December 24, 2001 Table Of Contents

Buy the Cover

Browse the Magazine

Catching Up With...

Wilbur Wood, Knuckleballer JUNE 4, 1973

By Tim Alan Smith

Si View

Cold Comfort A childhood snow day can produce all the chills and thrills of a sports jamboree

By Steve Rushin

SI View The Weeks in TV Sports

By Richard Deitsch

Ring It On The website for the Salt Lake City Games has two approaches--and some jazzy new features

By John O'Keefe

Year In Re-View

By Richard Deitsch

Pro Basketball

Losing Their Grip Their once-ardent fans turned off by players' misdeeds and front-office ineptitude, the Trail Blazers are showing how quickly an NBA franchise can alienate its customers

By L. Jon Wertheim

Baseball

Rich Get Richer By acquiring four new regulars, including potent yet patient superstar Jason Giambi, the Yankees returned to the roots of their recent successes

By Tom Verducci

Yankee Doodle Dandies--and Dogs

By David Sabino

Hockey

Simply Superb Tommy Salo isn't flashy, which may be why one of the NHL's best goalies is so often overlooked

By Michael Farber

Pro Football

Receiving Line A parade of savvy wideouts is coming into its own as the NFL's latest generation of sure-handed pass catchers

By Jeffri Chadiha, Josh Elliott, Peter King, Michael Silver

Turning Point The Cardinals' David Boston has cut back on showboating and piled up yards en route to becoming a top wideout

By Jeffri Chadiha

Inside

Inside The Weeks in Sports

Inside Baseball

Inside Baseball

By Stephen Cannella

Inside Olympic Sports

Inside Olympic Sports

By E.M. Swift; Brian Cazeneuve; Tim Layden

Inside The NFL

Inside The NFL

By Peter King

Dr. Z's Forecast

By Paul Zimmerman

Year In Review

Back in the Game Troubled times have put sports into proper perspective, but what better place to find inspiration for the comeback we all need?

By Richard Hoffer

It Came From The Sports Page! SI's Steve Rushin spent 2001 collecting all the weird and outrageous stories that may have slipped under your radar. The result left no doubt that it was a shocking year in sports, but don't worry; it's over

By Steve Rushin

Like So Many Other New York City Firefighters Who Died On September 11 Mike Carroll Was A Dedicated Athlete And Loyal Teammate Whose Indomitable Spirit Led Him To Embrace His Final Heroic Mission. His Young Son Would Find Comfort In The Company Of Mike Pi

By Michael Bamberger

Better Than The Movie

By Rick Reilly

Departments

The Moore The Merrier Mount Union won yet another Division III title behind the running of Chuck Moore

By Ivan Maisel

A Spike In Activity A nonstop year for Stanford's Logan Tom culminated in an NCAA women's title

By Kelli Anderson

Books A quick and riveting read about a fast and dangerous sport

By Charles Hirshberg

Leading Off

Sumo Summit Major 15-day sumo tournaments, like this one last month in Fukuoka, Japan, occur six times a year. The elite sumotori wrestle daily in matches that can pit a 500-pound man against a 250-pounder

Great Briton English defender Danny Jackson carried North Carolina to its first national title

By Mark Bechtel

Gear Something for everyone (and just about every season), ranging from utilitarian to simply fun

By Mark Beech

No Winners Here Evander Holyfield battered John Ruiz but got a draw, and boxing took a beating

By Jeff Pearlman

Letters

Scorecard

By Richard Hoffer Edited by Albert Kim and Kostya Kennedy

Faces In The Crowd

Edited by Albert Kim and Kostya Kennedy

Bowl-o-rama

Edited by Albert Kim and Kostya Kennedy