CONTENTS

TAKE THAT! 18

Terry Pendleton's ninth-inning homer in Game 1 set the tone as the Cardinals took two of three from the Mets
by Steve Wulf

The Giants won a pair from the Reds to all but sew up their first National League West title in 16 seasons
by Peter Gammons

NFL '87: THE SEASON BEGINS 26

Quarterback John Elway gave a smash opening-day performance as Denver shocked AFC rival Seattle 40-17
by Rick Reilly

The Bears, with Mike Tomczak passing for two TDs and running for another, defeated the Giants 34-19
by Paul Zimmerman

LOOK WHO'S ON TOP 40

Ivan Lendl needed nearly five hours to beat Mats Wilander and win his third consecutive U.S. Open title
by Frank Deford

In a reprise of their Wimbledon match, Martina Navratilova defeated Steffi Graf to win her fourth crown
by Frank Deford

BIG RED AND THE TIDE 62

UCLA succeeded in ambushing Nebraska's vaunted ground game but then was headed off with the pass
by Rick Telander

There were sighs of relief after Alabama beat Penn State 24-13 in its first big game under new coach Bill Curry
by Hank Hersch

JOCK LIT 80
Sports books, formerly the scrubs of the literary world, have suddenly become best-selling superstars
by Jack McCallum

DEPARTMENTS

Letters 6
Scorecard 13
College Football 68
Hockey 74
For The Record 100
Point After 102

Cover photograph by Peter Read Miller; Inset by Chuck Solomon

PHOTO

RONALD C. MODRA

GETTING WET FOR THE METS: New York's Finest couldn't arrest the rain at Shea Stadium on Sunday, but when the downpour ceased, the Mets defeated the Cards 4-2 to stay afloat in the NL East (page 18).