January 15, 2007 Table Of Contents
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On And Off The Field
CHARGERS QUARTERBACK
As told to Ben Reiter
A system designed by a Navy SEAL got the Saints' Drew Brees in shape to succeed
Where linebacker Adalius Thomas learned to eat
The nation's top girls' player got hooked on hoops when she was only a toddler
Bill Hanson has won 500 games by keeping his edge
By E.M. Swift
College Football
With Chris Leak running the spread-option offense to perfection, Florida blewby Ohio State and won the BCS title in coach Urban Meyer's second season
Though they ran the table and beat Oklahoma in dazzling fashion, the Broncos rank No. 5 in the eyes of one voter
Pro Football
Behind a castoff quarterback and an underappreciated star running back, the Eagles have turned around a seemingly lost season with an inspiring display of perseverance
By Tim Layden
The Seahawks ruled the NFC last year. Now they're scrapping and scraping to keep their title
Using a baffling array of looks, the Patriots outfoxed the Jets and served notice that they're still a conference powerhouse
By Peter King
Used shrewdly during the season, Colts rookie Joseph Addai is hitting his stride at the right time
Pro Basketball
His knees healthy and his attitude adjusted, Phoenix's Amaré Stoudemire is brilliantly blending his explosive skills into a well-stocked team that may finally be poised to win a title
College Basketball
Rather than join the NBA, Nevada forward Nick Fazekas rolled the dice and returned to Reno for his senior year. Now the Wolf Pack is off to its best start in 55 years and laughing all the way, thanks to its star's impeccable timing
Golf
The Mercedes-Benz Championship marked the start of the PGA Tour's novel (and complex) FedEx Cup race. After a week awash in talk of points and resets and playoff scenarios, here's how it will work
Tennis
After years of steady improvement as a player and a competitor, James Blake is suddenly, at age 27, the face of American tennis--and a threat to go deep in Melbourne
Inside
By Chris Mannix
By Grant Wahl
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
In his first talk with SI in 10 years, college basketball's winningest coach reflects on his style, his regrets and his favorite burger joint
The Yankees are retooling in uncharacteristically frugal fashion
By Tom Verducci
The 35-year-old former Redskins QB—and North Carolina Democrat—was sworn in as a U.S. congressman last week
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix