The stories of the 109 black men who have played quarterback in the NFL, from Fritz Pollard to Russell Wilson.

Spending time with the Tonya Harding Fan Club in the wake of the assault on Nancy Kerrigan.

On Baylor’s freshman basketball star Perry Jones and how the new era of one-season careers has changed the landscape of college basketball.

A profile of driver A.J. Foyt on the eve of what was supposed to be his final Indy 500.

On the battle between Shaquille O’Neal and his former IT guy, who’s in control of much of O’Neal’s archived (and often damning) correspondence.

Inside Roger Goodell’s troubling (or wildly successful, depending on who you ask) tenure as NFL commissioner.

Lester Cotton’s transformation from reluctant football player to top Alabama recruit, and the hopes and dreams of a neighborhood that ride on his shoulders.

The importance of the sports metaphor in the American consciousness and why Lewis Lapham didn’t join the C.I.A.

How Madden NFL went from a programmer’s childhood dream to a $3 billion business.

Pitching a no-hitter in the middle of a multi-day acid bender was only one of Dock Ellis’ many amazing exploits.

A profile of Yao Ming published during his second season in the NBA.

The pecking order of All-Star Weekend sex-with-basketball-player-or-rapper hopefuls.

Searching for the line between courage and humility on an expedition to Cirque of the Unclimbables, a remote ring of perfect rock-climbing mountains in Canada.

A former Ohio National Guardsman recalls being dunked on by LeBron James as a teenager — and how the James helped get him through the Iraq War.

David Roberts spent his life facing death in the mountains. Now he is facing a fatal prognosis.

Maurice Lerner missed his shot at the majors and landed in the Rhode Island mafia.

How the Robin Hood of gamblers got ensnared in a money laundering scheme led by former football players.

“Oh my God, the NFL is using every trick in the book to market to kids.”

Pro boxing, famous for larger-than-life characters, now has one invented or the Instagram age.

Controversy following a climbing disaster that killed eight.

Paul Phua rose from a Borneo numbers runner to being the biggest bookmaker in the world. Then he found poker.

The death of a high school football player and the life that has followed for the kid who made the hit.

Andrea Duke is 36. She began running marathons competitively two years ago. She’s already qualified for the Olympic Trials.

An interview with Tiger Woods as he turns 40.