Sweet

LETTERS

Christine Baker, whose son Dusty manages the Chicago Cubs, once gently chided me for the sins of all sportswriters. "In all these stories," she said, "the fathers get the credit for their...

Thanks in no small part to its beefy superstars, professional bullriding (don't call it rodeo!) is following NASCAR all the way to the bank

It took two embarrassing international performances, but USA Basketball finally realized it needs one man running the show

Endured By Jason White, a roller-coaster week that ended the same way it began: with the quarterback who put up huge numbers while leading Oklahoma to two national title games hoping for the...

79 At bats before Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. hit his first home run of the season, the longest season-opening homer drought of his career.

Former pitcher Rick Ankiel, 25, is trying to make the Cardinals as an outfielder. How's he doing? SI's Ankielometer tells all.

As another player tests positive, the commissioner finally plays hardball

I've got to finish up quickly. Tom DeLay is holding a tee time for me at Royal Troon.

The TNT basketball analyst is the author of the recently released Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?

Mr. Fantastic.The Human Torch. Both adequate handles for Magic Johnson in his heyday. The Invisible Woman or The Thing? Not so much. The former Lakers great recently played one-on-one against each...

Kings coach (left), complaining that Seattle forward Reggie Evans (right) was flopping during their playoff series: "He goes down when the air conditioning comes on."

A New Jersey town repealed its three-decade ban on males older than 12 wearing Speedos.

What to watch and watch for

Lucy Lawless was the biggest, baddest woman on television, yet when Xena: the Warrior Princess needed to flip off her horse to take on male attackers, that feat would fall to a stunt double....

Ethan Busald

ON HIS LOVE OF ANIMALS We had two dogs growing up, Nike and Boz. Boz was a chocolate Lab, named for Brian Bosworth. Nike was a German shepherd. I now have a three-year old chocolate Lab named Abby...

[ Based on a survey of 227 NBA players ]

WHO'S Hot

With an eye on this Saturday's Kentucky Derby, race veterans recall past Runs for the Roses

What was your welcome-to-the-major-leagues moment? My first plane ride with the team, in 1998. It was only from Cleveland to Detroit, but what a surprise. Every player had a seat and a half, the...

Yale searches for a new Handsome Dan

[Oakland Athletics]

To advance in the postseason, a team's stars must shine, but the critical difference is often made by the players who wreak the most havoc

[This article consists of photographs--see below.]

That shy smile you see? Don't be fooled. The remarkable and relentless Annika Sorenstam is taking aim at a record sixth straight tour victory--and at every other LPGA mark

A top teacher expounds on the skills and mental toughness that make the LPGA superstar so difficult to beat

The Marlins' powerful pitching trio of Dontrelle Willis, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett is blowing through the early schedule. If all three can keep it going, the National League should be very afraid

One month into the season, SI's Tom Verducci picks the best starting threesomes of 2005.

Who's the horse to beat? Who's the hottest trainer? Who's fighting history? Check out our Kentucky Derby tip sheet

He'd been laid low, but nothing--not the Depression and certainly not the heavyweight champ--could keep JAMES J. BRADDOCK down

The Week In Sports

With many of the game's top closers struggling or nursing injuries, teams are getting saves from unlikely sources

KEEPING THE KIDS AT HOME

Three Up

JIM THOME'S BAD START

BOILING OVER

Greg Biffle's no young gun, but at 35 he has the talent--and, finally, the car--to make a run at the Nextel Cup title

WHEN IT comes to success on the racetrack, Michael Waltrip will never be confused with his brother, Darrell, a three-time Winston Cup champion in the 1980s. But over the last two weeks Michael...

Maybe you're surprised to see me naked as a new monkey, am I right?

NBA PLAYOFFS BODY WORK The Game Gets Physical and the Bangers and Bruisers Make the Difference

NEXT WEEK: FREE STUFF!

Take it from me and Lanny: Vijay Singh will never succeed if he keeps hitting driver

Chris DiMarco's T3 in New Orleans is going to be harder to stomach than his second in Augusta.

Four decades ago, when Arnie Frankel lost his swing, he found it again by putting his faith in the surprisingly simple teachings of Ernest Jones. Frankel has been spreading the word ever since

Beloved in Chicago, the '85 Bears alumni have teamed up to cash in on the upcoming celebration of their NFL title

FORMER BEARS LINEBACKER Al Harris is still accorded the respect due to a stalwart of the 46 defense. But his memories are bittersweet. Along with safety Todd Bell, who died of a heart attack...

Everything from staircases to scissors gives the advantage to the dextral. So in a world designed with the right hand in mind, why is it that so many lefties are great athletes?

A tweener who didn't fit the NFL mold, Darryl Hammond has spent a record 15 years as a star in the Arena league

Barry Wagner, WR-LB, San Jose SaberCats, 14 seasons Former Alabama A&M standout holds AFL records for receptions (959) and tackles (698).

Two brothers from D.C. run Playing for Peace, using basketball to unite youths in nations torn by prejudice

Three more international organizations that, like Playing for Peace, employ sports for the greater good of youth