December 21, 2009 Table Of Contents
LEADING OFF
Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS
Despite losing its top three players, Syracuse is better on both ends of the floor—and this season's biggest surprise
By Seth Davis
As he assaults the record book, the Titans' Chris Johnson is staking his claim to be the league's premier back
By Jim Trotter
By Peter King
Buffalo's Tyler Myers, the league's best rookie, handles a load once unthinkable for a teenage defenseman
PIERRE MCGUIRE'S In the Crease
PUNTERS
Never, it seems, have punters been more valuable to NFL teams. So who are these guys—and why hasn't a single punter been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Drop back 15 and boot it away on fourth down? It's not automatic anymore
By Adam Duerson
By David Sabino
PRO BASKETBALL
By Lee Jenkins
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
THE YEAR IN MEDIA
5th ANNUAL: The Year in Sports Media
The sports-entertainment crossover: It's good (Peyton Manning's ads), it's bad (Ron Artest's rapping)—and once in while, it's sublimely funny. Just ask speedskating savior Stephen Colbert
Edited by Mark Bechtel
By Mark Mravic
By Ben Reiter
Think NBA fans and the Web generation don't buy books? Think again
By Mark Bechtel
By Mark Bechtel
Led by a certain name-changing wide receiver, athletes revealed more of themselves than ever
Point After
By Phil Taylor
Departments
Is There a Doctor In the Arena?
The NCAA has to control rough play in college hoops
Notre Dame gets its (Irish)man: Cincinnati's savior, Brian Kelly
By Albert Chen
What Woods's "indefinite leave" will cost him—and the Tour
What smart fans should do this week
By Dan Patrick
Edited by Elizabeth McGarr
A Sam Cooke buff has a hit at Prairie View
By Peter King
