CONTENTS

60
REQUIEM AT BELMONT
On a calamitous Breeders' Cup day. Go for Wand snapped a foreleg in a race and had to be destroyed
BY WILLIAM NACK

68
THE BIG MOON LAUNCH
All systems are go for quarterback Warren Moon in the Houston Oilers' run-and-shoot offense
BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN

76
BUSTED
Evander Holyfield won the heavyweight championship by knocking out a plodding Buster Douglas
BY PAT PUTNAM

NBA preview 1990-91

86
PALACE COUP
Out in suburbia the Detroit Pistons have it all—titles and affluence—but there's bitterness downtown
BY JACK McCALLUM

96
MASTERS OF THE GAME
Contrary to popular belief, the finest basketball coaches are seen on NBA sidelines, not on those in the NCAA
BY JACK McCALLUM

102
PORTLAND IS BEST
Western teams have traded their way up, and none of them has gone higher than Portland's Trail Blazers
BY JACK McCALLUM

120
SAM THE MAN
Now that he is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, it's showtime for Mr. Low Profile, Sam Perkins
BY RICHARD HOFFER

124
HOW TO CALL 'EM LIKE A PRO
The author, a leading professional basketball referee for 33 years, reveals when no call is a good call
BY EARL STROM WITH BLAINE JOHNSON

136
VINTAGE WHINE
Bad Bill Laimbeer of the Pistons is the NBA's consummate actor and psych artist; he's also a top player
BY CURRY KIRKPATRICK

DEPARTMENTS

6
LETTERS

55
SCORECARD

152
COLLEGE FOOTBALL

158
PRO FOOTBALL

177
FOR THE RECORD

178
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY THEO WESTENBERGER/SYGMA

PHOTO

PETER READ MILLER

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Jim Harbaugh and his Bears teammates were dazzling again, winning for the sixth time in seven starts, as they beat the Cardinals 31-21 in sun-drenched Phoenix (page 158).