CONTENTS

22 Hail To The Victors, Lucky
As the Lou Holtz era began at Notre Dame, the underrated Irish beat Michigan everywhere but on the scoreboard
by Rick Telander

28 Get The Net, It's Time For Follyball!
Battered by a feud between current and past coaches, the U.S. women's volleyball team was routed at the worlds
by Bruce Newman

30 The Emotional Bowl Goes To Chicago
Defense demigod Buddy Ryan came back to Soldier Field with some heroic Eagles, but Mike Ditka's Bears prevailed
by Paul Zimmerman

38 It's Over

Before the Red Sox ran away with the AL East, the division race provided a pictorial study in anguish and excitement
Photographs by James Drake

The saddest AL Easters are the Orioles, who have driven the owner to distraction and the manager into retirement 44
by Craig Neff

66 'To Find Out Why I'm Out There'
In his life as a Virginia gentleman and his life in the NBA, Ralph Sampson searches for a new way to play the game
by Alexander Wolff

DEPARTMENTS

17 Scorecard
46 College Football
52 Pro Football
56 Horse Racing
58 Inside Baseball
63 Track & Field
85 For The Record
87 19th Hole

Cover photograph by John Biever

PHOTO

JERRY LODRIGUSS

LEADING OFF: Dusk, a September Saturday, the South—getting ready for a football game. These players are about to chalk up another win for Valdosta (Ga.) High School.