September 1, 2003 Table Of Contents

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Sports Illustrated Bonus Section: Golf Plus

Part Kid, All Pro Two Years Ago, Kevin Na Quit High School for Tour Life. Any Regrets?

By Chris Lewis

Big Fish, Small Pond At the NEC, Darren Clarke solidified his standing as top Euro

By Gary Van Sickle Alan Shipnuck

Big Play Darren Clarke holed a masterly chip with his three-wood to survive the Monster--Firestone's 16th hole--and set up his victory at the NEC Invitational

By Brad Redding

Lefty Grove Phil Ain't

By Alan Shipnuck

Coming Up

By Sal Johnson

The Wedding Swinger

By Alan Shipnuck

Scorecard Extra

Twinning Team So close they share a toothbrush, the Bryan twins, Bob and Mike, are the world's No. 1 doubles duo

By Jon Wertheim

The Spark Is Back With mainstay Lisa Leslie healthy and peaking, Los Angeles is raring for a WNBA three-peat

By Trisha Blackmar

Burning Busch The phenom of the ARCA circuit, excitable teen Kyle Busch may someday surpass big brother Kurt

By Lars Anderson

Bench Strength A last-minute sub on a team beset by injuries, Chellsie Memmel led the U.S. to its first world title

By Kelli Anderson

Nonpareil in Anaheim Paul Hamm became the U.S.'s first world all-around champion

By Kelli Anderson

Not-So-Gay Life There are many homosexuals in the NFL, says a new tome, but also a strong strain of homophobia

By Bill Syken

Gridiron Grisham The best-selling author winningly draws on his quarterback days

By Bill Syken

Going Long

By Mark Bechtel

Catching Up With...

Boomer and Gunnar Esiason October 4, 1993

By Chris Ballard

Tiger Balm

By Steve Rushin

Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary

Game of Their Life In a state of lacrosse nuts, the diehards battle for glory at the annual Ocean City Classic

By Kostya Kennedy

Jousting, Anyone? Before the glory of Unitas and Ripken, Maryland was a big-time sports wasteland

By Frank Deford

The Poll Marylanders weigh in on sports*

Compiled by Gene Menez

Baseball

Beware The Bats Powered by Javy Lopez, who's having a record-setting season for a catcher, Atlanta is winning not with pitching but with hitting

By Daniel G. Habib Compiled by David Sabino and the Elias Sports Bureau

Remembering Bobby Bonds 1946-2003 He was a player so hounded by expectations that his achievements were never fully appreciated

By Ron Fimrite

More Valuable Than Ever

By Tom Verducci

College Football

On Saturdays He's No Cowboy Rugged Washington quarterback Cody Pickett, the son of a rodeo star, has a chance to lasso the Heisman. But first, bring on the Buckeyes

By Phil Taylor

Inside Cover Image

Inside Cover

Section Table of Contents

NFL Preview

The Marked Man IN ST. LOUIS Embattled Kurt Warner needs a return to MVP form to win back Rams fans and teammates

By Michael Silver

The Gamble IN PHILADELPHIA The Eagles are taking a chance on undersized linebacker Mark Simoneau in a defensive shake-up they hope will finally get them to the Super Bowl

By Peter King

The Hot Seat IN MIAMI An NFL coach on merit, or because he rode Jimmy Johnson's coattails? This season may be Dave Wannstedt's last chance to make his case

By Jeffri Chadiha

Cool Under Fire When a game is on the line, these pros are the best in the business when time is running out

By Paul Zimmerman

NFL Preview 2003

Scouting Reports Can anybody stop the Buccaneers in their bid to win a second consecutive Super Bowl? We don't think so

Dr. Z's Forecast

By Paul Zimmerman

1 Green Bay Packers Another division crown is in the offing, but the defense must show it's championship caliber

By Josh Elliott Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 Minnesota Vikings The lack of a breakaway back could make it hard for Daunte Culpepper to stay out of harm's way

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Chicago Bears Kordell Stewart is confident he can spark a team that needs him as much as he needs them

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 Detroit Lions Moochmania is just the first positive step on the long road back for a struggling franchise

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 Tampa Bay Bucs Uncertainty at running back won't be enough to derail a return trip to the Super Bowl

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 Atlanta Falcons With the franchise quarterback hurt, the Keith Brooking-led defense must carry the load

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 New Orleans Saints Has the defense improved enough to keep this team from stumbling down the stretch (again)?

