CONTENTS

16
NFL PLAYOFFS

Joe Montana pitched an almost perfect game as the 49ers overwhelmed the Vikings in the NFC
BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN

Also in the NFC, the fun-loving Rams streaked past the Giants in overtime to win 19-13
BY PETER KING

The Bills lost their grip in the final moments of the game to allow the Browns to advance in the AFC
BY RICK TELANDER

Pittsburgh almost flipped Denver out of the playoffs, but the Broncos righted themselves in time
BY RICK REILLY

72
RED-FACED REDS
The highly touted players from the U.S.S.R. who joined the NHL this season haven't fared very well
BY JAY GREENBERG

76
RIP CITY RETURNS...WITH A BANG!
Selfless Buck Williams has rolled into Portland and changed the selfish Blazers into a contender
BY RICHARD HOFFER

80
BRAVE NEW WORLD
The golf year was bright with promise and promises until reality set in at the Tournament of Champions
BY JOHN GARRITY

82
TAKIN' THE TRAIN
Lionel (L-Train) Simmons has carried the La Salle Explorers to the top of Philadelphia's Big Five
BY ALEXANDER WOLFF

94
FISTS FULL OF DOLLARS
When it comes to money, HBO's Seth Abraham has become the big hitter in the world of boxing
BY RICHARD HOFFER

DEPARTMENTS

4
LETTERS

11
SCORECARD

90
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

92
SPEED SKATING

107
FOR THE RECORD

108
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN W. McDONOUGH

PHOTO

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH

A BLOCK PARTY: In a play that typified the 49ers' bowling over of the Vikings in the NFL playoffs, San Francisco's Spencer Tillman here wiped out Minnesota's John Galvin (page 16).