CONTENTS

14
TAR HEEL TIME
Emerging from the shadow of rival Duke, North Carolina has vaulted to the top of the college basketball polls
BY WILLIAM F. REED

18
SNOW BUSINESS
The safe return of five lost backcountry skiers high in the Colorado Rockies evoked joy and admiration—and, finally, anger
BY WILLIAM OSCAR JOHNSON

24
RISING SUNS
A cast of newcomers, with the indomitable Charles Barkley leading the way, has Phoenix ascendant in the NBA
BY JACK McCALLUM

28
HELLO, MY NAME IS...
As the Colorado Rockies began their first spring training, in Tucson, anonymity was the prevailing condition
BY STEVE RUSHIN

32
THE PERFECT SQUARE
Union chief Don Fehr may be a humorless bookworm, but major leaguers laugh all the way to the bank
BY E.M. SWIFT

36
JAWS OF DEFEAT
The toothless Sharks have snatched few victories in San Jose's embarrassing second season in the NHL
BY AUSTIN MURPHY

54
MONSTER MASH
All over America, monster trucks are crushing cars, spraying mud and spreading joy to kids of all ages
BY STEVE RUSHIN

DEPARTMENTS

4
FACES IN THE CROWD

8
LETTERS

11
SCORECARD

40
SPORTS PEOPLE

46
PRO BASKETBALL

51
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

66
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID E. KLUTHO

PHOTO

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH

First and 10: That's hard-tackling Richard Dumas of the red-hot Suns putting a shoulder into swivel-hipped ballcarrier David Benoit of the Jazz in a scrimmage won 113-106 by Phoenix. And you thought it was basketball season (page 24).