CONTENTS

16
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
SI salutes Miami Dolphin coach Don Shula, a man whose mastery of the pro game has spanned four decades
BY PAUL ZIMMERMAN

26
DOUBLE DOSE OF WOE
Danny Hurley's struggles at Seton Hall were overshadowed by brother Bobby's ear crash after an NBA game
BY JACK McCALLUM

28
CHIPS OFF TWO BLOCKS
Duke's win at Michigan showcased two stars who have famous fathers but vastly different backgrounds
BY ALEXANDER WOLFF

36
WRITER'S BLOCK
A busted punt was the scoop in the Denver Broncos' 27-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs
BY RICK TELANDER

42
BUCKING FOR BIG BUCKS
Tough-as-nails cowboys risked their hides for cash and glory at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas
BY E.M. SWIFT

50
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
The NHL's still-unsettled Dallas Stars played a return gig in front of Minnesota's sadder but wiser fans
BY AUSTIN MURPHY

54
WELCOME TO THE COMEDY CLUB
What do you get when you combine bad jokes, bad blood and bad basketball? The Dallas Mavericks
BY PHIL TAYLOR

78
THE AMAZIN' COLLAPSE OF THE METS
Their fall from perennial contender to laughingstock is a testament to the power of mismanagement
BY TOM VERDUCCI

DEPARTMENTS

6
FACES IN THE CROWD

8
LETTERS

13
SCORECARD

60
SPORTS PEOPLE

68
PRO FOOTBALL

75
COLLEGE FOOTBALL

92
POINT AFTER

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MARK SUMMERS

PHOTO

LANE STEWART

Around the Horn: Cowboy clown Rob Smets artfully dodged a head butt in the bullfighting competition at the National Finals Rodeo (page 42).