CONTENTS

THE YEAR 10
In your wildest dreams you could never have imagined 1981

PRO FOOTBALL 12
The San Francisco 49ers: from sad to surprising to super

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 26
For once there was no doubt: Clemson had its paws on No. 1

BASEBALL 40
Sorry, George, it was the year of Fernando and the Dodgers

TRACK & FIELD 58
Today it's Ovett, tomorrow it's Coe—every day a record

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER 66
SI writers recapture their memorable moments from '81

PRO BASKETBALL 84
For the Celtics, a Bird in hand was worth another NBA title

COLLEGE BASKETBALL 96
Indiana's Hoosiers were the NCAA's knights in shining armor

BOXING 112
Sugar Ray Leonard kept his own crown and won two others

HOCKEY 122
The Soviets were supreme in Canada; Gretzky was great

TENNIS 126
From Wimbledon to Flushing Meadow, a Big Mac attack

HORSE RACING 132
Pleasant Colony won the Derby, John Henry all the money

GOLF 136
Tusk, tusk, the winners were Tom and David, Bill and Larry

GALLERY 140
From the mountains to the city streets, scenes to behold

Picture credits on page 144

Cover Design by Pamela Fortson