January 07, 2002 | Volume 96, Issue 1

A Righteous ManI've been an SI reader for more than 30 years, and Frank Deford's profile of Max Schmeling is the finest piece of writing I've read in your magazine (Almost a Hero, Dec. 3). As a...

Letters•For the fastest response, please fax us at 212-467-4049 or e-mail us at letters@si.timeinc.com.•Letters should include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number and may be...

June 11, 1973

To clear the decks for 2002, we're unloading last year's ideas that didn't make the cut

Highlights

For fans of a macabre bent, here's a website that provides the lowdown on baseball's dead and buried

Whether trying to do basketball play-by-play amid Dick Vitale's cacophony or as the studio host on ESPN's NHL playoffs, John Saunders has always exuded calm. He says he rarely gets anxious before...

U.S. soccer fans can forget that Berlitz course: ABC/ESPN will televise all 63 of this year's World Cup matches from Japan and South Korea live. Previously the only live U.S. coverage was slated...

Despite an awkward search process, Notre Dame ended up with the right man

How the last five Notre Dame coaches fared in their first season.

Dick Schaap, who wrote nearly 30 sports books and was the avuncular host of ESPN's The Sports Reporters, died on Dec. 21, at age 67. His son Jeremy, 32, a reporter for ESPN since 1996, shares this...

Q In Muhammad Ali's first bout with Sonny Liston, in 1964, did Liston doctor his gloves in order to blind Ali, as depicted in the movie Ali?

21

The Avalanche's crooked-nosed, quick-shinned MVP won his 500th career game on Dec. 26, a milestone that no other NHL goalie has neared. (Terry Sawchuk's 447 victories are second alltime.) Roy's...

So you're an English soccer fan rooting on your team at this summer's World Cup in Japan, and you want your taunts and epithets to have an authentic local ring. What do you do? Picking up where...

Angling•To be an NFL players' agent, baseball's ruthless superagent Scott Boras, who will take an NFL Players Association certification test later this month. Boras's prospective first client:...

Why a gorilla? Phoenix is in a desert. Why not a Gila monster?

Another good omen for the Wizards: Michael Jordan is looking to put down roots near Washington, D.C. Jordan and his wife, Juanita, have reportedly started shopping for houses in Potomac, Md., an...

An interactive poll in the midst of ESPN's bowl coverage asked viewers, "From which bowl sponsor would you most like a gift certificate?"

GEORGE W. BUSHU.S. President, upon meeting Diamondbacks general manager Joe Garagiola Jr.: "I'm always suspicious of guys who've got a famous father."

•BUSINESS LEADERSOn Nov. 4, 1976, baseball's first free-agent draft took place at New York City's Plaza Hotel. Who was the first player to be signed under this system?

BUSINESS LEADERS: b. On Nov. 6, 1976, the Red Sox signed former Twins reliever Bill Campbell, making him the first player to sign as a free-agent draftee.

Unbeaten Miami flogged Nebraska early and often to win an undisputed national title

In his final game Joey Harrington lived up to all the hype, but even a Fiesta Bowl rout by Oregon left the Ducks at No. 2

When 50 teams play in 25 bowl games, there are plenty of highlights—and lowlights

To win the door prize at the Cotton Bowl luncheon on New Year's Eve, all Oklahoma wide receiver Mark Clayton had to do was catch a pass from Sooners quarterback Nate Hybl (right). Across the...

Last summer Colorado State third-string running back Chad Dixon worked two jobs, as a supervisor at a Mexican fast-food joint and as a waiter at a Holiday Inn, and still fit in workouts with his...

Positive Thoughts

Before the 2001 bowl season, former Michigan State wide-out Andre Rison held the record for receiving yards in a postseason game, with 252 in the 1989 Gator Bowl. However, by the time Michigan...

For complete NFL playoff coverage, including the latest news and stats, plus exclusive analysis from SI's Peter King and Dr. Z, go to cnnsi.com/football.

GALLERYFURNITURE.COM

winners

At a practice before the GMAC Bowl, Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich (left) put on the number 45 jersey of tight end Gregg Kellett, went onto the field and began to mimic his teammate, a...

South Carolina pulled out a 31-28 victory over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl when Daniel Weaver's 42-yard field goal practically scraped the paint off the back of the crossbar as time expired....

Despite a talent-rich team that humbled hated Rick Pitino and Louisville, Kentucky fans keep looking for those dark clouds

Garrison Hearst refused to call it quits despite two seasons on the sidelines with a debilitating ankle injury, and now he's back in stride and playing a key role in the 49ers' surprising run to...

Blue CollaredKings defenseman Philippe Boucher (far right) gets a tripping penalty for helping Blue Jackets center Mike Sillinger find a seat in a game Los Angeles won 3-2.

Mixing street tastes off the court with a button-down approach on it, Elton Brand is infusing Los Angeles's other team with a new identity

The NBA

To Hill and BackCan Tracy McGrady salvage the season for the Magic after another Grant Hill injury?

WITH Shaquille O'Neal expected to skip the world championships in Indianapolis this summer, the U.S. is preparing to enter a major tournament without a true center for the first time since the...

On the Knicks under coach Don Chaney, who took over for Jeff Van Gundy on Dec. 8 and was 3-8 through last Wednesday's games.

The lessons that Jeff Foster learned as a teen are paying off for the Pacers

Split DecisionThe Pro Bowl picks include some sweet surprises and, as usual, a few mistakes

•WORD ASSOCIATION

Lightning StrikeAcquiring elite goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has given Tampa Bay a jolt of energy

The Kings' prospects are good, thanks to their scouting staff, led by director of amateur scouting Al Murray and director of player personnel Bill O'Flaherty. At the world junior championship in...

Kenny JonssonISLANDERS DThe 12th pick in the 1993 draft had four goals and six assists in 36 games through last Wednesday. He had only 236 career penalty minutes.

Hard LessonsWith league play getting under way, here's a look at what has been learned so far

J.R. BREMERSENIOR, GUARD, ST. BONAVENTURE

Guard Jamel Bradley is leading South Carolina in scoring while inspiring hearing-impaired kids

The most amazing outcome of any tennis match in history was not Borg over McEnroe. Not Rosewall over Laver. Not even King over Riggs. No, the most astonishing result of any tennis match just burped.