Leading Off

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PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON PARKHURST FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Neal Down Before Him Alabama wide receiver Christion Jones was stopped after a four-yard gain by Florida defensive back Keanu Neal in the second quarter last Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. While Jones had only one reception, the rest of the third-ranked Tide's pass catchers combined for 449 yards on 24 grabs in a come-from-behind 42--21 SEC victory.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY PATRICK SEMANSKY AP

XO'sXO's People do strange things when they've been waiting 17 years to celebrate a division title. Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones felt the love at Camden Yards after the Orioles clinched the AL East for the first time since 1997 with a win over the Blue Jays on Sept. 16. Now comes the question Jones and his teammates hope to have answered by the end of October: What would Baltimoreans do after a championship, considering the O's are seeking their first World Series victory since 1983?

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PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT BECK SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Old Dog, Old Tricks Kelly Slater has been riding waves like this for a while now: The 42-year-old won the first of his 11 Association of Surfing Professionals world titles in 1992—the year Hawaii's John John Florence, Slater's opponent in the semifinals of last week's Hurley Pro event, was born. Florence beat Slater—"I'm so stoked I got him this time. He's a scary guy to surf against," the kid said—but couldn't take home the final. The event at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, Calif., was won by South Africa's Jordy Smith.