December 5, 2011 Table Of Contents
LEADING OFF
Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS
The rebuilding job for a new coach begins immediately. For Rich Rodriguez's first two days, SI was there for every minute
By Andy Staples
Wins or stats: What's the best way to measure a passer? Many evaluators think the latter—which is bad news for some young QBs
By Jim Trotter
By Peter King
After two ACL surgeries and a combined 14 months of rehab, Purdue forward Robbie Hummel has got his groove back
As the fantasy postseason approaches, matchups matter. Winning requires hot players with weak opponents. Below are a few smart roster fillers—along with their schedules for the all-important Weeks 14, 15 and 16—that are available in nearly half of all leagues.
By David Sabino
NBA PREVIEW 2011-12
After almost failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, the owners and players struck a last-minute deal that will yield a 66-game schedule starting on Christmas Day, at least six years of labor peace—and maybe a more wide-open race for the championship
By Lee Jenkins
Thanks to the lockout, teams have a shorter free-agency period to fill their holes—and big names are at a premium
By Ian Thomsen
By Chris Mannix
By Chris Mannix
By Chris Mannix
By Sam Amick
By Sam Amick
By Sam Amick
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sorry, Cowboys and Cardinal and Hokies. Like it or not, No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama are virtually locked in for Tigers-Tide II, and this time the megamatchup will be for all the marbles
Here are the teams and the themes to follow this week
PRO FOOTBALL
A first-ever postseason berth is the righteous cause in Houston—but with two QBs already lost to injury, the Texans will need hard-charging, deep-thinking feature back Arian Foster to lead the way
By Damon Hack
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Twenty-five years ago college hoops drew a line in the hardwood. Scorned, reviled, embraced only by the desperate, it changed the game forever
SPECIAL REPORT
A top student and football star in South Central L.A., Kitam Hamm is one of a growing number of high school athletes who face life-and-death decisions every day as they try to survive in gang-infested communities
All-city L.A. wide receiver Dannie Farber was out eating dinner with his girlfriend when he was shot by a gang member
Dominguez High coach Keith Donerson helps kids avoid trouble by making them choose football over gangs
POINT AFTER
By Phil Taylor
Departments
Sidney Crosby's blockbuster return shows where the focus in sports belongs
Hit by an abuse scandal of its own, Syracuse seeks to avoid the missteps made by Penn State
A new film goes over the top in its celebration of some extreme athletes
A sportscasting giant is interpreted for a generation that never knew him
Edited by Alexandra Fenwick
By Dan Patrick