CONTENTS

18
NFL '92: A FLYING START

With a recharged Herschel Walker, the Eagles beat the Saints
BY RICK REILLY

An old-fashioned draw play helped the Vikings begin with a win
BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN

The Bears clawed their way past the Lions with a late rally
BY RICK TELANDER

34
RISE AND SHINE
Decathlete Dan O'Brien atoned for recent failures when he broke Daley Thompson's eight-year-old record
BY MERRELL NODEN

36
TEXAS-SIZED TRADE
The Oakland A's sent superstar Jose Canseco to the Rangers in a deal that was both bold and bewildering
BY LEIGH MONTVILLE

40
GOING THEIR WAYS
A 31-31 tie reflected the divergent fortunes of the football programs at Southern Cal and San Diego State
BY DOUGLAS S. LOONEY

48
THE FISCHER KING
In a surreal setting in Yugoslavia, chess legend Bobby Fischer emerged from seclusion to play Boris Spassky
BY WILLIAM NACK

54
CAN'T TAKE NOTHIN' OFF NOBODY
Gary Sheffield fought his way to baseball stardom, and now he's in a battle for the elusive Triple Crown
BY RICK REILLY

70
WHAT IS THE CITADEL?
"Sir, it is a fortress of duty, a sentinel of responsibility, a bastion of antiquity, a bulwark of discipline"
BY RICK REILLY

DEPARTMENTS

5
LETTERS

6
TELEVISION

13
SCORECARD

62
PRO FOOTBALL

66
BASEBALL

83
FOR THE RECORD

86
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER READ MILLER

PHOTO

RICHARD MACKSON

Toehold: San Diego State's Damon Pieri (39) hung on to USC's Dwight McFadden in their teams' season-opening tie (page 40).