September 18, 2006 | Volume 105, Issue 11

Kid Gloves

The first thing most people say when meeting me in person is, "You're taller than you look in the magazine," as if the mug shot to the right of this paragraph were life-sized.

Her B sample came back negative, so the doping police told Marion Jones she can keep racing. But will she resume her habit of running with the wrong crowd?

Is the NFL in denial on steroids and human growth hormone?

Announced That he will retire after the final Formula One race of the year, driver Michael Schumacher (above). The 37-year-old German, who has won more F/1 championships (seven) than any other...

2 Number of starting quarterbacks in last Saturday's Fort Lewis--Idaho State game named Matt Gutierrez; Idaho State's Gutierrez outdueled Fort Lewis's in a 48--12 win.

NFL game balls underwent a subtle change this season: The signature of new commissioner Roger Goodell replaced that of his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue. What does Goodell's John Hancock say about...

Yes, to some they are the embodiment of the phrase too much information. Yet where would we be without sideline reporters, microphone-wielding wanderers like Andrea Kremer, Chris Myers and Bonnie...

The 56-year-old actor (Fargo) is the voice of a pitcher in the animated film Everyone's Hero, which opens on Friday

NBA journeyman Doug Christie's wife, Jackie, knows she has an image problem; that's what happens when you're known for exchanging I-love-you hand signals with your husband during games and...

No wonder Lindsay Davenport is one of the most popular players in women's tennis: She has a big serve, a big return, a big heart ... and, apparently, a very big autograph. Davenport signed...

A Scottish man has vowed to eat only foods that are green and white, the colors of his favorite soccer team, Celtic.

KRIS MANGUM, Panthers tight end, after coach John Fox announced that Mangum would be the team's third quarterback:

What to watch and watch for

Duke Lacrosse

Stadford Brown

Padres Starter

Who's Hot Eagles

A young Giant learns the secrets to survival

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

Angels Outfielder

No grains, no gain: For Redskins running back T.J. Duckett, getting solid means training on shifting sands

MARVIN AUSTIN and Jordan Hasay are two of the nation's top high school athletes. Austin is the top defensive lineman in the class of '07; Hasay won the Foot Locker Cross-Country Championships last...

Alix Klineman is a fearsome attacker on the volleyball court and a stellar student

1 HOOVER (Ala.) The Bucs improved to 3-0 by beating Carver (Ala.) 45-12 last Friday. Senior quarterback Ross Wilson threw three touchdown passes, and sophomore running back Jemeriz Owens had a...

BUCKEYE BONANZA The Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge this weekend pits the state's best teams against national powers in nine games over two days. The event was the brainchild of...

The NFL's opening week showcased the leaguewide upheaval at quarterback--and no one was under more scrutiny than Carson Palmer

Get daily insights from SI's NFL crew--Jeffri Chadiha, Peter King, Tim Layden, Michael Silver and Paul Zimmerman--at SI.com/nfl.

Daunte Culpepper's knee is fine and he's in an offense he knows well, so don't fret too much about his weak Week 1

In a 27--0 rout, Steve McNair showed that he may be the answer to the Ravens' prayers while the Bucs' Chris Simms was brought to his knees

FREE SCORES, STATS AND BREAKING NEWS--NO SIGNUP REQUIRED.

A rocky off-season gave way to a stellar performance for the Jets' Chad Pennington, whose commitment never flagged

Can you have a critical game in Week 2? Yes. In fact, you can have a pair of them when the four NFC East archrivals go at it

In a U.S. Open that celebrated the titans of the past, Roger Federer cemented his Tigerlike preeminence, and Maria Sharapova fulfilled her lavish promise

Read Jon Wertheim's Tennis Mailbag Wednesdays at SI.com/more.

By guiding Ohio State to an impressive victory at Texas, Troy Smith showed he's a quarterback in every regard and the unquestioned leader of the No. 1 team in the land

How far will Texas fall? Where will Notre Dame end up? Find out in Stewart Mandel's rankings at SI.com/collegefootball.

A half-dozen games matching Top 20 teams this weekend will go a long way toward separating the title contenders from the pretenders

Two springs ago, he was banished to the minors, but now Ryan Howard has turned the stretch drive into one booming blast with his epic home run binge

Coming of age at racing speed, 21-year-old Kyle Busch battles his hothead reputation and the scorn of fans as he roars into the Chase for the Nextel Cup with a tankful of momentum

Baseball The Giants are the game's hottest team, thanks in large part to a certain slugger • Update: the divergent paths of Anibal Sanchez and Jon Lester

He's a Giant

Samardzija, So Good In a 41--17 victory over No. 19 Penn State in South Bend last Saturday, Notre Dame's senior All-America wide receiver, Jeff Samardzija, snagged a seven-yard touchdown pass from...

Time Bomb

HOT TOPIC

Pittsburgh Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger has his appendix removed, and you ask, "When will he be back?" Whereas I ask, "How much you want for it?"

DON'T LIKE THE MATCHUP

ADAM DUERSON MATCHUP OF THE WEEK These leapers have gobbled up receptions and records, first at Bedford (Ohio) High and then at Wisconsin. Last Dec. 4 they combined for 355 yards and four TDs. Who...

Who Has Whose Number?

There he is, gleaming on the waiver wire, that Week 1 breakout player who can bolster your lineup. Before you grab him, read this

WE LIKE THE MATCHUP