1977

Audiences are transfixed by Star Wars on the big screen, Roots on the small screen and Annie on the stage. Horseplayers cheer Steve Cauthen, whose mounts earn $6 million plus. Bravo to the Yankees, Cowboys, Trail Blazers and Canadiens, and Notre Dame in football and Marquette in basketball.

INCIDENTALLY
COMPASS ADJUSTMENT
Golfer Andy North's sister Pamela has married. Her new name is Pamela South.

IN SI'S WORDS
TOM BEATS THE BEAR

Go ahead and mark it as the end of an era in professional golf if you're absolutely sure that Jack Nicklaus has been yipped into the sunset years of his career by the steel and nerve and immense talent of Tom Watson.

You could argue that way now, in these hours after Tom Watson has become the new king of the sport in a kingly land; when Watson has already become the Player of the Year, not to mention the future; when he has done it in the most memorable way in the annals of golf; and when he has done it for the second time in this season to the greatest player who ever wore a slipover shirt
—Jack Nicklaus.

You could also say it very simply with numbers. In the last two rounds of last week's British Open, Tom Watson shot 65 and 65 to beat Nicklaus by one stroke. Oh, by the way, they were playing together. Oh, yes, and another thing: Watson's 72-hole total was 268, which was a new record by only eight shots.
—DAN JENKINS

INCIDENTALLY
COME AGAIN?
A big spool of red tape for bureaucratic creativity goes to the NCAA, which announced that it has just created a "Committee on Committees subcommittee."

Seattle Slew wins the Triple Crown.

WE'RE NO.1: The Bird, the bird.

Cancel my subscription.

Walter Payton rushes for a one-game record 275 yards.

Nicklaus and Watson get better acquainted during a rain delay.

License plate sound-alike: R2D2.

Meadowlands milestone: Pelè bows out.

In '61, A.J. Foyt won his first Indy (page 72). Now he wins No. 4. My, can it be 76 pages ago already?

Reggie! Reggie! The Yankee slugger shows how to do it. He also puts on a demonstration in the Series, with three homers in Game 6.

Elvis Presley dies at 42. Would we lie?

TEN PHOTOS

"When Steve and I die, we are going to be buried in the same cemetery, 60'6" apart."
—PHILLIE CATCHER TIM MCCARVER, WHO CATCHES ALL OF STEVE CARLTON'S GAMES THIS YEAR