The November 6 Issue of ESPN The Magazine is on Sale Today.

**LeBron James on the Cover of ESPN The Magazine's NBA Preview Issue**

Plus: How The NFL Hides From Its Concussion Problem

NEW YORK -- DON'T LET THE SMILE FOOL YOU. LeBron James wants to make everyone look good, but don't confuse a soft heart with being soft. Killer instinct or not, King James is out to prove nice guys finish first. The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports.

DOCTOR YES. For 12 years, the NFL has relied on its own research to deal with concussions. But evidence suggests that the league's policy may be based on flawed science - or worse. The Magazine's Peter Keating reports.

NBA PREVIEW 2007:

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE. What's it take to win a championship? The Magazine's NBA gurus Ric Bucher and Chris Palmer play Barbershop and debate at which end of the floor titles are won, whether you can go big by playing small and, of course, LeBron vs. Kobe.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM. In 38 years in the league, Phoenix has won a total of zero championships. So why does everybody want to hoop it up like Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun Suns? The Magazine's Ric Bucher reports.

OFF TO THE RACES. Whether you're pushing it up the floor like the Nuggets or muscling down low like the Jazz, the goal is the same: a title. The Magazine previews all 30 teams to see who's turning up - or tuning down - the temp and whether it will matter come June.

OTHER FEATURES:

REGIME CHANGE. Thanks to a system reboot in St. Louis, Steven Jackson and the Rams are stylin'. But the power back isn't the only player to thrive this season thanks to a new strategy. The Magazine's Seth Wickersham reports.

ROAD TESTED. A year ago, Cal lineman Mike Tepper and Rulon Davis had little in common. Today the two share a unique bond. Funny how almost getting killed will bring people together. The Magazine's Tim Keown reports.

FAR FROM THE TREE. His D1-worthy skills and loaded family name mean Mustapha Farrakhan has no problem standing out. What's surprising is how easily the prep point guard can fit in. The Magazine's Elena Bergeron reports.

NO PAYMENTS 'TIL 2007. Cash isn't an issue, but with questions about everyone from Soriano to Matsuzaka to Zito, baseball's GMs should have one mantra this off season: Buyers, beware. The Magazine's Buster Olney reports.

ALEX HAS A NEW BEST FRIEND. Gretzky had one. So did Stevie Y. When the Caps signed enforcer Donald Brashear to keep an eye on superstar Alexander Ovechkin, they were just following a long NHL tradition. The Magazine's Lindsay Berra reports.

*** AN IMAGE OF THE LEBRON JAMES COVER OF ESPN THE MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE VIA AP PHOTOEXPRESS and WWW.BUSINESSWIRE.COM

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