CONTENTS

18 Beaten Deep
In the NFC Championship, the 49ers outshone the Cowboys in all departments
by Rick Telander

30 The Last, Best Word
In the AFC Championship, San Diego let its deeds speak loud as it beat Pittsburgh
by Michael Silver

36 Drop Those Pucks!
As the NHL season starts at last, expect tight races, more goals and a rash of injuries
by E.M. Swift

58 UConn, UMass, U Bet
The Minutemen and the Huskies have made frosty New England a hotbed of hoops
by Gerry Callahan

62 A Quick Reverse
Top prep quarterback Dan Kendra switched from Penn State to Florida State
by Jack McCallum

64 No Màs...Please!
Roberto Duràn wants to keep boxing, despite a second loss to Vinny Pazienza
by Leigh Montville

66 Lake Show
Surprising stars, young legs and a wily old coach have lifted the Lakers from the doldrums
by Richard Hoffer

70 Swing Shift
Anxious baseball players are trying to resolve career crises brought on by the strike
by Tim Kurkjian

78 Snowboard Nation
Who needs skiing when you can ride the rare air loved by the new kings of the mountain?
by Michael Farber

Departments

6 Faces in the Crowd
8 Letters
12 Scorecard
87 Inside College Basketball
90 Point After

Cover Photograph by Peter Read Miller

PHOTO

CHUCK SOLOMON

Back to the Old Grind: Unseasonably warm weather in the Northeast allowed the Stanley Cup-champion New York Rangers to take to the outdoor stationary bikes during their first practice after a 103-day NHL lockout (page 36).