December 25, 2006 Table Of Contents
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
The Year in Sports 2006
From the rushing heroics of LaDainian Tomlinson, NFL star, to the rushing heroics of Kendric Smith, Arkansas schoolboy ... and everything else that made 2006 special
Keeping track of all the miscreants in sports--from liquored-up trees to larcenous wideouts--is a dirty job, and nobody has to do it. But Steve Rushin did it anyway
By Steve Rushin
It happened on a Friday night in Lepanto, Ark. There were record-setting individual performances,exhausting swings of emotion and an unexpecteddose of national fame. Yet almost no one saw it
In 2006, as in every year, the sports world lost some of its most beloved athletes and superlative characters, from golfing great Byron Nelson and Negro leagues legend Buck O'Neil to pioneering broadcaster Curt Gowdy and Roller Derby queen Ann Calvello
By Mark Bechtel
The Best of 2006
Of all the year's spectacular performers, no one had the finishing touch of Mr. Touchdown, LaDainian Tomlinson
'Every Dodger Is Hitting a Home Run'
It was true on Sept. 18, when four consecutive ninth-inning dingers pulled L.A. into a tie with San Diego. Then came Nomar's game-winner
By Tom Verducci
Avery Johnson remade the Mavericks in his feisty image and took them to the Finals--where his performance won over thousands of fans
Sorry, Rutgers. The biggest surprise came from the Demon Deacons, who won their first ACC title since 1970 after being picked to finish last
By Phil Taylor
Don't Be a Fool, Stay in School
A champion Florida team bursting with NBA-ready talent returned intact--thanks to a humble, hardworking Tennessee farmer
By Grant Wahl
After losing in the French Open, Roger Federer faced questions about his tactics--and his courage. No one's questioning him anymore
After Phil Mickelson reverted to his old ways on the 72nd hole at the U.S. Open, a heavyhearted Tiger Woods took charge of the season
Capitals wing Alexander Ovechkin conjured up a score that left even the Great One awestruck and lifted the league with his gung-ho spirit
The Potshot Seen Round the World
From the World Cup to the Olympics, sports fans thrilled to a fateful headbutt, a refusal to fade away, a gracious response to adversity, a moving rescue and two courageous returns from injury
Inside
By Nate Silver
By Peter King
By Ted Keith
BACK FROM TRAGEDY: 'Bama Forward's Stirring Return
By Seth Davis
By Seth Davis
RORY FITZPATRICK: The Underdog All-Star Pick
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
Towering Tanzanian Hasheem Thabeet quickly became a shot-blocking force and fan favorite at UConn
By Luke Winn
Versatile quarterback Cullen Finnerty led Grand Valley State to its second consecutive Division II title
Like a certain controversial Texas Tech coach, Philadelphia U's Herb Magee is about to set a wins record. That's about all the two have in common
At this point in the season, it's all about clock management. SI's annual two-minute drill
The 25-year-old is the author of Still Kicking: My Journey As the First Woman to Play Division I College Football
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix