Bye-bye, BlacksburgThe sun sets on Blacksburg, Va.—and visiting Boston College—as Virginia Tech concludes its 11-0 season with a 38-14 victory at Lane Stadium (page 52).

The most patriotic American I know isn't Ollie North or John McCain or even Pat Boone. The most patriotic American is not even an American yet. He's a tiny former Brooklyn dishwasher from Morocco...

February 17, 1975

Thanks for making me realize that the best games aren't decided by points scored but by the lives changed after the games end.BRIAN MEIERHOFF, Lake Bluff, Ill.

Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer. They may be mailed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, New York,...

Highlights

Get a T.O., baby! Dick Vitale is now a prime-time player. Or so those ESPN Hoops Malone promos would have you believe. The ads for the network's college basketball telecasts, disguised as teasers...

It's as true in sailing as it is in public relations: no gust, no glory. Hence, if a spinnaker falls on New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf during the Louis Vuitton Cup and nobody gets wind of it, has it...

Bubble gum, shmubble gum: Fans will flip for interactive sports trading cards

What with the mugging, maiming and mouthing off, NFL '99 has been tough to watch

The NFL may be cutting its own throat by banning a colorful gesture

Indianapolis fans booed when the Colts drafted him instead of Ricky Williams. Then the dreaded Edgerrin James began striking fear into NFL defenses. Peyton's playmate heads into this week's...

42Languages in which NBA games are broadcast to the league's worldwide audience, which spans 205 nations.

Tyson BustersBoxing can do without a rusty Iron Mike

NBA stars can afford to pay $30 or $40 a week to be like Mike. Depilatory pikers can opt for a $15 HeadBlade (triple-teaming the guy below). "I used my background in art and computers to develop a...

The NBA signed a cable deal with the island republic of Malta, which has fewer people than Tulsa.

CHRIS MILLERBroncos quarterback, asked if rejoining the NFL after a three-year layoff was like getting back on a bicycle: "It's like riding a bike on the freeway with cars coming at you."

"When I walked away, I said, 'Every f—-ing question was about gambling!' I had no idea of the magnitude of the interview until went down the tunnel and the umpires were coming out and they were...

Laffit Pincay bellies up to immortality

Ben Roethlisberger, Findlay, OhioFootballBen, a senior quarterback at Findlay High, set state season records for yards passing, with 4,041, and touchdown passes, with 54, while leading the Trojans...

The Buccaneers grounded the Seahawks' high-flying offense with a performance that showed they're ready for the stretch run

Unbeaten and unabashed Virginia Tech has proved itself worthy of playing for the national title

Shedding his rep for playing soft, Chris Mihm, a rare true center, led improved Texas past No. 3 Michigan State

With poise and polish that belie his spotty past, rookie Lamar Odom has opened big in L.A.

BASEBALL

Halfway HomeHis ankle healing, Jason Kendall aims to be at full speed by spring

And the winner of the Ken Griffey Jr. sweepstakes is...Seattle? Because the Mariners are denying potential bidders the chance to negotiate a long-term deal with their centerfielder, who has asked...

StumblebumsInjuries, bad chemistry and misfiring stars have sent the Nets reeling

After playing just 9.2 minutes a game in his first two seasons, 6'9" Austin Croshere has become vital to the Pacers' youth movement. Not only was he averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.5...

New Breed of CatArizona's freshman backcourt led the way in a win over Kentucky

Fitting TributeTexas A&M honored its 12 who died in a bonfire construction accident by upsetting sympathetic Texas

•Alabama (9-2) vs. Florida (9-2)The Crimson Tide used its 40-39 upset of the Gators on Oct. 2 as a springboard to this SEC title game: Alabama went on to win the SEC West with a 7-1 conference...

On Target AgainAfter three aimless seasons, Oiler Alex Selivanov is on a scoring streak

Three reasons the Mighty Ducks, who had the NHL's top power play last season (25.5% success), have struggled with the man advantage this year (27th in the league, at 11.3% through Sunday): 1)...

STEVE YZERMANRED WINGS CWhen he scored his 600th career goal last Friday night, the 17-year veteran became the Nth NHL player to reach that milestone; he's also the captain and lifeblood of the...

Slash and BurnPittsburgh has backed itself into a corner with Kordell Stewart

1. Boy, George! Let's see if we've got this right: In a league desperate for quarterbacks the man with the best gun and one of the worst reputations on the free-agent market, Jeff George, went...

The Steelers won four Super Bowls with Terry Bradshaw under center, but since he retired after the 1983 season, Pittsburgh has been searching for a quarterback to deliver a title. Only Neil...

Join us on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. EST for a backstage look at SI's 20th Century Sports Awards show. Plus, chat with Frank Deford at 2 p.m. at cnnsi.com/si_online.

How long can a good defense carry a shaky offense before things fall apart? It depends on the team.

When Cincinnati's John Copeland and Cleveland's Orlando Brown collide on Dec. 12, it will be the 10th time these Goliaths have performed their violent minuet in the trenches

Take our test, and you will see that 1999 was more than just the Year of the Tiger

Off-season CheckupsTinker Time

What do these players have in common?

Did the three World tour events exceed, meet or fail to meet your expectations?

At this week's Senior tour Q school finals at Omni Tucson National, 110 players will compete for 16 spots. Here are the Q school grads who had the best rookie years.

Tyler MacPhie, Kennebunk Beach, MaineTyler, 15, became the youngest winner in the 30-year history of the Webhannet Golf Club men's championship. He also won the club's junior and parent-child...

When my friend Winnie Palmer (above) died, golf and the world lost a great, gracious lady

A Minor Miracle

After ending what began as a special year with a desultory, showing in the Skins Game, David Duval wondered if it was he or his critics who had gotten off track