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FEATURES

34 | ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

TEN YEARS

In the decade since the attack, sports still provide comfort, but they've also inspired, united and reminded

By Tim Layden

40 | COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THE BCS CHASE IS ON

LSU has the look of a January tiger, and Boise is again fixing to make a mess of the championship calculus

By Austin Murphy

48 BRAVES BULLPEN

Three relievers have made life historically short for hitters

By Ben Reiter

52 TRACK AND FIELD

Team USA and Usain wound up on top of the worlds

By Tim Layden

56 DIANA TAURASI

The Mercury guard had her love of hoops put to the test

By Kelli Anderson

The House of Dream Chasers

Gary Patterson's rise at TCU has surprised the writer, who once lived with him

By S.L. Price

P. 60

DEPARTMENTS

2 Leading Off

8 Letters

13 Scorecard

The NBA is booming—on the playground

20 Faces in the Crowd

22 Just My Type

Kevin Garnett on the lockout and the Lakers

By Dan Patrick

26 Inside ...

NFL

September's story lines

College Football

Kain Colter is able

Tennis

Young Americans shine

72 Point After

A lot to love about the language of football

BY JOE POSNANSKI

ON THE COVER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID BERGMAN (BOISE STATE) AND JOHN BIEVER (LSU)

"The Browns have only one 2010 winning team on their schedule before December. Don't be surprised to see them in the division race on Thanksgiving—and even leading it.

—Peter King on the chances of quarterback Colt McCoy (left) and Cleveland this season

P. 26

For the opening week of the college football season, SI has two covers.

Please Recycle This Magazine Remove Inserts or Samples Before Recycling

PHOTO

JIM ROGASH/GETTY IMAGES (FENWAY)

FENWAY FLYBY Sporting events are one of the few places where we collectively pause and reflect on the impact of 9/11.

PHOTO

DAVID BERGMAN (MCCOY)

FIVE PHOTOS