September 2006

Features

Thank God It’s Friday

And Saturday. And Sunday. The arrival of fall means weekends spent watching football, up close and on-screen, and yet another opportunity to love the greatest game on earth for all the usual reasons. Forty-nine of them, in fact.

by Jordan Breal, Paul Burka, David Carr, Gary Cartwright, David Courtney, Patrick Fitzsimons, S. C. Gwynne, Michael Hall, Amy Hallford, David A. Herron, Stacy Hollister, Christopher Kelly, John Spong, Brian D. Sweany, Katy Vine and Drew Webb

Plus:

Football Fever

Articles editor Brian D. Sweany talks about this month’s cover story on football.

Interview by Patricia Busa McConnico

The Joy of Spring

by Paul Burka

High Kicks at Halftime

by Pamela Colloff

Running With The Ball

by Jamario Thomas

As told to Michael Hall

Main Squeeze Blues

Saying good-bye to my dear Phyllis was the hardest thing I’ve ever done—and losing her so suddenly didn’t make it any easier. But I know I’ll see her again someday.

by Gary Cartwright

The Good Book and the Bad Book

When parents at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, in Austin—where the Capital City’s moneyed elite have educated their kids for more than fifty years—rebelled against the teaching of Brokeback Mountain, it was, you might say, a learning experience for everyone involved.

by John Spong

Plus:

Book Review

Senior editor John Spong on writing about controversy at a private school in Austin.

Interview by Ryan Vogt

Girl Walks Into an Outlet Mall

But not just any. The Prime and Tanger outlets, in San Marcos, with Neiman’s Last Call and Saks Off Fifth and Polo Ralph Lauren and Zegna among their more than 225 stores, are the fourth most popular tourist attraction in Texas. Maximizing a trip to such a massive shopping mecca requires a carefully thought-out strategy. Fortunately, I have one.

by Mimi Swartz

King Of the Christocrats

By preaching that the Founding Fathers opposed the separation of church and state, David Barton has become the darling of evangelicals everywhere—and one of the most powerful Texas Republicans you’ve never heard of.

by Nate Blakeslee

Plus:

Minister of Faith

Senior editor Nate Blakeslee on interviewing Republican preacher David Barton.

Interview by Ryan Vogt

Columns

Behind the Lines

Grand Old Parry

My solicited two cents about the Republicans’ agenda.

by Paul Burka

Sarah Bird

My Dirty Little Secret

I’m a slob. There, I said it. Now don’t mess with me.

Letter From Houston

The Satanic Versus

Andrea Yates does battle with her demons. Again.

by Skip Hollandsworth

Letter From Mexico

The Recount

Mexico in 2006 may not be Florida in 2000, but there are at least two similarities: The final results of its closest-ever presidential election are taking pretty long to determine. And however it comes out, a lot of people are going to be unhappy.

by Dick J. Reavis