October 18, 2004 Table Of Contents
SCORECARD
Riding the wave of his Athens success, Michael Phelps went on a 15-city victory tour that surprised even him
The pride of Okanogan County, Washington State linebacker Will Derting has talent as big as all outdoors
NHL referee Dave Jackson, locked out of his regular job, has his hands full as a substitute teacher
One NHL team is working OT to fill its venue and make ends meet
By David Sabino
LETTERS
CATCHING UP WITH
JANUARY 24, 1972
AIR AND SPACE
By Steve Rushin
SI Players
By Peter King
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Based on a survey of 354 players
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
... or the Senate or the governor's mansion. Would you vote for men who wear skintight pants and dance in the end zone?
The Questions with Randy McMichael
Dolphins Tight End
In the fourth quarter or French Quarter, the Saints are a good reason to drink
By Adam Duerson
SI PLAYERS
... IN ANOTHER SPORT
RAMS VS. BUCCANEERS 
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Baseball Playoffs
After a season of sparring, the free-spirited Red Sox and the never-say-die Yankees were set for another epic confrontation
By Tom Verducci
BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Though not firing on all cylinders, the Cardinals still had little trouble slugging their way past the Dodgers and into an LCS matchup with the resilient Astros
College Football
Though USC remains No. 1 in the polls, the Trojans struggled against high-flying Cal (No. 8). How much longer can they live on the edge?
After yet another disheartening loss to their biggest rivals, the Longhorns were left grasping for answers
By Kelley King
The depth of talent and the intensity of the fans have made the always-wild SEC more unpredictable than ever
PRO FOOTBALL
The Patriots marched to an NFL-record 19th straight win by overwhelming the Dolphins in a classic display of the brand of football that makes Bill Belichick's team so special
By Peter King
Pro Football
A member of the undefeated '72 Dolphins gives the Pats their due but reminds us that his team was special too
By Jim Mandich
The Patriots' All-Pro defensive tackle, Richard Seymour, followed the beacon of football from high school to college to the NFL. In one weekend of games you can learn a lot about the man
By CHARLES P. PIERCE
Inside
The Week In Sports
Inside College Football
That other Oklahoma school has a star tailback too--Vernand Morancy, who's merely the nation's leading rusher
By Mark Beech
WISCONSIN'S FORMULA
By Mark Beech
HEISMAN WATCH
By Mark Beech
By Phil Taylor
Inside The NFL
Having regained his passing touch, Kurt Warner has the surprising Giants off to their fastest start since 1993
COLTS' THIRD WIDEOUT
BRONCOS' BREAKOUT
By Peter King
LIFE OF REILLY
By Rick Reilly
Departments
By Tom Verducci
Though eclipsed by MJ in their shared primes, Scottie Pippen had few peers
By Bill Scheft
What to watch and watch for
By Julia Morrill
By Nancy Ramsey
Stewart Mandel's Top Five Reset
With the national rankings up for grabs, college football heads for another explosive weekend