1971

Americans go to China to play table tennis, Alan Shepard goes to the moon to tee off and The New York Times goes to press with the Pentagon Papers. Lee Trevino wins the U.S. and British opens, while Joe Frazier decks (below) and outpoints Muhammad Ali. The Pirates, Cowboys, Bucks, Canadiens, UCLA five and Nebraska 11 win.

IN SI'S WORDS
TRENCH WARFARE
A long night was still ahead for Frazier, because this was an Ali determined to put a muzzle on all the mouths that have questioned his courage, his will, his ability to handle pain. "That man," Frazier said later, his own face covered with pyramids of hurt, "can sure take some punches. I went to the country, back home, for some of the shots I hit him with." And Ali's jab faded like a sick flower. His once remarkable legs gone, his arms heavy, he hung on the ropes and spent long and dangerous periods in the corners; it was astonishing that he escaped serious damage. "The way they were hitting," said referee Arthur Mercante, "I was surprised that it went 15. They threw some of the best punches I've ever seen."
—MARK KRAM

INCIDENTALLY
BEST OF 'THEY SAID IT'

•John Brodie, asked why a million-dollar quarterback had to hold the ball for extra points: "Well, if I didn't, it would fall over."

•Bill Bonham, Cub pitcher, after failing to retire any of four Cardinals he faced in his first big league game: "I was due for a bad outing."

FACE IN THE CROWD
CHRIS EVERT
Chris, a sophomore at St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, disposed of three top-ranked women tennis players to win the St. Petersburg Masters. En route to victory she beat Francoise Dürr, Billie Jean King and Julie Heldman.

Ping-Pong diplomacy.

Super Mex whoops it up at the Open.

Yellow tennis balls? Come on!

Wayne Gretzky is 10.

A night World Series game? Worse than yellow tennis balls!

Block that kick. The Cowboys can't, and the Colts win the Super Bowl on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal.

SEVEN PHOTOS

ILLUSTRATION

"The only change is that baseball has turned Paige from a second-class citizen into a second-class immortal."
—SATCHEL PAIGE, NAMED TO THE HALL OF FAME'S NEW WING FOR OLD-TIME NEGRO PLAYERS