Skip to main content

September 19, 2011 Table Of Contents

1008496 - TOC Cover Image

Buy the Cover

Browse the Magazine

LEADING OFF

LEADING OFF

Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS

CALIFORNIA BLUES

Despite obvious advantages, UCLA hasn't been good since the 1990s. Here's why

By George Dohrmann

STEWART MANDEL'S: EXTRA POINTS

By Stewart Mandel

TEXAS TWO-STEP

The Longhorns benched their starting quarterback, alternated two others and, in the process, finally discovered a way to pull out a close win

By Lars Anderson

CYS MATTER

In a year of mostly ho-hum pennant races, the three-man chase for the top pitching honor in the NL brings welcome drama to the stretch run

By Joe Sheehan

STAND-UP PERFORMANCE

Houston's new scheme requires Mario Williams to rise up out of his three-point stance and play as a linebacker, a role he's settling into

By Jim Trotter

PETER KING'S: THINGS I THINK

By Peter King

TWEAK ONE

Now that the first games are in the books, it's time to make a few minor adjustments

By David Sabino

THE RYAN BROTHERS

Oh, Brother, What a Start

They're big, they're brash, and they live for the game. The Ryan twins—Rex of the Jets and Rob of the Cowboys—set the tone for the NFL season with a wild opening-week showdown

By Lee Jenkins

NFL OPENERS

ADAPT OR DIE

Infusing new blood into the league's fiercest rivalry, the Ravens demolished the Steelers and changed the balance of power in the AFC. Evolution? In the NFL, you'd better believe

By Damon Hack

RELOAD, REPEAT

Packing some scary new firepower, the Super Bowl champions look even more dangerous this time around

By Peter King

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

ULTIMATE UNDERDOG

By Michael Rosenberg

FIVE WORTH WATCHING

Here are the games and the names that fans should keep an eye on in Week 3

By Lars Anderson

BASEBALL

A PITCHER IN HIS PRIME

Justin Verlander is in that career sweet spot—he's young enough to pump 100-mph gas, old enough to know when to throttle back. The result: a season MVP voters can't ignore

By Ben Reiter

BOXING

STORMY 'WEATHER

As he prepares to return to the ring, against Victor Ortiz, Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces a family feud, felony charges, multiple lawsuits and the unthinkable possibility of defeat

By Chris Mannix

FIGHT OF HIS LIFE

Floyd Mayweather's handpicked opponent Victor Ortiz has already faced far bigger challenges

By Chris Mannix

TENNIS

THE OUTRAGE OPEN

Before Samantha Stosur and Novak Djokovic won the U.S. Open singles titles, rain and schedule changes pushed players to the breaking point, and an umpire's call sent Serena Williams beyond it

By S.L. Price

NASCAR 2011

JUNIOR JOHNSON HAS A LOT TO SAY, YES

On the eve of the most competitive Chase yet, NASCAR's old hero holds forth on the state of the sport he and his rivals created. Buckle up

By Lars Anderson

SCOUTING REPORTS

When the Chase goes green on Sunday, one man will be aiming for a sixth straight title, and the rest of the strongest field yet will be out to stop him. Here's how they'll stand when the final checkered flag flies at Homestead on Nov. 20

By Lars Anderson

POINT AFTER

MORE PERFECT UNIONS

By Phil Taylor

Departments

Letters

UP IN THE AIR

In the wake of a tragedy the NHL's players confront their worst fears about leaving North America for Russia and the easy-money KHL

By Michael Farber

THE STRIKE ZONE

Tracing the week's news both inside and outside the confines of cool

FOR THE RECORD

Pain Relief

In Week 1 the NFL offered touching tributes before providing sweet escape from 9/11

By Ben Reiter

Wave to the New Guys

Surfing's world tour takes a chance on the East Coast and makes a big splash

By Alexandra Fenwick

FACES IN THE CROWD

Edited by Alexandra Fenwick

JUST MY TYPE

By Dan Patrick