CONTENTS

16
ALL ABOUT PAT
With Pat Riley a force along the sidelines and Patrick Ewing a force in the middle, the Knicks are soaring
BY HANK HERSCH

22
AT&T FROM A TO Z
Or 26 things that almost always prevail at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, including Mark O'Meara
BY RICK REILLY

24
A GRUESOME ACCOUNT
Boxer Mike Tyson's accuser told jurors at his rape trial in Indianapolis of an evening of pain and terror
BY WILLIAM NACK

28
BEWARE! SHAQ IS BACK
After a slow start this season, Louisiana State's 7'1" center Shaquille O'Neal is again the big kid on the block
BY WILLIAM F. REED

30
OUTSIDE PITCH
A Japanese-led group offered to buy the Seattle Mariners, and baseball reacted with apprehension
BY STEVE WULF

36
SPENCER FOR HIRE
Available to the NBA: Elmore Spencer, 7-foot center. Well traveled, now at UNLV. Very talented. Very talkative
BY ALEXANDER WOLFF

48
THE GLOVE BOAT
The author never was Hall of Fame material, but he caught several legends on a Caribbean baseball cruise
BY ROY BLOUNT JR.

DEPARTMENTS

6
LETTERS

9
SCORECARD

42
PRO BASKETBALL

44
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

61
INTERVIEW: BRIAN BOITANO

64
FOR THE RECORD

66
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN W. McDONOUGH

PHOTO

JULIE STERN

Wading Game

The V—for very soon—is Vendela Kirsebom's way of saying that the SI swimsuit issue, a February tradition, is on its way, just a little later than usual. While the Winter Olympics take the spotlight, Vendela and friends will wait patiently. Look for her again in four weeks.