December 24, 2012 | Volume 117, Issue 25

Jordan Conn's piece about the love affair between Giants fans and Pablo Sandoval (Pandamonium) is right on. Fans in the Bay Area simply cannot get enough of the Kung Fu Panda, our bearded pitchers...

A screenwriter implores Hollywood not to give up on sports movies, which, like many of their protagonists, are true underdogs

This season's Hammacher Schlemmer catalog offers a full-sized replica of the Porsche 917 driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Le Mans—featuring race-worn tires and, under the flip-up bodywork, a...

HOT: DA BULLS

The departure of the Big East's seven Catholic schools will reshape the college landscape

"Maybe next time I should just lay it up or something."

Sizing up the seismic off-season moves in Los Angeles

Boxing's Greatest One-punch Knockouts

ODERAH CHIDOM

1,000:1

BOBBY PETRINO

SAY WHAT?

Did you see that Chris Bosh video bomb? How many versions of "Eli Manning Looking at Things" can you name? When the soccer titans tangled on Twitter, were you #TeamChastain or #TeamSolo? Feeling a...

The Anger Games

Read Richard Deitsch's 2012 Media Circus Awards, highlighting the best and worst of the year, at SI.com/magazine

SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW

Tweets with Some Kick

Real-life Drama

ADRIAN PETERSON SHREDDED HIS KNEE ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2011 AND WENT UNDER THE KNIFE SIX DAYS LATER. NOW, DRIVING HIMSELF RELENTLESSLY, HE'S TWO GOOD GAMES FROM THE ALLTIME SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING...

For rare photos of Adrian Peterson, as well as Peter King's MMQB, Chris Burke's Must-Win Watch and complete coverage of the season's final two weeks, go to SI.com/mag

With two alltime greats returning in stunning form, this season's Comeback Player vote will be the toughest call of them all

DO WHAT YOU WANT. SWAGG ALL THE TIME. LOUISVILLE GUARD RUSS SMITH FOLLOWS HIS OWN RULES—AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM AMERICA'S MOST ENDEARINGLY RUSSDICULOUS PLAYER

For a Russ Smith video on how to eat eggs and grits properly, download the SI digital edition, available free to subscribers at SI.com/activate

THE RAYS' NEWEST PRIZE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN THE 2012 MINOR LEAGUE HOME RUN KING. SCOUTS LIKEN HIM TO DALE MURPHY

Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year Award—Wil Myers won it this year—is a strong indicator of big league success. Of the 12 POYs from 2000 to '11, all but one (Jon Rauch) have been...

Jay Jaffe analyzes and handicaps the chances of the 2013 Hall of Fame candidates in his JAWS reports, at SI.com/mlb

It looks like the Royals and the Blue Jays made similar trades, but not all prospects-for-pitching deals are equal

IT'S A PERFECT STORM OF A PINUP: A LAST-GASP PLAY SEEMINGLY INTERPRETED IN OPPOSITE WAYS BY TWO REPLACEMENT REFS—PATSIES, REALLY—WORKING FROM A COMPLEX RULE BOOK. BUT IT WILL FORCE YOU TO RETHINK...

To find out where the Green Bay--Seattle debacle ranks in SI's list of the 112 Biggest Sports Moments of 2012, go to SI.com/mag

Years ago I listened to George Blanda, the Hall of Fame quarterback who became an outstanding backup in his 40s, reminisce about coming off the bench to lead several game-winning drives. He said...