CONTENTS

16 Tee Time
Paul Azinger returned to the Tour after an eight-month battle with cancer
by Tim Rosaforte

20 A Fresh Start
Quarterback Jeff George, now an Atlanta Falcon, is hoping to silence his critics
by Jill Lieber

24 Taking Stock
The first NASCAR race at Indianapolis featured big money and bad blood
by Bruce Newman

30 Duel of the Four-Minute Men
In this SI Classic, Roger Bannister beat John Landy in one of history's greatest miles
by Paul O'Neill

40TH ANNIVERSARY

35 How We Got Here
On August 16, 1954, Sports Illustrated published its first issue. The author traces a path through the past 40 years of sports by way of four men and a mall
by Steve Rushin

68 The Firing Line
Football is weeks away, but for some college coaches ifs already third-and-long
by Tim Layden

Departments

4 Letters
6 Faces in the Crowd
11 Scorecard
74 Inside the NDA
76 Inside Baseball
81 Point After

Cover and Contents Photographs by Mark Kauffman

PHOTO

Forty Years Ago This Week....

To preview the rematch between heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano and Ezzard Charles, SI ran this shot from Marciano's 15-round win in June 1954.