Comebacks

August, 1987

Dennis Conner did it. After losing the America's Cup in 1983, the first time in 132 years an American skipper had suffered such humiliation, Conner came back three and a half years later to compete again for sailing's Holy Grail. After dispatching 16 other 12-meter yachts in a series of 43 round-robin challenge races, he blew the Australians away four—zip in the showdown finale. Dennis Conner, the carpet salesman from San Diego.Sugar Ray Leonard did it. Leonard, an Olympic champion, then the wor...