CONTENTS

14
NO WAY, U.S.A.
The World Cup—bound American team got a taste of big-time soccer in a humbling loss to the Soviets
BY CLIVE GAMMON

18
AND AWAY WE GO....
The 76ers remained in contention for the Atlantic Division title despite five tough road games
BY HANK HERSCH

22
HERE'S ONE COLD WAR
Now that it has learned to win without Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton hopes to make rival Calgary bite the ice
BY JAY GREENBERG

28
OPENING DAY ENDANGERED
Baseball's labor negotiations, plagued by the owners' ill-conceived plans, now threaten to delay the season
BY TIM KURKJIAN

30
'GARY TALKS IT, GARY WALKS IT'
Oregon State's Gary Payton, a loose-jawed city kid, has quietly become college basketball's top player
BY CURRY KIRKPATRICK

34
SMALL WONDER
With a new TV contract, 108-pound Michael Carbajal is earning respect in the U.S. for boxing's little guys
BY RON FIMRITE

38
WHOA, CANADA
The province of Quebec has culture and Gallic charm. So why don't many pro athletes want to play there?
BY MICHAEL FARBER

44
THE SLIDE STOPS HERE
With nowhere to go but up, the U.S. Alpine ski team is banking on a new generation to lead it on an ascent
BY WILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON

52
A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
From wretched deprivation to high school basketball Coach of the Year: the rise of Ben Kelso
BY WILLIAM NACK

DEPARTMENTS

4
LETTERS

9
SCORECARD

50
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

69
FOR THE RECORD

72
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER READ MILLER

PHOTO

LORI ADAMSKI-PEEK

HOPE ON THE SLOPE: Bill Hudson, one of a passel of young skiers who have brought cause for optimism to the struggling U.S. team, slaloms during last week's U.S. Alpine Championships at Crested Butte, Colo. (page 44).