LINEUP

DEPARTMENTS

2 Leading Off

8 Letters

11 Scorecard

Five steps to make IndyCar safer

19 Faces in the Crowd

20 Just My Type

Matt Barkley on winning games and girls

BY DAN PATRICK

22 Inside ...

NFL

Typical Tim Tebow

College Football

Michigan State miracle

Pro Hockey

The five best pickups

64 Point After

Cardinals fans: They're forever of good cheer

BY PHIL TAYLOR

FEATURES

WORLD SERIES

Ron Washington

Tony La Russa

The Rangers and Cardinals capped the postseason with a Fall Classic that was long, brilliant and historic

By Tom Verducci

P. 30

PLUS: FIVE FREE AGENTS LIKELY ON THE MOVE

38 PRO FOOTBALL

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Until they come East and win, the Bolts will be branded soft

By Damon Hack

42 COLLEGE FOOTBALL

CLEMSON TIGERS

Behind a spirited young coach, Clemson's winning like it's 1981

By Michael Bamberger

50 SOCCER

DAVID BECKHAM

He's looking to stamp his five-year experiment a success

By Grant Wahl

JAMARCUS RUSSELL

The NFL's No. 1 pick in '07 is jobless in Mobile. Why?

By L. Jon Wertheim

P. 54

"The cold truth: If this ends up being Beckham's last season with the Galaxy, what happens in the next month will seal his on-field legacy in America.

—Grant Wahl on L.A. midfielder David Beckham (right) entering the MLS playoffs

P. 50

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ON THE COVER

PHOTOGRAPH BY AL TIELEMANS

PHOTO

BILL FRAKES (TEBOW)

TIM TIME In his first start this season Tim Tebow (15) rallied the Broncos from 15 points down with 5:23 left for an 18--15 overtime win at Miami.

PHOTO

BRANDON PARRY/SOUTHCREEK GLOBAL/ZUMAPRESS.COM (BECKHAM)

PHOTO

JEFFERY A. SALTER (RUSSELL)

PHOTO

AL TIELEMANS (LA RUSSA)

PHOTO

DAVID E. KLUTHO (WASHINGTON)

TWO PHOTOS