March 24, 1997 Table Of Contents

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Golf Plus

SWEAT EQUITY GOING THE DISTANCE TO FIND A BONA FIDE WINNER, THE PLAYERS PUT IN A 36-HOLE FINAL DAY AT THE HONDA CLASSIC

By Gary Van Sickle

LISTEN, SISTER THE SORENSTAMS MAY HAVE REASON TO SMILE, BUT THEY AREN'T TALKING--AT LEAST NOT TO EACH OTHER

By Walter Bingham

NEWS AND NOTES

By Austin Murphy

BACKSPIN ANOTHER TAKE ON THE HEADLINES

By Gary B. Smith

PITCHING GOLF

By Larry Dierker

Baseball

RISING SUN MEETS DESERT SUN THE SWALLOWS THAT RETURN TO ARIZONA IN FEBRUARY ARE JAPANESE...AND WEAR CLEATS

By LEO W. BANKS

CATCH OF THE DAY BACKSTOPS SUCH AS CHARLIE O'BRIEN MAY NOT HIT MUCH, BUT THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE A STAFF KEEPS THEM IN DEMAND

By Tom Verducci

STRIKEOUTS BY THE BOATLOAD COOLHEADED MARIANO RIVERA IS READY TO BRING THE HEAT AS THE NEW CLOSER FOR THE YANKEES

By Michael Bamberger

Catching Up With...

SPRINTER DELANO MERIWETHER FEBRUARY 22, 1971

By Merrell Noden

NBA Extra

GAINING A FOOTHOLD HARDWORKING MARIO ELIE HAS BECOME THE ROCKETS' UNSUNG HERO--AND ACE SHOE SALESMAN

By Tim Kurkjian

BEST AND WORST TOGS?

By TIM KURKIJAN

THE '98 CROP SHOOT

By Marty Burns

HOOP SCOOP

By Marty Burns

On The Scene

SLIP-SLIDING AWAY TOBOGGANS ARE ALL THE RAGE IN CAMDEN, MAINE

By Michael Cannell

Faces In The Crowd

FACES IN THE CROWD

College Basketball

HE CHOSE THE SLOW LANE OVER A 40-YEAR COACHING CAREER BILL KNAPTON WAS A BIG SUCCESS AT LITTLE BELOIT

By Rick Lipsey

BIG SHOTS UNDERDOGS SHOWED PLENTY OF FIGHT, BUT THE TOP SEEDS PREVAILED TO REACH THE SWEET 16 OF THE NCAAS

By Alexander Wolff

DEAN OF COACHES AN APPRECIATION

By Alexander Wolff

Television

SI VIEW THE WEEK IN TV SPORTS

By John Walters

Pro Football

LOOKING FORWARD WITH FOUR TRYING SEASONS BEHIND HIM, RUNNING BACK GARRISON HEARST THINKS HE HAS FINALLY FOUND A HOME IN THE 49ERS' BACKFIELD

By Austin Murphy

Boxing

FRESH PRINCE THE BOXER FORMERLY KNOWN AS NASEEM HAMED IS A COCKY KNOCKOUT ARTIST WHO HAS SLUGGED HIS WAY TO A PAIR OF FEATHERWEIGHT BELTS

By Franz Lidz

Pro Basketball

RIDER ON A STORM ISAIAH RIDER, THE BLAZERS' TEMPESTUOUS GUARD, IS KICKING UP DUST IN PORTLAND AS HE DID IN MINNESOTA, DELIGHTING AND FRUSTRATING THOSE WHO KNOW HIM

By Phil Taylor

Hockey [bonus Piece]

THE WORST JOB IN SPORTS WHILE SOME NHL ENFORCERS LIKE TO BRAWL, MANY MEMBERS OF THE FRATERNITY OF FIGHTERS FIND IT DANGEROUS AND DEMEANING, AN UGLY WAY TO EARN A HANDSOME LIVING

By Michael Farber

Inside The NFL

INSIDE THE NFL SOME PRIZED FREE AGENTS AWAITING LUCRATIVE OFFERS AL'S WELL AGAIN IN OAKLAND HOLMGREN'S COSTLY DECISION

By Peter King

Inside The NBA

IRS CASES HAVE REFEREES SWEATING WHY OTIS THORPE IS IN THE DOGHOUSE IN DETROIT KJ MAY PLAY NEXT SEASON

By Jackie MacMullan

PUT UP OR SHUT UP WITH A LIBEL SUIT, THE FLYERS HOPE TO MAKE TALK RADIO PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS

By Steve Lopez

Departments

LETTERS

TOO MUCH FOCUS ON COACHES...HOWE'S COMEBACK...MORE ATHLETE LOOK-ALIKES...ONE MAN'S HOOPSPEAK...OF WRESTLERS AND RESCUERS...MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER PREVIEW

By SCORECARD STAFF WRITER Kostya Kennedy EDITED BY Jack McCallum AND Richard O'Brien