MEMO from the publisher

In these paintings, which appear on the card announcing Christmas gift subscriptions to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Russell Hoban has illuminated the high points of sport in the year now drawing to a close.

Their brilliance, we think, reflects one of the qualities which—each week in every year—SPORTS ILLUSTRATED tries to achieve. Their excitement seems to us to symbolize the spirit of the holidays and the spirit of sport.

As all of us are pleased to do in this festive season, the paintings look back. But they look forward, too, stating the challenge to be met by sport—and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED—next year.

As they announce to new friends a year-long Christmas present, they may remind old friends of a fortnight-long Christmas event, which comes next week: our special two-in-one year-end issue. And as they announce to some a gift of quality extending through a whole new year, they remind us on SPORTS ILLUSTRATED of our New Year's resolution: to do the best we can to make that quality even better.

Above all, to all, new friends and old, they say for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ILLUSTRATION

December 27, 1959: Johnny Unitas leads the Baltimore Colts to their second straight world championship: the Municipal Stadium, Baltimore

ILLUSTRATION

February 23, 1960: Carol Heiss wins a gold medal in figure skating at the VIII Olympic Winter Games: Squaw Valley, Calif.

ILLUSTRATION

April 10, 1960: Arnold Palmer takes his second Masters title with a score of 282 for 72 holes: the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.

ILLUSTRATION

June 17, 1960: Ted Williams becomes the fourth player to reach a lifetime total of 500 home runs: The Municipal Stadium, Cleveland

ILLUSTRATION

June 20, 1960: Floyd Patterson regains the world heavyweight title from Ingemar Johansson: the Polo Grounds in New York City

ILLUSTRATION

September 6, 1960: Rafer Johnson throws the javelin on his way to a gold medal in the decathlon at the Summer Olympics: Rome