September 22, 2003 | Volume 99, Issue 12

Kurt RemarksBrenda Warner questioned coach Mike Martz's honesty, on a radio call-in show last year. Thanks SI: The city of St. Louis had almost let Brendagate become a distant memory when your...

LETTERS•Please e-mail us at letters@si.timeinc.com or fax us at 212-467-4049. Letters should include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number and may be edited for clarity and space.

Some years ago, while waiting on the 1st tee of a Minneapolis golf course, my threesome was joined by a man with one arm, which he used as the front arm of his practice swing, sweeping the club...

In the face of NCAA scandals, one school eliminates its athletic department—and hopes to become a model for a system in need of reform

Two SI writers debate whether Hideki Matsui should be considered a rookie

For the first time since 1997, when the Houston Comets won the inaugural WNBA title in their only year in the Eastern Conference, the East sent a powerhouse to the Finals. Though the decisive...

5Straight season openers in which Arkansas running back Cedric Cobbs, who missed most of the 2000 season because of shoulder surgery, has scored a touchdown.

Suited UpFor practice at Division I-AA Florida International, 52-year-old former Dolphins quarterback and current Golden Panthers coach Don Strock. After starting quarterback Jamie Burke tore his...

Vindicated

Good to be here. Do I have this right? Ben Affleck broke off his engagement to Rodrigo Lopez?

The 46-year-old filmmaker—and Knicks superfan—is directing a series of commercials for TNT's new NBA marketing campaign. The ads will feature Jason Kidd, LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

Former White Shadow star Ken Howard as Phil Jackson? NBC may soon be casting the role of the Lakers' coach after saying last week that it's strongly considering a dramatic series based on the life...

Ah, September, when a rookie's fancy turns to kneesocks and leopard-skin hats. After Sunday's game Devil Rays pitcher Doug Waechter (far left) was pretty in pink, and the Yankees' Jose Contreras,...

Former NFL stars Lawrence Taylor and Jim McMahon will be the opposing coaches in the inaugural Lingerie Bowl, a tackle football game between models at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

DARREN CLARKEEuropean tour golfer, asked whether he had ever won tournaments in back-to-back weeks: "It's taken longer than five days to sober up, so probably not."

SEPT. 19-25

•Guerrero's Gaffes•Clemson Legend Dies•Celebrating the Deuce

Lost Summers

Louis Palmisiano, DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.SoftballPalmisiano, 79, a retired postal carrier, was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame. In 13 years of senior ball, the leftfielder...

NEW MANAGEMENT: c. The 1988 Baltimore Orioles had a 54-101 record after Frank Robinson took over for Cal Ripken Sr., who had gone 0-6.

To submit a candidate for Faces in the Crowd, go to SI.com/magazine.

Will West Virginia's residents make peace with the ADVENTURE SPORTS fanatics?

For more about sports in West Virginia and the other 49 states, go to si.com/50.

To sign up for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's free subscriber-only e-mail newsletter, go to sicustomerservice.com/siextra.

Find more college football coverage, including Tim Layden's Insider, B.J. Schecter's Marquee Matchup and weekly power rankings, at si.com/football/ncaa.

Growing up as a coal miner's son shaped the famously rugged linebacker

West Virginians weigh in on sports*

To view an archival story on former Mountaineers great Major Harris, see an SI cover of Mary Lou Retton or submit your favorite West Virginia sports memory, go to...

Edgerrin James showed some new muscle and his teammates shed their image as softies as the Colts whipped their old nemesis, the Titans

Michael Silver's Open Mike, every Thursday at si.com.

Intentional DroughningThe Chargers had the upper hand on this play, planting the Broncos' Reuben Droughns headfirst after a 36-yard kickoff return, but the Broncos prevailed easily on Sunday in...

Baltimore's Jamal Lewis proved he's healthy again by smashing the single-game rushing mark

With a weekend sweep of the Cardinals, the Astros took command in the NL Central and gave a football town reason to believe in its baseball team

Tom Verducci's Insider column, every Tuesday at si.com/baseball.

Oscar De La Hoya lost his long-awaited rematch with Shane Mosley, then made wild charges that suggest he might have also lost his mind

Behind the power running of Chris Perry, the Wolverines demolished Notre Dame and bulled their way into the national-title picture

For more college football coverage, including Tim Layden's Insider and a photo gallery from the week, go to si.com/football/ncaa.

The early-season "surprises" only point up how little anyone knows going into September

That's right, Jack—get yourself in a high-stakes poker tournament, be a TV star and rake in a bundle of money. It's all right there on the table

In the divided soul of the world's greatest female soccer player, the shy, self-critical athlete is locked in mortal combat with the relentlessly driven superstar

For World Cup coverage, including news and scores, plus a photo gallery of Hamm and other U.S. team stars, go to si.com/soccer.

College Football

D as in DominantInvigorated by a new coordinator, Nebraska's defense showed its old form in shutting down Penn State

Georgia DE David Pollack versus LSU T Andrew WhitworthThe 6'3", 278-pound Pollack is a run-stopper and a major reason why the Bulldogs' defense has given up just 17 points in three games....

ARKANSAS HOOKS 'EM

Revival in SeattleThanks to an aggressive, hard-hitting defense Mike Holmgren could have his best Seahawks

Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback, every week on si.com/football.

TRADING E-MAIL WITH...

At the start of the season the AFC East looked like the most competitive division in football. Anybody could beat anybody. But after two weeks that's changed. Now there's an A division and a B...

Dr. Z's Inside Football, every week during the season at si.com/football.

Hit or MissThe Dodgers' postseason hopes are riding on a recent batting tee

Through Sunday the Dodgers were last in the National League in batting with a .244 team average. Here's why: Los Angeles hitters ranked ninth or worse in average at every position except catcher.

Tom Verducci's Inside Baseball column, every Tuesday at si.com/baseball.

After committing a throwing error while playing for the Cubs' Triple A team in Iowa in May, righthanded reliever Will Cunnane punched a towel dispenser in the clubhouse and broke his pitching...

WORKING OVERTIME

Is your Little Leaguer so fat his blood type is Chee-tos? Do the other kids wait for your Cub Scout to jump in the pool so they can ride the wave? Is it difficult for your six-year-old to play...