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.