CONTENTS

AN AMERICAN DISGRACE 16

A violent and unprecedented lawlessness has arisen among college athletes in every part of the country
by Jerry Kirshenbaum

Oklahoma has come a cropper over the attitude coach Barry Switzer has let take root
by Rick Telander and Robert Sullivan

Under coach Bill McCartney, Colorado football has taken off, but so has criminal behavior among the Buffaloes
by Rick Reilly

THE SUNS HAVE RISEN AGAIN 38
Reduced to ashes by scandal, Phoenix has regrouped through some big deals, including one for a malcontent
by Bruce Newman

'BELT THE BODY' 44
Pernell Whitaker followed that sound advice and won the IBF lightweight championship from Greg Haugen
by Pat Putnam

ABOUT TIME, FELLA 46
In his 17th try at winning the Daytona 500, Darrell Waltrip finally squeezed out a victory by going easy on the gas
by Sam Moses

STRIKE UP THE BAND 48
Dixieland Brass won the $130,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in resounding style
by Demmie Stathoplos

THIRD-DEGREE BURNS 50
Coach Pat Burns, an ex-cop, has stressed law and order in turning the Canadiens into the hottest NHL team
by Austin Murphy

DEAR MIKE 58
In an open letter to Mike Tyson, the author bids the champ seek the services of a certain gentle septuagenarian
by Gary Smith

DEPARTMENTS

Letters 5
Scorecard 11
College Basketball 54
For The Record 75
Point After 77

Cover Photograph by Paul B. Sutherland/The Daily Oklahoman; Inset by Rich Clarkson

ILLUSTRATION

DANA SUMMERS

FOUL PLAY: Offense has taken on more meaning of late at Oklahoma, where some football players seem more intent on breaking laws than on getting ready to break long runs next fall (page 16).