LINEUP

2012 THE YEAR IN...

6 PICTURES

The most stunning photos, including the one chosen by readers as the best of 2012

32 SPORTS MEDIA

The highs and lows in TV, books, movies, Twitter ... and "Call Me Maybe" parodies

FEATURES

PRO FOOTBALL

42 Adrian Peterson

A year after a devastating knee injury, the Vikings' running back is stronger and better than ever—and ready to run all day, every day

BY BEN REITER

The Comeback Player of the Year debate

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

48 Russ Smith

Shoot often and swagg all the time: The Louisville guard follows his own rules—which is why he's the nation's most Russdiculous player

BY LUKE WINN

BASEBALL

54 Wil Myers

The Rays' newest prize is more than a minor league home run king: He's a slugging prospect who makes scouts dream of Dale Murphy

BY LARS ANDERSON

Prospects for pitching: a tale of two trades

PRO FOOTBALL

60 A Photo That Tells a Story

The crazy final play of a Packers-Seahawks game helped end the referee lockout. But another look makes us rethink the call that set the NFL afire

BY BEN REITER

DEPARTMENTS

4 SI Digital

20 The Mail

23 Scorecard

Let's make Hollywood a sports town again

29 Faces in the Crowd

30 Just My Type

Bobby Petrino, Hilltopper

BY DAN PATRICK

68 Point After

Gimme that clipboard!

BY PHIL TAYLOR

ON THE COVER: Photograph by John Biever

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER

JAN. 7 | 3:39 p.m.

SHINING MOMENT

It was a good year to be a Texan: Houston (in blue) began the year with its first playoff victory and this season has the best record in the AFC.