CONTENTS

COLLEGE BASKETBALL 12

A swarm of quicksilver, 6'6" look-alikes powered unbeaten Illinois past Big Ten rival Michigan 96-84
by Curry Kirkpatrick

A new NCAA rule deemed to adversely affect minorities drew loud objections—and a dramatic walkout
by William F. Reed

HOPE FOR THE BEST 20
Steve Jones won his second straight PGA tournament, but as usual, the big star in Palm Springs was Bob Hope
by E.M. Swift

AN UNHAPPY ENDING 30
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers didn't prepare properly for his last year, and it shows
by Jack McCallum

SUPERBOWL PREVIEW 36

Niner Joe Montana and Bengal Boomer Esiason have hot hands, but defiant D's will put heat on them
by Paul Zimmerman

Ronnie Lott, San Francisco's star safety and one fearsome tackler, is as generous with his time as with his hits
by Jill Lieber

Cincinnati's dazzling rookie back, Ickey Woods, ran wild and then shuffled all the way to unexpected success
by Rick Reilly

HYPE 60
We present the ultimate journalistic achievement: absolutely, positively the greatest story ever written!
by Bruce Newman

DEPARTMENTS

Letters 4
Scorecard 7
College Basketball 57
For The Record 76
Point After 78

Cover Photograph by Peter Read Miller

PHOTO

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH

THANKS, I NEEDED THAT: The 49ers' Roger Craig may have required smelling salts during a recent game, but in the Super Bowl, Craig's rivals, the Bengals, will need that wake-up tingle, says Dr. Z (page 36).