CONTENTS

16
THE BRINK
In the final seconds, redoubtable Meldrick Taylor blew a certain win and was KO'd by a great champ
BY WILLIAM NACK

22
REACHING FOR THE STARS
Loyola Marymount played as if possessed while routing Michigan in the NCAA's wild opening week
BY ALEXANDER WOLFF

32
ANOTHER BIG SPLASH
Olympic swimming heroine Janet Evans won three individual events for Stanford in the NCAAs
BY MERRELL NODEN

34
HIS NAME IS MUDD
Jodie Mudd, that is, and he withstood all the pressure and won The Players Championship
BY RICK REILLY

38
YABBA-DABBA-DOO!
Chris Berman, ESPN's answer to Fred Flintstone, has struck pay dirt in the cable-TV quarry
BY FRANZ LIDZ

42
MAJOR MINORS
Fed up with parity? Do you long for a genuine dynasty? Chances are you're looking in the wrong places
BY DOUGLAS S. LOONEY

52
A BRIDGE TO LONG AGO
For 22 years Emil Zatopek, the marvelous Czech runner, was "not available." Now at long last he's free
BY LEIGH MONTVILLE

DEPARTMENTS

4
LETTERS

11
SCORECARD

50
PRO FOOTBALL

62
HORSE RACING

65
FOR THE RECORD

66
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDY HAYT

PHOTO

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH

GOTCHA!: Arkansas's soaring Oliver Miller hogged a rebound coveted by Dayton's Wes Coffee as the Razorbacks won this second-round game 86-84, in Austin, Texas (page 22).