December 15, 2003 Table Of Contents

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Hines Anxiety Defenders dread the sight of Steeler Hines Ward, the AFC's leading--and hardest-hitting--receiver

By Jeffri Chadiha

Giant Confessions The NFL Hall of Famer writes about sex, drugs and his suicidal thoughts

By Josh Elliott

Eight-Year Deal Since high school, Illinois-Chicago's Martell Bailey and Cedrick Banks have been backcourt partners

By Seth Davis

Going for Broke Bode Miller's aggressiveness has made his chase for the World Cup title a wild ride

By Brian Cazeneuve

Delivery Man Coach Rick Peterson uses the latest in technology plus a New Age philosophy to prepare his pitchers

By Stephen Cannella

Personal Apology After hurling a racial slur, Denis Hamel took an unusual step in a belated bid to right his wrong

By Michael Farber

Sports Illustrated Bonus Section: Golf Plus

Project X Bandon Dunes, already hailed as a mecca of golf, is secretly adding a new and even more spectacular course-- but one that may change its character forever

By Chris Lewis

No. 3 Tries Harder Coore and Crenshaw's challenge: Keeping up with the neighbors

By Chris Lewis

Q School? No Sweat The final stage is no longer the scariest week in golf

By Alan Shipnuck; Gary Van Sickle

Big Play The pressure didn't get to Scott Hend, who clinched a Tour card in his first Q school by ignoring the water and driving a 400-yard par-4

By David Glenz

Pulling Rank At the Slam

By Alan Shipnuck

Coming Up

By Sal Johnson

Prenuptials

By Alan Shipnuck

Catching Up With...

Bob Lilly, Defensive Lineman SEPTEMBER 9, 1963

By Pete McEntegart

Caution: Very Hot Stove

By Steve Rushin

Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary

Skiers' Paradise How nature's magic and World War II turned Colorado into HEAVEN FOR DOWNHILLERS

By E.M. Swift

Zoned Out The SI columnist's home state deserves a little more attention, thank you

By Rick Reilly

The Poll Coloradans weigh in on sports*

Compiled by Bill Syken

Who & Where

Compiled by Bill Syken

Greatest Moment

Compiled by Bill Syken

Numbers

Compiled by Bill Syken

Memorable Quote

Compiled by Bill Syken

Alltime Best For Colorado's top 50 homegrown sports figures, go to SI.com/50

Compiled by Bill Syken

Sportsmen Of The Year

Twice Blessed Drafted No. 1 by the Spurs a decade apart, David Robinson and Tim Duncan led the franchise to a second NBA title in five years while making ever greater contributions to the Alamo City

By Jack McCallum

The Quiet Man

Two-time MVP Tim Duncan doesn't like to sound off or even share what he's really thinking. But the NBA's master of the mind game has one obsession: He needs to win at everything he does

By S.L. Price

Tim Duncan & David Robinson Symbolizing in character and performance the ideals of sportsmanship

Pro Football

Snow Doubt About It On a day filled with crucial divisional matchups, the Patriots staked their claim as the team to beat in the AFC with a whitewashing of the rival Dolphins

By Michael Silver

Sad Sacks No More Dwight Freeney and the Colts' hard-hitting defense gave the Titans a dose of their own medicine

By Josh Elliott

Catch Him If You Can Diminutive all-purpose threat Brian Westbrook helped the Eagles clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth

By Jeffri Chadiha

Renovation Complete Less than two years after gutting their Super Bowl roster, the Ravens are back in championship form

By Peter King

Week 15 Having clinched a playoff spot, the Eagles have to avoid a letdown as they travel to Miami to face the desperate--and dangerous--Dolphins

By Paul Zimmerman

College Football

We're No. 1* *But not playing in the BCS title game. Why top-ranked USC got shafted and how the absurd system of deciding the national champion can be fixed

By Phil Taylor

A Simple Solution Add one game and get a consensus national champ

College Basketball

The Next Straw D.J. Strawberry is making a name for himself at Maryland, and dad Darryl has come to watch

By Michael Bamberger

Hockey

What's The Deal With Jaromir Jagr? After a mediocre run in Washington the high-priced, enigmatic star has suddenly perked up at the prospect of playing elsewhere--if only another team would take him

By Michael Farber

Golf

When Tiger's Away, The Kids Will Play With you-know-who not around for the first time in six years, a rookie foursome at the Grand Slam showed that golfers really can let their hair down

By Austin Murphy

Inside

Inside The Week In Sports

Inside College Football

The Envelopes, Please With bowl season here, it's time to reveal our choices for the major awards--and a few awards of our own

By Kelley King

Inside College Basketball

Tough Times Soft play and a brutal schedule have left Michigan State smarting

By Seth Davis

Three Pointer

By Seth Davis

Roberts Lays Old Demons to Rest Fresh Start in Starkville

By Seth Davis

Head To Head Coach Rick Pitino versus Coach Billy Donovan

By Seth Davis

No. 1 and Trying To Stay There Tip-Ins

By Seth Davis

Inside The NHL

Foresight A rash of eye injuries cries out for a decision to make visors mandatory

By Stephen Cannella

No-Touch Icing Is the Way to Go Another Safety Issue

By Stephen Cannella

In The Crease

By Pierre McGuire

Inside The NBA

No Trace The Magic's Tracy McGrady may pull a vanishing act after next season

By Ian Thomsen

Scout's Take

By Ian Thomsen

Time For Offenses To Start Adjusting The Zone Defense Rule

By Ian Thomsen

Changing Teams, But Not Arenas? The Kobe Rumor Mill Turns

By Ian Thomsen

Around The Rim

By Ian Thomsen

Giving It Up for Zo

By Rick Reilly

Departments

Leading Off

Letters

Suddenly, Klitschko Once considered the lesser of two palooka-ish brothers, Vitali Klitschko has emerged as the great hope of the heavyweight division

By Richard Hoffer Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

The Road Ahead Sylvester Croom's arrival at Mississippi State just starts another journey

By Daniel G. Habib Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Go Figure

Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

For The Record

Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Portland Purge

By Jack McCallum Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

The Show

By Bill Scheft Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Q+A Marla Streb

By Marla Streb; Richard Deitsch Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

The Week Ahead What To Watch And Watch For

By Julia Morrill Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Under Review

By Richard Deitsch Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Sports Beat

Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Losers' Lounge

By David Sabino Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel

Faces in the Crowd

Edited by Kostya Kennedy and Mark Bechtel