Lineup

FEATURES

COLLEGEFOOTBALL

34 ComebackGators
Quarterback Tim Tebow got help from improbable sources as Florida rallied toearn a shot at the national title
By Austin Murphy
• A punishing run for Oklahoma

PRO FOOTBALL

42 Playing ItSmart
In a crazy year for quarterbacks, no story is as unlikely as that of KerryCollins, who's coolly led the Titans to 12--1
By Tim Layden
• Two rookie QBs make their marks

PRO BASKETBALL

48 Point ofContention
Clippers guard Baron Davis is using his platform as a player to work as asocial activist, movie producer and entrepreneur. For some, that's a problem
By L. Jon Wertheim

COLLEGEBASKETBALL

54 The Game of HisLife
He lost part of his leg in an accident and learned he has cancer, but Don Meyerof Northern State is courtside again, poised to set the men's record forwins
By Grant Wahl

TO RUSSIA WITHLOVE

Imagine Mark Cubanwith five times as much money and three times as many teams. He'd still be apiker compared to the Russian zillionaires who are showering cash on theworld's best athletes and remaking the old Soviet sports machine
BY ALEXANDER WOLFF
Page 58

Departments

8 Leading Off

14 Letters

18 Players
• Taking stock of risky deals
• NASCAR's bumpy road
• The phrases of Roy Blount Jr.

31 Faces in theCrowd

33 Just My Type byDan Patrick
• Mack Brown wants change

76 Point After bySelena Roberts
• The ideal gift for a pushy parent

Inside ...

72 Boxing
• The Golden Boy's glitter is gone

73 The NHL
• Ottawa's dubious investment

74 The NFL
• How good is streaking Indy?

75 CollegeBasketball
• The Zags zig: It's defense first

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER (STEELERS)

74 FEARSOME THREESOME Defensive backs William Gay (22), Ike Taylor (24) and Ryan Clark (25) swarmed Cowboys receiver Roy Williams during Pittsburgh's 20--13 home win on Sunday. Next up for the top-ranked Steelers D? AFC North rival Baltimore.

PHOTO

BOB MARTIN (RUSSIA)