The Lineup
SEPTEMBER 26, 2005
VOLUME 103, NO. 12
The Lineup
Departments
6 Leading Off
16 Catching Up With ...
19 Letters
27 Air and Space
The WNBA Finals: a showcase for those who hold mommies dearest by Steve Rushin
30 Scorecard
• College football gets replay right
• Tempers flare as Chase begins
• No-frills NHL star retires
38 Faces in the Crowd
41 Players
90 The Life of Reilly
Ah, to be extravagantly wealthy, 38 years old and an NFL cheerleader by Rick Reilly
Inside ...
81 College Football
• Watch out for L.A.'s other team
• Wisconsin finds a power back
84 The NFL
• The education of a rookie QB
• Progress made in labor talks
PRO FOOTBALL
48 Turmoil? What Turmoil?
A relentless D and newly harmonious passing combo have the Eagles back on track
by Jeffri Chadiha
BASEBALL
56 Playing Tough
Embroiled in the National League wild-card race, the Phillies have a new swagger
by Tom Verducci
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
60 Seminole Moment
Florida State gave Boston College a rude welcome to the game's deepest conference
by Tim Layden
BOOK EXCERPT
64 Yao Ming
Two often-competing forces shaped him: his mother and Communist China
by Brook Larmer
Cover
PHOTOGRAPH BY
DAMIAN STROHMEYER
INSET PHOTOS: Greg Baker/AP (Yao);
George Widman/AP (Rollins)
SI Extra
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PHOTO
COURTESY OF LI ZHANGMING (INSET)
PHOTO
DAMIAN STROHMEYER
PICK-ME-UP
Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson celebrates returning an interception for a touchdown (page 60).