Leading Off

Big Move

Rockets center Yao Ming, light-footed at 7'6", left the Thunder's Robert Swift grasping at air on a baseline drive during Houston's 100--89 victory at Oklahoma City on Nov. 17. With newcomer Ron Artest (inset, left) joining Tracy McGrady (inset, right) and Yao, the Rockets led the Southwest Division at week's end with a 9--5 record.

Airborne

Top-fuel hydro pilot James Ray crashed during qualifying for the IHRA NAPA Auto Parts World Finals on Firebird Lake in Chandler, Ariz., last Saturday. After rescue personnel extracted Ray's capsule (inset), he was taken to a local hospital, where at week's end he was in stable condition with a back injury.

Passing It On

In 1991, when this iconic shot of 49ers quarterback Joe Montana was taken, his son Nick was not yet born. Now a junior at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif., Nick, the youngest of the Montanas' four children (inset, on Joe's back), has completed 98 of 178 passes for 1,928 yards and 29 touchdowns with just three interceptions for the 11--0 Lions. His passer rating: 196.4.

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Photograph by Greg Nelson

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LISA BLUMENFELD/GETTY IMAGES

TWO PHOTOS

Photographs by Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire

TWO PHOTOS

Photographs by Walter Iooss Jr. (left) and Jose Luis/MarinMedia.org/Cal Sport Media

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PETERREAD MILLER