December 14, 1998 | Volume 89, Issue 24

Wrong, wrong, wrong. If you're one of those Spam-brained, slack-jawed geniuses who want instant replay back next year, you're not just wrong, you're Hoover Dam wrong. We need it back now.

Ricky Williams is an example of what is becoming an aberration: a gifted athlete with a responsible, caring and humble attitude when he's out of uniform.—Brian Viktorin, Austin

Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer. They may be mailed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, New York,...

Bob Colvig, Willits, Calif.WrestlingColvig, 50, retired after 21 years of coaching at Willits High, during which the Wolverines won 12 Coastal Mountain Conference tides and went 132-9-2 in league...

January 11, 1982

DON'T MISS

3.9

Kudos to CBS sideline reporter Mike Mayock for his work at last Saturday's Army-Navy game. "We need to cover this as professionally and humanely as possible," said Mayock of the collapse of a...

Dusted off and spiffed up, the Roller Derby is aiming to regain the hold it once had on TV

It's the hottest December on record for the reigning national pastime

•That we all could have the luck of Bobby Bowden, whose Florida State Sominoles will play for the national title thanks to the fall of two unbeatens last Saturday.

4Hours pro motorcycle racer Stephanie Reaves spent plunging a knife into cantaloupes as the stunt person who stabs Anne Heche in Psycho.

A Tie for the Record

Sixteen and zero aren't the only numbers being chased in Denver these days. Despite subpar performances the last two weeks, Terrell Davis still has a good chance to become just the fourth back to...

Lawrence Taylor, fresh off his triumphant cameo in The Waterboy, will join Al Pacino and Cameron Diaz in Oliver Stone's next film.

CARL KOCHOne hundred-year-old bowler from St. Clair Shores, Mich., whose high game this year is 199: "I'm just tickled to death to get out of the house."

There's a reason the online economy is booming: Most of us aren't in good enough shape to elbow through the crowds and sprint from store to store during the holiday shopping season. There are...

Colleges and the ABL make a play for NBA fans

The Bills' Chris Spielman has taken the season off to care for his ailing wife

Basketball icons from two distinctly different eras reflect on their careers

Inspired by the tale of an NFL playoff upset, Miami knocked seemingly defenseless UCLA from the unbeaten ranks and the national title race

Behind the heroics of hamstrung running back Sirr Parker and a substitute quarterback, never-say-die Texas A&M brought a crushing end to Kansas State's championship dream

SINCE 1988, 12 Tennessee wide receivers have been taken in the NFL draft, a total second only to Miami's 15. With five of those 12 having gone in rounds 1 or 2, the Vols clearly are peerless...

College Football

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and CNN team up on the Internet to offer the latest sports news and stats. Stay on top of all the national championship implications and check out our exclusive on-line bowl...

Revved-up Cardinals defensive ends Andre Wadsworth (left) and Simeon Rice are among a plethora of dynamic young duos who are motoring toward NFL stardom

Cardinals Defensive Ends

Vikings Tackles

Ravens Linebackers

Jaguars Running Backs

Chiefs Safeties

Cowboys Kickers

PRO FOOTBALL

Behind the scenes with embattled officials as they prepare for a game

THE 1999 DRAFT will have depth at the skill positions, particularly at quarterback. Based on interviews with personnel men from eight NFL teams, here are the probable top dozen picks—including...

1. Green's Machine Can anybody in the NFC slow down the Vikings? Can the Broncos? With three games left, Minnesota has already scored more points (442) than 11 of the 12 playoff teams scored all...

I'm glad they're rounding up as many of the players from the unbeaten 1972 Dolphins as they can to give the team support next week when it tries to keep the Broncos from duplicating their feat....

X-posedMuch-touted Xavier is showing some puzzling flaws

The big East has decided to dispense with the two-division format it used the last two years. That news is most unwelcome at Boston College, which seems a good bet to become the first 13th-place...

Sage AdviceAstute counseling by a veteran helped Phoenix to get off to a hot start

CHRIS GRATTON, CFlyers1998-99 salary: $1.5 million

The Penguins, who are in bankruptcy, will face more tough financial decisions after the season. With the contracts of key players like defenseman Darius Kasparaitis and forwards Martin Straka, Stu...