November 13, 2006 | Volume 105, Issue 19

Shipping Included The New York City Marathon delivered a little bit of everything on Sunday: a Brazilian, Marilson Gomes dos Santos (inset, right), who ended the nine-year reign of African...

With its access to athletes and their merchandise, a small marketing company is making big bucks

Just Too Good

Hey, there's an American heavyweight champion! Shannon Briggs (inset, left) won the WBO title by stopping Sergei Liakhovich last Saturday, breaking the Eastern Bloc strangle-hold on the division....

IN AMERICA, you do not quit at the top. You do not quit when you're the leading rusher in the NFL. You do not quit when there's millions left on the table. But Tiki Barber, a 31 year-old Giants...

Three Kings

The 2006 World Series matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers rekindled memories of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's Oct. 7, 1968, issue, which helped cement the reputation of the SI...

FELIX AND OSCAR, meet Carl and Kierstan, roommates in a small apartment near the University of Oklahoma campus, where Carl plays defensive tackle for the Sooners and Kierstan plays video games...

It was harder than taking the Tour, but Lance Armstrong conquered New York—and showed that he shines even when lost in a crowd

Announced That he will not play this season and may retire, Jets running back Curtis Martin (above). The NFL's fourth-leading career rusher (14,101 yards), Martin, 33, who hasn't played since Week...

8 Consecutive season-openers lost by the Hawks, an NBA record; Atlanta was beaten by the 76ers 88--75 on opening night this year.

Talk about getting Stern: This season NBA refs have shorter fuses and quicker whistles

IN SEPTEMBER former Negro leaguer Silas Simmons told The New York Times that he might have been good enough to play in the majors but before Jackie Robinson, "it was useless to try." Alas, by the...

The host of TNT's Inside the NBA, 50, returned to work last week after treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

DON'T TRY telling tennis star Kim Clijsters that a dog is man's best friend. The Dutch tennis star (right) returned to the court last week, winning the Gaz de France title in Belgium on Sunday,...

"I CAN beat Oprah !" chef Bobby Flay boasted last week. Those would be fighting words if the host of the Food Network's Boy Meets Grill was talking Nielsen ratings, but Flay was promising to beat...

COSEY COLEMAN, Browns guard, on the debut of offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson: "I'm sure he had nerves going through his veins."

A website is offering a fantasy Congress game in which players draft teams of U.S. legislators.

What to watch and watch for

Lizzelle Cintron NEWARK > Volleyball Cintron, a junior middle blocker at New Jersey City University, scored 109 points and had 91 kills, 42 digs and 23 blocks in four matches. She was the New...

BULLS GUARD

WHO'S Hot

If you could pick one player to build a team around, who would it be?

True tales from the similarly named

Pro Bowler

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy or pdf.]

Losing weight, helping Mama and making "friends"--are we having fun yet?

No high school player has ever kicked more field goals than Jimmy Stevens

The NFL's top active scorers kicked up a storm in high school

EIGHT IS ENOUGH

Battling cancer, coach turns program around

For more high school news and rankings from RISE and Dave Krider's Primetime Performer of the Week, go to SI.com/highschool.

First-year players have made an instant impact this year--a well-schooled army of NFL-ready newcomers who are forcing their way onto the field and taking the league by storm

The Chargers jumped through hoops to get quarterback Philip Rivers--then sat him for two seasons. Finally given command, he's playing with veteran poise

At the midpoint of the season it's too early to pick an All-Pro team--but not to start identifying emerging players who may be earning their way onto this year's elite lineup

Two years after the Big East was almost disbanded, Louisville beat West Virginia in a Top 10 showdown that put the league back on the map. Next up: The No. 3 Cardinals meet undefeated Rutgers

Taking a lead from its entrepreneurial, garment-crocheting tailback, Boise State may be just three victories away from securing a spot in one of the five biggest bowls

After making enemies with his mouth, the Kings' insult-tossing, starlet-dating Sean Avery is trying to win admirers with his play

Ray Lewis has a story to tell, of persecution and redemption, of fathers and sons, of pain caused and pain endured. The trials he's suffered--and Lord knows there have been many--are all part of a...

College Football Wake rolls on behind its freshman QB • Heisman candidate list is shrinking • Badgers milk the clock

Taking Charge

HOT TOPIC

Texas Stomp

An opposing team's scout on the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas, who had 44 points last Saturday against the Celtics:

FIGHTING FOR AN EDGE

No Joy Ride

ADAM DUERSON MATCHUP OF THE WEEK

The Producer

O.K., so they haven't been the smash hits of the season as predicted, but tight ends can still make the difference for your team down the stretch

WE LIKE THE MATCHUP

DON'T LIKE THE MATCHUP

Karrie Webb makes a play for POY

WHO: Adam Scott

Pro golf follows the sun, so we bought an RV and followed the Tour

Adam Scott wraps up the 2006 season with a win at the Tour Championship But golf is buzzing about what happens on Tour in 2007 and the new 'Zing in the '08 Ryder Cup

THERE'S A FRESH TAKE ON GOLF EVERY DAY AT SI.COM/GOLF.

From football in the street of a South Texas border town, guard Roberto Garza has worked his way into a prominent role on Chicago's resurgent offensive line

Portland's Ime Udoka came from nowhere to win a starting job, while also suffering a tragic loss

Ime Udoka's emergence as a starter may be the biggest shock of the NBA's first week, but here are some others.

Oklahoma City has some of the NBA's most rabid fans and a bevy of sponsors, but the Hornets' nest could be empty next season--or it could be the new home of the Sonics

Chris Mannix's analysis of what to make of the Los Angeles Lakers' fast start at SI.com/NBA.

The 50th anniversary of Don Larsen's pitching gem brought together one of sports' most elite fraternities

Aiming to reach the Games in a third sport, Sheila Taormina is on the verge of making history

These U.S. athletes won an Olympic medal in one sport and also competed in the Games in a distinctly different sport (i.e., not a similar combination such as beach and indoor volleyball).