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A Shining Son Inspired by his late father, Joe Buck has become Fox's No. 1 voice for both baseball and football
By Richard Deitsch Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Richard Deitsch
The Robinson Effect Two new tomes reexamine the legend of Jackie Robinson and what his breaking the color barrier meant to baseball and America
By Stu Hackel
Red-faced Sox A sportswriter describes the Boston Red Sox' long and shameful history of racial prejudice
By Charles Hirshberg
Golf Plus
Golf in the Magic Kingdom The late-season Disney Classic has become a must-play event for Tour members with children
By Alan Shipnuck Special reporting by Scott Gummer and Chris Lewis
The Week
By Gary Van Sickle Edited by Alan Shipnuk
Big Play Rock-solid fundamentals in crunch time helped Bob Burns hold off a charging Tiger Woods and earn his first victory at the Disney Classic
By Robert Baker Edited by Alan Shipnuk
Bottom Lines
By Sal Johnson Edited by Alan Shipnuk
The Notorious P.G.A.
By Kevin Cook
Catching Up With...
Matt Biondi, Swimmer SEPTEMBER 14, 1988
By Bill Syken
Who's Sorry Now?
By Steve Rushin
Baseball
World Premiere In their long-awaited debuts on the sport's biggest stage, both Barry Bonds and the Angels lived up to their billings--and made the Fall Classic a showstopper
By Tom Verducci
Mighty Kingfish Tim Salmon is letting loose--so watch out
By Stephen Cannella
College Football
What's Up With Joe Pa? Penn State coach Joe Paterno is letting loose on refs and letting it rip on offense. Is that any way for a 75-year-old legend to act?
By Michael Bamberger
Horse Racing
Horse Power With War Emblem and a flock of fleet 2-year-olds entered in the Breeders' Cup, trainer Bob Baffert, like him or not, is the king of his world
By Tim Layden
Pro Football
All Business The Eagles' dominant defense is led by cornerback Troy Vincent, who works as hard at making money as he does at making plays
By Josh Elliott
Missing Persons Tampa Bay's offense continues to struggle because Jon Gruden doesn't have the personnel to make his system work
By Jeffri Chadiha
NBA Preview 2002-03
The New Mr. Big The search for an answer to Shaq continues. Can the latest entry, mammoth Rockets rookie Yao Ming, measure up?
By Ian Thomsen
The Start Of Something Big Staking the future on two raw 7-footers--TYSON CHANDLER and EDDY CURRY--the Bulls hope the growing pains are brief and the payoff is huge
By Chris Ballard
Frankenshaq
By L. Jon Wertheim
The Big Show He's a solid center and a team leader, but it's in his role as the Kings' body-flopping, lip-flapping court thespian that Vlade Divac really stars
By Jack McCallum
Scouting Reports HOW WE RANK THEM
1 New Jersey Nets After being swept in the Finals last season, the team brings in a familiar face to help out on defense--while sticking with its trademark motion offense
By Ian Thomsen
2 New Orleans Hornets The new fans are revved-up, the top scorer is healthy, and the supporting cast is battle-tested. Any reason this transplanted team shouldn't be a contender?
