CONTENTS

16
'WE'RE GOING TO BEAT THIS THING'
Boomer Esiason of the Jets is confronting a new foe, a disease that has invaded his family
BY GARY SMITH

30
EURO-CRASH
Ryder Cup competition boiled down to an American stretch run and an Italian swoon song
BY RICK REILLY

34
THE TOAST OF THE QUARTER
New quarterback Wade Wilson guided the Saints past an old nemesis, the Niners, in New Orleans
BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN

36
THE FIX WAS IN
Accusers in his own camp say that a Florida promoter rigged fights for Tex Cobb and Mark Gastineau
BY WILLIAM NACK AND SONJA STEPTOE

42
LAST SHOT
The Giants, revived by the bat of Barry Bonds, stood ready for an assault on the Braves' lead
BY STEVE RUSHIN

64
THE LONESOME END
Bill Carpenter became an All-America at West Point and a soldier's soldier by standing apart
BY WILLIAM NACK

DEPARTMENTS

4
LETTERS

9
FACES IN THE CROWD

11
SCORECARD

46
SPORTS PEOPLE

50
PRO FOOTBALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL

60
BASEBALL

78
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL O'NEILL

PHOTO

RONALD C. MODRA

Off into the Sunset: An elbow injury made a full-time rancher of Nolan Ryan two weeks ahead of his scheduled retirement at the end of the 27th season of his extraordinary big league career (page 46).