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A Shot for theAges

In a year full ofamazing feats, let's not forget Mario's Miracle

This weekSI.com's Joe Posnanski looks back on the year in sports. His favorite memory?Kansas guard Mario Chalmers's last-second, game-tying three-pointer againstMemphis in the NCAA final. "Even now," Posnanski writes, "those fewseconds overwhelm everything for me, which is odd because the moment was sosimple and direct—and this was a year of the overwhelming."

PICTURES OF THEYEAR

Action Packed
Alabama wideout Marquis Maze's play to thwart an interception by LSU's ChrisHawkins was one of the many telling images from SI photographers in 2008. Checkout galleries of the best pictures, plus games of the year and notableretirements.
> For the best SI photographs, go to SI.com/bestpics.

BEST MOMENTS OF2008

Oh, What aYear
This week SI writers recap the best and most memorable moments in each sportduring 2008, from the Giants' upset of the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, to PaulAzinger's captaining the U.S. to victory in the Ryder Cup, to Oklahoma's runthrough the Big 12 South in college football.
> See shots of this year's breakout stars at SI.com/breakout.

What to Look Forin 2009

SI.com's expertsforecast the biggest story lines of next year on the court, field and ice

COLLEGEBASKETBALL
By Seth Davis

The nationalplayer of the year race will come down to two big men: North Carolina's TylerHansbrough and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.

THE NFL
By Don Banks

With franchisequarterback Tom Brady back after his season-ending, left-knee injury, will thePatriots return to dominance in the AFC?

BASEBALL
By Tom Verducci

Pitcher MattGarza and the Rays are coming off a stunning turnaround. Now comes the hardpart: playing with expectations.

THE NHL
By Michael Farber

Devils goalieMartin Brodeur will likely recover from biceps surgery before the playoffs.Will the 36-year-old All-Star be back to his old self?

COLLEGEFOOTBALL
By Stewart Mandel

Texas quarterbackColt McCoy (who has completed 77.6% of his passes this season) will return totry to win the Heisman Trophy.

THE NBA
By Steve Aschburner

Next year's Hallof Fame induction class will be filled with headliners: Michael Jordan, DavidRobinson and John Stockton.

> For more2009 predictions, go to SI.com/lookahead.

Cover
PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON BRUTY

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JOHN BIEVER (CHALMERS)

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BOB ROSATO (MAZE AND HAWKINS)

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ROBERT BECK (AZINGER)

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BOB ROSATO (HANSBROUGH)

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ROBERT BECK (BRADY)

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GARY BOGDON (GARZA)

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LOU CAPOZZOLA (BRODEUR)

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DARREN CARROLL (MCCOY)

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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (STOCKTON)