By Chris Ballard
3 Indiana Pacers A young team will lean on a 22-year-old swingman with something to prove--and could go deep into the playoffs or cost the coach his job
By L. Jon Wertheim
4 Detroit Pistons One high-scoring guard was sent packing and another, younger one arrived, but the heart of the team--stultifying defense--hasn't changed
By L. Jon Wertheim
5 Washington Wizards There's a new, tough-minded running mate in the nation's capital, and he's eager to soften up foes so that His Airness can swoop in for the kill
By Chris Ballard
6 Milwaukee Bucks With Glenn Robinson gone, Tim Thomas has a chance to prove that he's worth his big contract--and that he can fetch more wins than Big Dog
By Marty Burns
7 Boston Celtics A questionable trade for an underachieving big man puts more pressure on a franchise that would love to reach the Eastern finals a second straight year
By Ian Thomsen
8 Philadelphia 76ers In trading for sharpshooter Keith Van Horn, the team gets a much-needed second scorer--at the expense of some of its vaunted grit
By Pete McEntegart
9 Atlanta Hawks With a new forward and a healthy center, the front line is packed with promise--but not enough to make good on the guarantee of a playoff berth
By Chris Ballard
10 Orlando Magic Thinner in the wallet but still hefty in the waistline, Shawn Kemp seems ill-equipped to carry this center-starved franchise
By Chris Ballard
11 Toronto Raptors When Vince Carter went down last season, Toronto's fortunes went up. Now he's healthy--and he'll take the fall if this team fails
By L. Jon Wertheim
12 Miami Heat How the mighty have fallen: Pat Riley is forced to turn to a rookie--Caron Butler of UConn--to lead his team
By Chris Ballard
13 Chicago Bulls Youth will be served in the Windy City, where a rookie takes charge of a club on which half the players are under 24
By Marty Burns
14 New York Knicks With the addition of Antonio McDyess, the season looked shaky at best; with his loss, it looms as a disaster
By Chris Ballard
15 Cleveland Cavaliers An off-season makeover brought in a potential breakout player, but playoff contention remains Miles away
By L. Jon Wertheim
1 Sacramento Kings They've done fine without Chris Webber, and they can make do without Mike Bibby--at least until they get another shot at the world champs
By Jack McCallum
2 Los Angeles Lakers Even after Shaquille O'Neal returns from an injury, the champs will rely on the leadership of the increasingly Michael-like Kobe Bryant
By Jack McCallum
3 San Antonio Spurs There's not a lot more that a franchise can ask of reigning MVP Tim Duncan--although his coach still sees room for improvement in one crucial area
By Ian Thomsen
4 Dallas Mavericks For all the fun in run-and-gun, the Mavs learned that there's no substitute for strong defense. Can these guys get serious about clamping down?
By Ian Thomsen
5 Portland Trail Blazers One of the game's deepest benches got deeper, but with no leading man to complement a talented supporting cast, the result could be deep trouble
By Mark Bechtel
6 Houston Rockets For a leaner, hungrier Houston team, the future is Yao, with a new offensive system designed to take advantage of the center's lofty view of the court
By Ian Thomsen
7 Minnesota Timberwolves While the seasoned point guard sits injured on the sideline, it will be up to his live-wire young replacement to try to keep things moving on offense
By Mark Bechtel
8 Utah Jazz As the tandem of Karl Malone and John Stockton makes (perhaps) its last stand, the Jazz considers variations on an old theme at shooting guard
By Mark Bechtel
9 Seattle Supersonics High-flying, hardworking Desmond Mason gets a shot at forming a dynamic backcourt with Gary Payton and perhaps becoming the team's next star
By Mark Bechtel
10 Los Angeles Clippers The ever-revolving door brought in Andre Miller, another young star left to wonder: How long can this team keep it together?
By Jack McCallum
11 Memphis Grizzlies The franchise player here is new boss Jerry West, who is trying to re-create the magic (and Kareem) he possessed with the Lakers
By Chris Ballard
12 Phoenix Suns Just as fate brought them together last season, Johnson and Johnson are linked in the team's drive to regain its playoff form
By Mark Bechtel
13 Golden State Warriors An enthusiastic rookie coach is loaded with fresh ideas. It's just that he lacks the on-court talent to execute them
By Jack McCallum
14 Denver Nuggets A massage room, yoga lessons, a new coach and a lot of tall, young talent won't be enough to avoid another miserable year
By Ian Thomsen
Inside
Inside The Week in Sports
Inside The NHL
Inside The NHL
By Daniel G. Habib
In the Crease
By Pierre McGuire
Inside The NFL
Inside The NFL
By Peter King
King's Corner
By Peter King; Flozell Adams
Dr. Z's Forecast
By Paul Zimmerman
Fan Power
By Rick Reilly
Departments
Leading Off
Letters
Dream Team
By Bill Syken
Scorecard
By S.L. Price; Grant Wahl; Kelvin C. Bias Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Richard Deitsch
The Show
By Bill Scheft Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Richard Deitsch
Marv Levy
By Richard Deitsch; Marv Levy Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Richard Deitsch
Sports Beat
Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Richard Deitsch
Faces in the Crowd
Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Richard Deitsch
