Octoberfest An unlikely World Series contender has alighted on the fall stage. Last Saturday afternoon the Brewers won their second postseason game in 29 years with a 4–1 victory over the Diamondbacks behind Yovani Gallardo (pitching). The next day Milwaukee—which was 57–24 at home during the regular season—thumped Arizona 9–4 to take a 2–0 lead in their NLDS. Photograph by John Biever
Agony of the Feet The Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger delivered another painful performance (16 of 30, no TDs, five sacks) in a 17–10 loss to the Texans on Sunday in Houston. Though J.J. Watt was called for roughing the passer on this fourth-quarter play—which also nullified a Houston interception return for a TD—the Pittsburgh QB got the worst of the encounter, suffering a sprained left foot that put him in a walking boot and left his status for this weekend unclear. Photograph by Simon Bruty
brad richards rangers, c
brian gionta canadiens, rw
Jeff skinner Hurricanes, c
henrik lundqvist rangers, G
zach parise devils, Lw
dion phaneuf maple leafs, d
patrice bergeron bruins, c
brenden morrow stars, lw
jaroslav halak blues, G
claude giroux flyers, C
ryan kesler canucks, c
tyler myers sabres, d
john tavares islanders, c
andrew ladd jets, lw
taylor hall oilers, LW
James van Riemsdyk Flyers, LW
logan couture sharks, c
mikko koivu wild, c
Closeups and personal The mugs of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are well known, but there are more than two faces in the NHL—and more than two stars. In early September, as part of the league’s preseason media tour, a bounty of hockey’s brightest lights dropped by SI’s Manhattan offices. Among the players pictured at right are four No. 1 draft picks, six Stanley Cup winners, two playoff MVP’s, 10 All‑Stars and three Olympic gold medalists.
inside The si photo booth
Photographs by Simon Bruty
michael grabner islanders, rw patrick kane blackhawks, rw
erik johnson avalanche, d
jason spezza senators, c
tim thomas bruins, g
Touch each player to see a strip of outtakes from his visit to SI.
bloody right you are Seanie Monaghan draws a trickle of red from Kentrell Claiborne during the third round of their light heavyweight fight in Atlantic City last Saturday. Monaghan, who is undefeated with six knockouts in nine bouts, won by a TKO one round later. Photograph by Tim Larsen /AP
Chooch-Choo, train coming St. Louis outfielder Jon Jay levels Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz on a play at the plate in the fourth inning of the Philadelphia–St. Louis National League Division Series game on Sunday night at Citizens Bank Park. Ruiz held on to the ball to preserve the Phillies’ 4–3 lead, but starter Cliff Lee couldn’t hold on to the lead in a 5–4 Cardinals victory that tied the series at 1–1. Photograph by Al Tielemans
spring-loaded training Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira get their scrum on during a practice session of the South African national rugby team on Sept. 27 in Taupo, New Zealand. South Africa qualified for the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup three days later when it defeated Samoa. Photograph by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Now for the Flip side of the story . . . Marshawn Lynch takes a tumble late in the third quarter of the Seahawks-Falcons game on Sunday but lands in the end zone to bring Seattle within six points of Atlanta. The Falcons, however, would hang on for the 30–28 victory. Photograph by Mike Powell
getting medieval Nearly 10 centuries after his death, El Cid remains an icon in Burgos, Spain, where he spent his early life before he was exiled by Spanish Emperor Alfonso VI. Actors dressed as El Cid jousted from their steeds during a weekend festival in Burgos commemorating the Castilian nobleman and military leader. Photograph by Felix Ordonez/ Reuters