'WHAT A MESS'

WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER GAMBLE

Three games will feature five teams that are big disappointments this season.

Laker star Magic Johnson owns L.A., and someday he plans to own a lot more

Outside his Laker salary and investments, Magic will earn $9 million in 1990, primarily from these 18 sources

Peter Matthiessen explores the wild and the majestic

Vietnam's Phu Tho racetrack features tiny mounts and avid race fans

PRO BASKETBALL—The Celtics, sitting atop the Atlantic Division, relied on their big frontcourt players to beat the Rockets 108-95. Kevin McHale scored 22 of his 32 points in the first half. In...

ALLISON BOCKLAFAYETTE, IND.Allison, a senior at Lafayette Jefferson High, garnered three girls' titles at the state high school swimming championships. She won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.22...

The author, coaching at 72, revels in a 6-5 mark

'The Mighty Casey' pairs the national pastime with dance in a new sporting ballet

It's aerial war when tuna spotters fly

Beach Towel won a Breeders Crown for his young owner

THOSE CUTE LITTLE GIRLS

•Robert Parish, 37-year-old Celtics center, when asked if he thought he could keep up with the team's new up-tempo offense: "To half court, yes."

THE BREEDERS' CUPI feel compelled to express my anger concerning your coverage of the tragedy that took place during the Breeders' Cup Distaff when the valiant filly, Go for Wand, broke down and...

A funny thing happened on the way to the great 49ers-Giants showdown of 1990. Each team was dealt its first loss

New York abandoned its running game and went to the air against the Eagles. And the outcome was...

With a new maturity, Portland blazed to an 11-0 mark

With John Vanbiesbrouck and Mike Richter, New York is perfecting the two-goalie system

The diamond star emerges as a badly flawed man

An inspired Arizona squad mauled Arkansas 89-77 in the NIT title game

Out of Bulgaria, improbably enough, come the Maleevas, the best sister act in tennis history

As a new era of their storied rivalry began, Michigan outlasted Ohio State, but Iowa will go to the Rose Bowl

INAUSPICIOUS DEBUTS

MENArizona's 6'6" sophomore forward Chris Mills averaged 27 points and 9.5 rebounds as the Wildcats beat Notre Dame 91-61 and Arkansas 89-77 to win the preseason NIT in New York City (page 60).

If you happened to catch the All-Armed Forces team in action two years ago, you were probably so busy watching center David Robinson that you didn't notice one of his teammates, a slender, 6'6"...

Lynn Jennings (501) won her fourth straight TAC title, but Pat Porter lost