
CONTENTS
14 Poisoned Fish, Troubled Waters
At last a swell of protest is rising against PCBs, the toxic chemical compounds that are being spewed into our lakes and rivers and dispersed into the atmosphere, contaminating a variety of animals—including humans. Awake to the menace, officialdom must how do something about it.
by Robert H. Boyle
18 Furniss Was All Stoked Up
Determined to atone for Cali, young Bruce got hot at the AAU championships
by Anita Verschoth
20 Wanted: Instant Status
A second-year golf tournament seeks to be on a par with the Big Four
by Barry McDermott
22 Wheeling and Dealing
Skateboards are back. The kids are rolling, and so are manufacturers—in money
by Sarah Pileggi
26 He Ran into Doors
Tony DeSpirito, a star at 16, dead at 39. In between, he had everything but luck
by Frank Deford
32 Wiles of the Wigwag Man
He tugs at his cap, shuffles, scratches, and sends the signals that win games
by Herman Weiskopf
58 Coming on Strong
Brian Oldfield, whirling dervish of the shotput, has muscles to match his ego
by Curry Kirkpatrick
The Departments
11 Scorecard
43 Baseball
48 Soccer
50 Pro Football
52 Crew
56 Horse Racing
73 For the Record
74 19th Hole
Credits on page 73
Cover photograph by Neil Leifer
ILLUSTRATION
MICHAEL RAMOS
Next Week
College Football kicks off another season with a bad case of short money. In our annual special issue, John Underwood looks into the financial squeeze; the Ivy League is serenaded in pictures and words (by George Plimpton, Harvard '48); the Top 20 teams are fearlessly picked; and Ray Kennedy presents the sainted Archie Griffin, who's won one Heisman, is bucking for another and still hasn't proved he's the best player in his family.