SI.COM

FOR DEC. 8, 2014

Conference Calls

College football's championship weekend gives a team its last chance to prove to the College Football Playoff Committee that it is worthy of one of the four playoff spots. Can Alabama senior quarterback Blake Sims (6) lead the top-ranked Tide past No. 17 Missouri in the SEC title game? Will Florida State senior wide receiver Rashad Greene (80) be Jameis Winston's go-to guy when the No. 3 Seminoles take on No. 16 Georgia Tech in the ACC? Go to SI.com/college-football for complete coverage of these games, plus the Big Ten and Pac-12 championships. For further analysis, you'll also get a look at Andy Staples's Walk Through championship preview.

120 SPORTS

Pack Men

120 Sports hosts Eric Edholm and Chris Martin discuss whether the 9--3 Packers are the best team in the NFL. "Yes, and it's really due to the play of Aaron Rodgers," says Martin. "He's anticipating things [very well] and has two great receivers in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb." Counters Edholm, "Sure, they're the best team in the NFL—at Lambeau Field. I want to see them go on the road and look more impressive. They're not a complete team away from home." For more of Edholm and Martin's Point/Counterpoint plus 24-hour access to video highlights and analysis, go to 120sports.com

SI DIGITAL BONUS

The Man Who Must Be Different

From the SI Vault Feb. 3, 1958

At age 24, Celtics center Bill Russell was fighting sensitivities about his race and his height as he neared the threshold of basketball greatness.

By Jeremiah Tax

To read this and other stories from the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED archives go to SI.com/vault

FanNation

PLAY DAILY. WIN BIG

Lone Star

What's on your wish list this holiday season? With Football Throwdown on the FanNation fantasy-sports app, you can select a set of players and challenge your friends for cash prizes or bragging rights. Go to fannation.com to pick a quarterback, a running back and a wide receiver or tight end, and see who beats his projection. Week 13's top QB was the Texans' Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw for 358 yards and six touchdowns in a 45--21 victory over the Titans.

SI PROFILES

As successful as some athletes are on the field, some find even more success after they retire. Take former Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth, who upon retiring from the NFL in 1987 developed a multimillion-dollar software company and then became part owner of his former team. To see videos of athletes turned business leaders, go to SI.com/pro-files, a series from the editors of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and FORTUNE.

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TONY GUTIERREZ/AP PHOTO (GREENE)

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SIMON BRUTY/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (SIMS)

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RICHARD MEEK/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (RUSSELL)

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BOB LEVEY/GETTY IMAGES (FITZPATRICK)

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CALEB CHANCEY (STALLWORTH)

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JEFF HAYNES FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (RODGERS)

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ILLUSTRATION