January 16, 2006 Table Of Contents
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK
As told to Peter King
At 55 veteran official Ed Hochuli is so fit he could get away with horizontal stripes
Pro Basketball
Firing at a furious pace (and from all angles), Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson are facing off in a historic shootout for the NBA scoring title
NFL Playoffs
In one of four compelling divisional playoff games between teams that met earlier in the season, the Steelers look to avenge a loss to the Colts by relying on the power of their running game
Broncos beware: The Patriots, fully recovered from their autumn slump, are coming on with a fury
By Peter King
The Carolina bandwagon blew a tire after a dismal November loss to Chicago, but two months later the surging Panthers are making it look like 2003 all over again
Reminiscent of another Joe Gibbs power back, Clinton Portis gives the Redskins the pop they need
College Basketball
Long overshadowed on its own campus, the high-scoring Blue Devils women's team has designs on a national title
Golf
Jason Gore finished dead last in the PGA Tour's season opener, but considering where his career had been 12 months ago, he could grin like a winner
NHL Midseason Report
Derided at first as a gimmick, the dramatic tiebreaker has been a shot in the arm for the resurgent league
Olympics
Born in the U.S.A., the Olympics' most free-spirited sport will soar to new heights in Turin. So will U.S. riders
She might look like the girl next door, but don't be fooled: Multitalented Lindsey Jacobellis is a focused, ruthless competitor
By E.M. Swift
Who'll bring home Olympic gold in the three snowboarding disciplines? American riders have a strong shot in two of them, while the Swiss look strongest in the third
Shaun White's otherworldly talents and trademark red hair have made him the boarder to watch in the Olympic halfpipe
By Yi-Wyn Yen
Inside
After just a week of conference play the new Big East has proved that no league in the country is stronger top to bottom
By Luke Winn
Shani Davis's split from his federation and his mother's meddling have hurt his reputation, but there's more to the story
His future iffy, G.M. Kiki Vandeweghe has spent a month trying to make a trade that could turn Denver's season around
By Ian Thomsen
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
Don't be fooled by unsold seats and network apathy, says Bud Selig. The World Baseball Classic will revolutionize the game
By Albert Chen
Even before his latest arrest, Virginia Tech had decided to boot Marcus Vick
By Phil Taylor
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
NFL teams will have to fight the urge to make over Vince Young
By Peter King
With a sense of duty and a sense of humor, Rod Dedeaux led USC baseball for 45 years
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix
Edited by Mark Bechtel and Stephen Cannella