CONTENTS

16
DRIVE TIME
Portland has shifted to high gear in hopes of rolling to an NBA title
BY HANK HERSCH

20
SUPER BOWL PREVIEW

Mark Rypien isthe latest in the Redskins' line of Super quarterbacks
BY RICK TELANDER

Buffalolinebacker Darryl Talley has lifted his play to Pro Bowl level
BY PETER KING

WINTER OLYMPICPREVIEW

40
ON TO ALBERTVILLE
Gallic pride will be on the line during the Games in the French Alps
BY WILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON

44
THE WHOLE KITT AND CABOODLE
U.S. medal hopes in Alpine skiing rest almost exclusively on AJ Kitt
BY WILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON

48
BIG PACK ATTACK
Pack skating, a new medal sport this year, can be rather rough stuff
BY SALLY JENKINS

50
A PAIR OF QUEENS
An Austrian fraulein and a Swiss miss are the Alpine skiing royalty
BY ANITA VERSCHOTH

56
MAN WITH THE LEADEN TOUCH
Why is Dave Peterson again at the helm of the U.S. hockey team?
BY AUSTIN MURPHY

64
CAN DUNCAN DO IT?
U.S. luger Duncan Kennedy, erstwhile rebel, is on track for a medal
BY E.M. SWIFT

71
SI'S MEDAL PICKS
Our Olympic expert predicts the top three finishers in all 55 events
BY ANITA VERSCHOTH

88
STOMPIN' IN THE SAVOIE
A pre-Games turn around the spectacular French Alps was no waltz
BY WILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON

COVER PHOTOGRAPHBY HEINZ KLUETMEIER

DEPARTMENTS

4
LETTERS

9
SCORECARD

30
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

33
PRO BASKETBALL

107
FOR THE RECORD

108
POINT AFTER

PHOTO

MARK GAMBA

Huge in the Luge: Duncan Kennedy of the U.S., the world's No. 1—ranked male luger, will go to the Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, as a top contender for the gold medal (page 64).

ILLUSTRATION