Contents

16 Downfall of a Hero
In 1967 Denny McLain was a bookmaker and involved with mobsters. Now the pitcher is paying the terrible price

22 Finally—an 'Official' Champion
After two years of two titleholders—Joe Frazier and Jimmy Ellis—boxing is down to one

24 Plenty of Sunfish in the Sea
Small boats convened for a big championship on the blustery waters of the Caribbean

26 Grab the Gold and Say Goodby
Aching all over, America's Billy Kidd beats them all to win the combined ski title before turning pro

32 The Mad Music of Daytona
Photographer Phillip Leonian interprets the electric mood of stock-car racing's foremost event

48 McGrady's Game, Cards and Deal
What do you do for on encore after you set a world record? Martin McCrady breaks it again the next night

52 A Happy Pair of Hairy Sports
The bear facts about another heavyweight champion and his wrestling friend, Taffy

The departments

10 Scorecard
38 People
40 College Basketball
44 Golf
48 Track
50 Bridge
65 For the Record
66 19th Hole

Credits on page 65

Cover photograph by Tony Triolo

PHOTO

16

PHOTO

22

PHOTO

24

PHOTO

26

ILLUSTRATION

32

PHOTO

48

PHOTO

52

Next week

New York, New York can be a wonderful town when its teams are winning. Hockey's Rangers are the latest cult, and Emile Francis, their prophet, is assessed by Gary Ronberg.

The big three of college basketball's roughest league sort out their splendid differences. A front-line report on the war between the Carolinas by Curry Kirkpatrick.

Track's easy miler, Marty Liquori of Villanova, tells interviewer Skip Myslenski how staying on top of the distance-running heap is tougher than getting there to begin with.