks to lead the Horns to their first title
Depth and athleticism should help the Huskies run with the big dogs in March
Final Four regulars in recent years, the Spartans are primed for a return trip
Taj Gray hopes to take the Sooners to the same heights he has taken his own game
For the Cats to reach the promised land, a former Golden Child must lead them
Once giant-killers, the Zags are now the guys with the bull's-eyes on their backs
The Eagles figure to muscle their way into contention in their first ACC season
After missing last year's tournament, a young team takes a great leap forward
A stellar quartet of guards is looking to run taller opponents out of the gym
David Stern's dictum was good news for one L.A. fashion house
Protecting pitchers is the first order of business in planning next spring's World Baseball Classic
Tom Verducci ranks the title contenders in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, based on expected rosters.
Defensive end Ben Kessler of Division III St. Thomas will be tackling his next challenges at the Vatican
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