CONTENTS

10 Bidding with a Kick
Under the bridge table not all was aboveboard, as a suave Italian massaged—and maybe messaged—his partner with his elegantly shod right foot. Despite howls by the U.S., Italy's finals opponent in the Bermuda world championships, the Italians played on—and won
by Walter Bingham

14 Bayi Makes His Own Rules
Tanzania's front-running miler triumphed in his U.S. indoor track debut
by Ron Reid

16 Waifs Who Darken Doors
A team of castoffs, the L.A. Kings have come back to confound their rejectors
by Mark Mulvoy

18 Connors Hits the Jackpot
The No. 1 U.S. tennis player beats Rod Laver for $100,000-plus in Las Vegas
by Joe Jares

22 And Still the Classic of Cool
Walt Frazier's life-style is less gaudy, but his thermometer remains steady
by Jerry Kirshenbaum

26 High Among the Hawks
Hobie Alter follows up his surfboard and catamaran with a miniature sailplane
by Philip Singerman

54 First You Have to Find K2
The author joins the U.S. team training for an assault on the second-highest mountain
by Robert F. Jones

The departments

7 Scorecard
34 Motor Sports
38 College Basketball
42 Olympics
46 Pro Basketball
48 Hunting
65 For the Record
66 19th Hole

Credits on page 65

Cover photograph by Neil Leifer

ILLUSTRATION

ARNOLD ROTH

Next Week

The PAC-8 is packed with top teams, and the best four—UCLA, USC, Oregon and Oregon State—will vie for the league lead during a busy basketball weekend in the Beaver State. Curry Kirkpatrick reports.

The super bowl, if you were into it cheek by jowl with such as Mean Joe Greene and Co., was super. Roy Blount Jr., who lived with the Steelers during their disappointing '73 season, rejoined them for their triumph.