Digging Graves A.J. Graves entertained his teammates with a small dance before the Big Dance after Butler beat Cleveland State 70--55 on March 11 to win the Horizon League tournament in...

By embracing a supporting role and livening up the locker room, Shaquille O'Neal has fit right in with the Suns. But so far they don't seem to be a more formidable title contender

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NASCAR wild child Kyle Busch runs on the edge, and after moving from straitlaced Hendrick Motorsports to the just-win world of Joe Gibbs Racing, he's on top of his game

After pouncing on the leaders in the third round, Tiger Woods snatched his sixth win in a row with a brilliant approach and a perfect putt on the 72nd hole

Not long ago, the Angels' second baseman could barely scare up interest from a junior college—then an Angel showed up in his life, and the career of a future batting champ was born

The NBA The Sixers vaulted into the playoff race by emphasizing youth and an up-tempo attack • Executive's take: The Rockets are no fluke

Spirit of 76ers After the new G.M. rattles some cages and kicks up the tempo, left-for-dead Philly jumps back into the playoff race

On the Rockets' 22-game winning streak, the second longest in league history:

The Josh Hamilton--Edinson Volquez trade looks like it may work out well for the Rangers and the Reds. Hamilton (right), Texas's new centerfielder, was 18 for 30 (.607) with nine extra-base hits...

Regime Change The Yankees' new, no-nonsense manager has already put his mark on the team, reenergizing the franchise

IN THE scene imagined by fans, 'Bron and Jay-Z are perpetually surrounded by ice sculptures dripping Krug, with pouty-lipped ladies in necklines that plunge like stock charts, all shaking their...

Miller's Time Thank you so much for finally putting Marisa Miller on the cover of your annual Swimsuit Issue. As this photo taken in the U.S. Virgin Islands shows, she is indeed a rare beauty. The...

A West Point cadet may fulfill his Army obligations by playing in the NFL

WHO'S Hot

Which team will win the Stanley Cup?

Won By Bode Miller (above), his second overall World Cup title. Miller, who broke from the U.S. ski team in 2007 after his disastrous performance in the 2006 Olympics, cruised to the title. He...

OZZIE GUILLEN, White Sox manager, after Scott Linebrink said he couldn't pitch because of a headache: "I believe him because he's a real religious guy. Someone else tells me they have a migraine,...

The Philippine army and insurgents observed a seven-hour truce so they could watch local hero Manny Pacquiao win the WBC super featherweight belt from Juan Manuel Marquez.

Sports stars weigh in with presidential picks

Obama Clinton McCain Other Undecided

14 Home runs hit by Georgia Southern in a 26--8 win over Columbia last Saturday, an NCAA record for all divisions.

RANGERS OUTFIELDER

High-stakes poker gets spoofed in The Grand

WHEN John Krasinski of NBC's The Office read the script for the 1920s football movie Leatherheads (in theaters on April 4), he told his agent, "Let me know who gets [cast]." He figured he wasn't...

What to watch and watch for

Ali Hurley ANACONDA, MONT. > Basketball Ali, a senior forward at Anaconda High, scored 1,698 career points, breaking the school mark held by former Minneapolis Laker Ed Kalafat. A four-time...

The Interview Greg Paulus DUKE GUARD

In a field loaded with tall, talented front lines, at least half a dozen top contenders are smaller teams that have offset their lack of stature with speed and versatility—weapons they hope will...

For years, giants dominated the NCAA tournament at both ends of the floor

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From Bob Kurland to Patrick Ewing traditional back-to-the-basket big men have played a pivotal role, towering over the low post—and their often helpless opponents. For years the center was the...

After four straight wrenching losses in the national semis, LSU—led by senior center Sylvia Fowles and a new, veteran coach—is poised to break through

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A passel of post players could be the key to postseason success for these title-hopeful teams

UConn's the team to beat, but again the Vols stand in the way

Start Xeroxing those brackets, strike up the Siena fight song, tell the boss you're taking a long lunch: 65 teams and 65 reasons that prove this is the best basketball month of the year

Turn the page to see picks and analysis of every game of the tournament, from the first round to the Final Four.

The Bruins win their 12th national championship by imposing a slow half-court tempo, throttling Kansas's perimeter threats and riding the coattails of superlative freshman Kevin Love to victory

Nine years after his father threw in the towel as Georgetown's coach, John Thompson III has assumed his mantle and made the Hoyas once again a threat to win the national championship

BACK IN TIME

Being the first to hit that scoring milestone since 1996 would place Alexander Ovechkin in the company of greats. Would it also be a sign of an offensive renaissance in the NHL?

GET GREAT

For these stars, reaching the coveted plateau was a feat to be repeated

It took dunkin' Dustin Johnson, one of the new, athletic breed of pros on the PGA Tour, only two months to make a case for rookie of the year

First-year man Dustin Johnson has made this year's biggest initial splash on the PGA Tour, but these six fresh faces (presented alphabetically) also have shown they are worth keeping an eye on.

Bryant brothers left to wonder

In golf, as in life, sometimes love is not enough

IT SEEMS that golf finally has what it's been yearning for: a real rivalry. No, Tiger hasn't found a foil, but Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa (below) will push each other. One year ago Annika...

WHO Tiger Woods

"Things don't look good for Sergio García, who is only 28 but seems to have the yips. If he doesn't clear up his mind, it could wreck his potential."

If Tiger Woods doesn't win the Masters, is his season a disappointment? Yes 59% No 41%

If the WGCs never leave the U.S., they should turn in the W

George Lopez won't host the 2009 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

While most of the world is focused solely on Tiger, a foursome of young pros and a couple of resurgent veterans have quietly emerged as players to be reckoned with as the first major of '08 approaches

Major League Baseball tries to make inroads into China

THERE ARE plenty of big hits in an Arena Football League game, and this season it has been a little easier to tell who has been on the receiving end of one. Each week about 40 AFL players have...