October 22, 2012 | Volume 117, Issue 16

It's a shame how the average American sports fan—who thinks that the Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the world and that the World Series sparks interest beyond a handful of...

As college hoops practices get under way, we offer a primer for the 2012--13 season

During the NHL lockout the Montreal Gazette is playing out the Canadiens' season on EA Sports's NHL 13, game by game, and publishing news stories off the results of the simulated matchups.

Alex Karras was from the generation of NFL foot soldiers: faceless linemen, doomed to anonymity, in a game that hadn't quite captured the public's fancy. He was good, better than good; he nearly...

For a gallery of photos of Alex Karras on and off the field go to SI.com/photo

A powerful new documentary follows the moves of an inner-city school's championship chess team

"That's just the Brady Bunch. This is a defense."

NOT: OH, NO, CANO

After back-to-back 100-yard receiving games Mike Williams, whose fantasy star burned so bright during his rookie year of 2010, is shining again. Williams scored 11 touchdowns in '10 but only three...

DREW WOLITARSKY

Were it not for the NHL lockout, Bruins coach Claude Julien would have been in Philadelphia last Thursday for his team's opener against the Flyers. Instead he made a surprise visit to the Blue...

After Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s number 88 Chevy was hit hard twice during the 25-car crash on the last lap at Talladega on Oct. 7, he kept rubbing his head as he spoke to reporters in the garage. He...

HEART OF TEXANS

SAY WHAT?

THE FALCONS, MAYBE? BUT LET'S HUMOR OURSELVES AND ATTEMPT TO DIVINE AN ANSWER. THERE'S NO PERFECT CHOICE, BUT WE MAKE THE CASE FOR THE GATORS, IRISH AND DUCKS. LET THE JAWING BEGIN

The points won't come easily, but the Gators' bruising identity is well suited to a Tide showdown

Like the Gators, the Irish play the punishing defense necessary to stay with the defending champs—if they survive a punishing second-half schedule

The Ducks, contrary to their reputation, have an underrated defense, and they have the playmakers who can get to the edge

See who else has a puncher's chance against the Tide.

The Tide is the favorite to win it all; there can be no doubt about that. But what of the rest of the BCS labyrinth? Circumstances—remaining schedule, poll position—will dictate the road to Miami....

TYRANN MATHIEU FOUND OVERNIGHT FAME LAST YEAR, BUT ITS SPOILS HAVE LED TO COMPARISONS WITH HIS IMPRISONED FATHER, REHAB, EXILE FROM THE LSU FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND, POSSIBLY, NCAA VIOLATIONS

Listen to Pete Thamel's podcast detailing his research on the Tyrann Mathieu story, at SI.com/mag

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

FOR YEARS, AS HE BECAME THE MOST DOMINANT CYCLIST IN HISTORY, LANCE ARMSTRONG VEHEMENTLY DENIED DOPING. HERE ARE SOME OF HIS MOST STRIDENT ASSERTIONS, ANNOTATED WITH THE NOW UNDENIABLE EVIDENCE...

CHRIS KLUWE HAS SEEN IT ALL IN MINNESOTA—THE LOVE BOAT SCANDAL, THE STARCAPS SAGA AND A 2012 SURGE—BUT THE NFL'S NERDIEST PLAYER REALLY GETS HIS KICKS BY BATTLING ORCS AND OGRES

MONTANA OR MANNING? SANDERS, PAYTON AND BROWN, BUT IN WHAT ORDER? A NEW SI BOOK TAKES ON THE GREAT GRIDIRON DEBATES, AND HERE FANS WEIGH IN WITH THEIR PICKS WHILE THE EXPERTS TACKLE A FEW MORE

1 BEST QUARTERBACK

6 BEST TEAM LOGO

Deep in the heart of Maryland, not far from Baltimore and Washington, there was another story of baseball magic, this one mixed with tragedy—two deaths, three years apart—that ended with the...

Watch a segment about Zach Lucas (above, left), Brendon Colliflower (right) and the tragedies and triumph of the Williamsport High baseball team, scheduled for Sports Illustrated, Nov. 3, at 2:30...

Epic series, unlikely heroes, unprotectable leads, shredded cuticles and history—lots of history: Welcome to the 2012 postseason

Maybe Taco Bell is the secret. That's always Justin Verlander's cuisine of choice the night before he pitches for the Tigers. His order—three crunchy taco supremes, a cheesy gordito crunch and a...