December 5, 2005 Table Of Contents
Sports Illustrated Bonus Section: SI Adventure
After winning six world championships, surfing icon Kelly Slater retired at age 26. At last month's Nova Schin Festival the rejuvenated 33-year-old claimed his seventh title, capping an unlikely comeback
By Bill Syken
Three years after he took up speedskating, Olympic hopeful Chad Hedrick is the hottest thing on ice
BASS FISHING
Mike Iaconelli has been accused of "thuggin' up" bass fishing, but ESPN is betting (and praying) he can hook the Pimp My Ride crowd ... if some mullet-headed good ol' boy doesn't gut him first
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
GIANTS LINEBACKER
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
WITH Marcus Washington, Redskins Linebacker
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
In college football, glare protection is getting personal
By Ben Reiter
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Features
Texas is one victory from a shot at its first national title in 36 years thanks to great talent and Mack Brown, who became a better coach when he realized there was more to life than winning a football game
By Tim Layden
USC, Penn State, West Virginia and most likely Notre Dame have BCS bids--and the $14 million payday that goes with them--wrapped up. These games this Saturday will determine three more bids and help decide who gets an at-large invitation. The BCS pairings will be unveiled on Sunday.
Ten seasons later, members of the most bountiful draft of wideouts in history are among the NFL's best playmakers and biggest newsmakers
Detroit Loves Larry (especially now that he's gone)
When New York coach Larry Brown returns to The Palace to take on his former team, he'll be met by flourishing players who bear him no ill will. The same can't be said (yet) of his Knicks
A trade to Ottawa helped Dany Heatley put a tragic crash and injury behind him. Now he's leading the first-place Senators and playing on the NHL's most exciting line
As the season opens, the nation's most intriguing team is in North College Hill, Ohio, where two players who came from out of state have been embraced by the locals. And why not? O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker are budding superstars
By Seth Davis
Who'll Be the Best in Each State?
SI.com contributor Doug Huff picks the top teams in all 50 states and the District of Columbia
By Doug Huff
To keep up with all the action, go to SI.com each week for updated power rankings
By Doug Huff
Inside
By Ian Thomsen
By Ian Thomsen
By Peter King
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
Artist Brian Jungen makes Native American tribal masks--and a statement--out of Air Jordan sneakers
By Franz Lidz
Call it Even-More-Money Ball. This hot stove season, rivers of revenue from fresh sources are changing the business of baseball
By Tom Verducci
As Fred Funk and others found out, losing a wager can be a drag
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
A lifestyle that endeared him to fans, ladies and bartenders catches up with a legend
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
Some believe the Marlins latest fire sale signals a move out of Miami
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
The celebrity chef (Molto Mario) is writing Mario Tailgates NASCAR Style, a cookbook that will be published next spring
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella