LINEUP

FEATURES

MLB PLAYOFFS

42 What It Takes

The key to becoming a 21st-century champ? Do as Buster Posey and the Giants do: Put the bat on the ball and jump on those chances to score

BY TOM VERDUCCI

PRO FOOTBALL

48 Ed Hochuli

The two-time Super Bowl ref was already a folk hero. During the lockout he became the most important man in football

BY STEVE RUSHIN

GOLF

56 Ryder Cup

I'll take the blame for the U.S.'s stunning loss, and I know I'll be second-guessed. But even in defeat, my captaincy is the highlight of my career

BY DAVIS LOVE III

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

60 Jarvis Jones

Driven by a family tragedy, the Georgia linebacker has become the best defensive player in the SEC

BY ANDY STAPLES

66 The World's Team

FC Barcelona is more than a club, more than a champion and more than Lionel Messi—it embodies a sporting ideal and is beloved across the globe

BY GRANT WAHL

DEPARTMENTS

4 SI Digital

6 Leading Off

12 The Mail

15 Scorecard

Dangers of democracy

22 Faces in the Crowd

24 Just My Type

Tony La Russa's genius

BY DAN PATRICK

26 Inside ...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NFL | NBA | NASCAR

76 Point After

NFL, you have a problem

BY PHIL TAYLOR

ON THE COVER: Photograph by John W. McDonough

PHOTO

PACO LARGO/PANORAMIC/ICON SMI

HOMAGE TO CATALONIA Bred in the Barcelona system from age 13, Lionel Messi (center) has become the face of futbol and the bane of Real Madrid.

PHOTO