January 16, 2006 | Volume 104, Issue 2

Unreal

History does not record the name of the first racket enthusiast to ask, on a vanity license plate, 10SNE1? Forgotten, too, is that pioneering urologist who first registered the plates 2P CME. What...

Don't be fooled by unsold seats and network apathy, says Bud Selig. The World Baseball Classic will revolutionize the game

Even before his latest arrest, Virginia Tech had decided to boot Marcus Vick

Won By lightly regarded Carlos Baldomir, the WBC welterweight title, by decision over Zab Judah in New York City. Baldomir, 34, nearly toppled the champ in the seventh round and, despite suffering...

NFL teams will have to fight the urge to make over Vince Young

33 Times Danica Patrick was interviewed during Indy Racing League telecasts in 2005--nine more than Dan Wheldon, the Indianapolis 500 and IRL champion.

With a sense of duty and a sense of humor, Rod Dedeaux led USC baseball for 45 years

ICHIRO RECENTLY portrayed himself on the popular Japanese detective show Furuhata Ninzaburo--as a cold-blooded murderer (right). Yikes. Doesn't he know that athletes have traditionally played...

SI senior writer Alexander Wolff has founded an ABA team, the Vermont Frost Heaves, which will begin play in November (SI, Dec. 19). He'll file periodic updates on the team.

If only their experience with the Olympic judges could have gone so smoothly. On Dec. 30 Jamie Sale and David Pelletier--who were nearly robbed of a pairs figure skating gold medal at the 2002...

Well, they call it a loving cup, so why shouldn't Stuart Appleby plant one on the trophy he received for winning the Mercedes Championships (page 50). The PGA's first event of 2006 was a mirror...

China won't financially assist its top female tennis player if she turns pro unless she guarantees a 2008 Olympic gold medal in writing.

STU GRIMSON, former NHL goon (below, right) who recently graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law at age 40:

What to watch and watch for

Steve Luke MASSILLON, OHIO > Wrestling

SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK

WHO'S HOT

At 55 veteran official Ed Hochuli is so fit he could get away with horizontal stripes

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

HINES WARD Receiver

Firing at a furious pace (and from all angles), Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson are facing off in a historic shootout for the NBA scoring title

In one of four compelling divisional playoff games between teams that met earlier in the season, the Steelers look to avenge a loss to the Colts by relying on the power of their running game

LAST MEETING: NOV. 28

Steelers fans figure that after a long layoff the Colts might have forgotten how to play football. I wouldn't count on it. The second argument is that in November, Ben Roethlisberger was coming...

Broncos beware: The Patriots, fully recovered from their autumn slump, are coming on with a fury

What's up with Tedy Bruschi? The Pats pronounced him fit, but then he rode the pine last Saturday. They're a different defense with him controlling things at linebacker. On offense New England...

LAST MEETING: OCT. 16

The Carolina bandwagon blew a tire after a dismal November loss to Chicago, but two months later the surging Panthers are making it look like 2003 all over again

I don't think I've called the Panthers right all year, including the first Bears game, when I had them winning, and the Giants playoff, which I picked them to lose. Chicago's D jumped them last...

LAST MEETING: NOV. 20

Reminiscent of another Joe Gibbs power back, Clinton Portis gives the Redskins the pop they need

The Seahawks would like to make this game a shootout. They'd like to make every game a shootout. Roughneck teams like the Redskins make Seattle nervous. Normally that would mean that Washington is...

LAST MEETING: OCT. 2

Long overshadowed on its own campus, the high-scoring Blue Devils women's team has designs on a national title

Jason Gore finished dead last in the PGA Tour's season opener, but considering where his career had been 12 months ago, he could grin like a winner

Derided at first as a gimmick, the dramatic tiebreaker has been a shot in the arm for the resurgent league

Pitt Bulls To the distress of back judge Tony Steratore, all four Pittsburgh defensive backs--(from left) Tyrone Carter, Ike Taylor, Chris Hope and Troy Polamalu--briefly confronted Cincinnati...

Born in the U.S.A., the Olympics' most free-spirited sport will soar to new heights in Turin. So will U.S. riders

She might look like the girl next door, but don't be fooled: Multitalented Lindsey Jacobellis is a focused, ruthless competitor

Who'll bring home Olympic gold in the three snowboarding disciplines? American riders have a strong shot in two of them, while the Swiss look strongest in the third

Shaun White's otherworldly talents and trademark red hair have made him the boarder to watch in the Olympic halfpipe

College Basketball Conference play quickly proves that the new Big East is the strongest league in the country • Louisiana Tech's rebounding machine, Paul Millsap • USC coach Tim Floyd goes Hollywood

After just a week of conference play the new Big East has proved that no league in the country is stronger top to bottom

Shani Davis's split from his federation and his mother's meddling have hurt his reputation, but there's more to the story

His future iffy, G.M. Kiki Vandeweghe has spent a month trying to make a trade that could turn Denver's season around

As the Feb. 23 trading deadline approaches, here are some trade candidates who could fetch far better value than they would have at the start of the season, according to front-office cognoscenti.

You're a hardworking NBA star, trying to feed your family on $9 million a year. The league is cruelly making you get dressed up. It's hell. You need a day off to rest, relax and recuperate in a...