- Publish date:
Lineup
NBA PREVIEW 2008 - 09
Departments
6 Leading Off
17 Letters
18 Players
26 Faces in the Crowd
28 Just My Type by Dan Patrick
152 Point After by Phil Taylor
Inside ...
32 The NFL
• Mike Holmgren's sad swan song
36 College Football
• Rebuilding time at Clemson
41 Boxing
• Bernard Hopkins isn't done yet
42 NASCAR
• The team to beat in 2009
BASEBALL
46 The New Reality
Soon, you won't think twice if you hear, "The Rays are in the Series"
By Tom Verducci
51 100 Lost Seasons
The life of the snakebitten Philly fan
By Lee Jenkins
PRO FOOTBALL
54 Tough, or Toast?
What it takes to play cornerback
By Selena Roberts
HOCKEY
60 Getting Modern
13 ways of looking at the Blackhawks
By Michael Farber
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
64 Coming Soon
The showcase battles for the BCS
By Austin Murphy
REPORT FROM IRAQ
70 To Run in Baghdad
Finding solace in the city of death
By Dexter Filkins
FEATURES
82 Worth His Wait
Greg Oden finally takes the court, and Portland is ready to make its move
By Jack McCallum
• Rebuilding √† la Boston
• Another boost for the Blazers
93 Ups and Downs
A forecast of how many more—or fewer—wins every team will have
98 5 Minute Guide
A primer on the players, coaches, teams and issues to keep an eye on as the season opens (plus some trade talk)
By Ian Thomsen
102 Scouting Reports
Analysis, fast facts and starting lineups for all 30 teams. Who'll win the 2009 title? The Spurs, over the Celtics
Friday Night F√öTBOL
Like other high schools in northern Mexico, Prepa Tec of Monterrey wondered how it would fare against a top Texas team. Last month it found out
BY MELISSA SEGURA
Page 74
SIX PHOTOS
DRIVING FORCES For the NBA Preview Issue, SI printed six regional covers.
PHOTO
DARREN CARROLL (FUTBOL)