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 Carolina Panthers Stephen Davis is back home in Carolina and eager to carry his share of the load again

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 Philadelphia Eagles The league's most consistent winner puts its running game in the hands of a first-year starter

By Peter King Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 New York Giants The offense is potent, and the special teams are revamped, but can the defense hold its own?

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Dallas Cowboys Saddled with the NFL's worst offensive backfield, Bill Parcells will have to scramble for solutions

By Peter King Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 Washington Redskins The offense is in the hands of Patrick Ramsey, but for how long? That's the key to the season

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 St. Louis Rams Sign of the times: A pair of outspoken former foes have now joined forces with the enemy

By Michael Silver Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 San Francisco 49ers A new coach and his aggressive approach give this aging group hope for one more title shot

By Michael Silver Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Seattle Seahawks A defense that got run over last season has been revived by the hiring of Ray Rhodes

By Michael Silver Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 Arizona Cardinals The new quarterback talks a good game, but his defensive teammates rarely play one

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 Pittsburgh Steelers With three game breakers at wide receiver, look for Tommy Maddox to go over the top

By Peter King Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 Cleveland Browns Butch Davis starts over at linebacker, throwing three second-year players into the lineup

By Peter King Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Baltimore Ravens A healthy Ray Lewis and the best pass rusher in the draft give a good defense scary potential

By Peter King Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 Cincinnati Bengals With Marvin Lewis calling the shots, the NFL's longest-suffering fans have reason for hope

By Peter King Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 Tennessee Titans With Jevon Kearse finally healthy, the defense is ready to, once again, get its freak on

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 Indianapolis Colts It's time for the defense, led by promising linebacker David Thornton, to make a stand

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Jacksonville Jaguars A new, less dictatorial coach and a fun-loving defensive star have everyone smiling at last

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 Houston Texans David Carr and the NFL's worst offense won't get better until the play improves along the line

By Jeffri Chadiha Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 Buffalo Bills Defensive help has arrived for a team and a coach that are facing a make-or-break season

By Paul Zimmerman Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 New England Patriots While the offense stands pat, a rebuilt defense looks to regain that Super Bowl swagger

By Paul Zimmerman Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Miami Dolphins It's put-up-or-shut-up time for a team loaded with talent and a ready excuse for every failure

By Paul Zimmerman Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 New York Jets A needy defense and an embattled front office look to a prized rookie for immediate relief

By Paul Zimmerman Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

1 Kansas City Chiefs Any improvement in the league's worst defense will send this offensive juggernaut to the top

By Josh Elliot Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

2 Oakland Raiders One of the NFL's oldest teams will rely on three of its youngest players for another crack at glory

By Michael Silver Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

3 Denver Broncos The team's future and Jake Plummer's career hinge on how he performs in a talented lineup

By Michael Silver Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

4 San Diego Chargers The coach is conservative, but all systems are go for David Boston and a newly energized offense

By Michael Silver Projected lineups and PVRs compiled by David Sabino

Inside

Inside The Week in Sports

Inside Baseball

Mind over Batter A group therapy session of sorts puts the Twins' staff on the road to recovery and the team in the AL Central race

By Albert Chen

Power Hitter Pulls the Plug Shawn Green's Adjustment

By Albert Chen

Who Is This Guy?

By Albert Chen

Tom Verducci's View

By Tom Verducci

Inside College Football

Scary Pair Ell Roberson and Darren Sproles give Kansas State a lethal backfield

By Kelley King

Clarett Sidelined

By Tim Layden

Inside Track And Field

Fast Work Kelli White escaped Marion Jones's shadow and won the world 100 title

By Brian Cazeneuve

Out of the Blocks

By Brian Cazeneuve

Health Nut

By Rick Reilly

Departments

Leading Off

Letters

The Man Who Was Too Good He played his heart out and won a record 14 Grand Slam championships, but nonaficionados never warmed to the genius of Pete Sampras

By S.L. Price Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

Rising Sons A 'new' Japan rules Little League

By Lars Anderson Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

Go Figure

Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

For The Record

Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

The Latest

By Franz Lidz Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

The Show

By Bill Scheft Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

Q & A Andre Agassi

By Richard Deitsch; Andre Agassi Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

The Week In Television

Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

Under Review Unseen Dream Team -- Funny Business

By John O'Keefe Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

Sports Beat

Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel

Faces in the Crowd

Edited by Hank Hersch and Mark Bechtel