February 15, 1999 | Volume 90, Issue 7

Nack's story on Big Daddy Lipscomb is the reason I maintain my SI subscription. It was a moving elegy to an athlete, warts and all.—JAMES PALANA, Rockland, Mass.

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,...

Rocky Carson, Santa Maria, Calif.RacquetballCarson, 19, won a record third straight world singles crown in the 18-and-under bracket, winning his five tournament matches by an average score of...

DON'T MISS

6.4Preliminary rating for Sunday's Jazz-Lakers telecast on NBC, the network's national NBA season opener. NBC's average NBA rating in 1997-98 was 4.6.

The Pro Bowl marked the ABC swan song—make that Lynn Swann song—of analyst Dan Dierdorf. Following in the footsteps of fellow former NFL All-Pro Swann, Dierdorf was dropped from Monday Night...

Like Titanic, the ESPYs will spotlight black-tied guests foundering amid all the glitter

The former champ's weird day in court was weirder than anyone knew

•That Shaq would swallow his pride and shoot free throws underhanded.•That the PGA Tour would move the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am to summer or fall, when it almost never rains in northern...

16Snake charmers hired to patrol the cricket grounds during matches between Pakistan and host India, following threats from Hindu militants to release venomous snakes among spectators.

Who Wants a Heisman?

The Trail Blazers, whose p.r. campaign is meant to dispel the team's Jail Blazer image, signed forward Art Long, who was jailed in 1998 for a parole violation and has been convicted of domestic...

TREVOR WINTERTimberwolves rookie center, after seeing $21-million-a-year teammate Kevin Garnett's pay stub: "I got about what they took out of his check for Medicaid."

The Houston Rockets, retrofitted with a new alltime great, began their scramble for the title as the abridged NBA season opened

In early games scorers flopped and hamstrings popped

, ,

To win back , the NBA put a new spin on its image. Our man in the stands put it to the test

It was a good day indeed for the U.S. and the rejuvenated Jovan Kirovski, who sparked a stunning 3-0 victory over Germany with a goal spoken of round the world

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and CNN team up on the Internet to offer the latest sports news. This week fight the winter doldrums and hit the beach with the on-line version of SI's annual swimsuit issue:...

Batting fourth and playing second, well-traveled has found a home in San Francisco, where in two seasons he's become one of the most productive players ever at his position

Fur Will FlyAmy Acuff models the latest in height couture while finishing second in the high jump at the Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Stumbling StartMissteps and ill will have marred Rick Neuheisel's move to Washington

Here's a look at some newly signed recruits, including Chris Simms (above), who have strong football bloodlines.

Year after year, scores go down. Could the refs reverse the trend?

This week's Grace under Pressure Award goes to DePaul senior guard Willie Coleman, who sank a free throw with no time left in overtime, and the score tied at 60 to upset No. 3 Cincinnati—despite...

Seed watchers were abuzz as the most turbulent week in the report's illustrious—if brief—history was concluded. In all, 10 seeded teams from a week ago lost at least once, including three of the...

Delaware's star is lucky to be alive, let alone in the national scoring race

The Land of OzSandis Ozolinsh's return restored Colorado to Cup-contender status

D STEVE DUCHESNEKings1998-99 salary: $3.8 million

A troubling sign of the times: In the Hurricanes' 3-1 victory over the Canadiens on Jan. 30, Carolina forward Robert Kron had a chance for a hat trick in the final minutes when Montreal pulled its...

Striking BackUnion president Patrick Ewing agrees that he takes too many shots...from the media

Sources say the Hornets were ready to send Glen Rice, B.J. Armstrong and J.R. Reid to L.A. for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell. The Lakers reportedly loved that deal but hit two snags: One, Rice...

MAVERICKS AT LAKERSWednesday, Feb. 17

Judging by all the stretched jerseys on opening night, dunking doughnuts was as close to a basketball game as many players got during the lockout. Here are some of the league's biggest offenders,...

After a spin with the Globetrotters, Jerome James is fit to be a King

Many of you have been kind enough to suggest that if I don't climb off the Chicago Bulls' butts, you will come to my home, rip my head off my shoulders and bowl with it.

Old Tour players don't retire; they just fade away

Cursed by Crosby WeatherOver the last four Februarys, barely half (nine of 16) of the scheduled rounds of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am have gone into the books. The once proud Crosby...

For the third time in the last four years, weather short-circuited the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and only one player, Payne Stewart, had no cause to complain

New LPGA CommissionerLadies' Man

What do these tournaments have in common?

Marlene Stewart Streit, Stouffville, Ont.Stewart Streit, 64, won the senior division of the Doherty Match Play Championship at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale for the fourth time. Also...

Golf has always been a big part of my life, ever since I was eight years old, watching the Bobby Jones films at Saturday matinees, caddying at Highland Park in St. Paul and eventually playing in...