As Iraq's top Olympic official, Uday Hussein is accused of the torture and murder of athletes who fail to win

The NBA

Golden GilBrash point guard Gilbert Arenas has improved the Warriors' fortunes

On the Atlantic Division-leading Nets, who at week's end had gone 6-11 since the All-Star break:

Fresh SqueezedAstros third baseman Morgan Ensberg is safe on a squeeze bunt as Pirates catcher Jason Kendall applies a late tag during Grapefruit League action in Bradenton, Fla., last Thursday.

The Fights of SpringTwo bench-clearing brawls showed that bad blood and retribution can flare up even in exhibition games

Smooth MovesNew England shored up its suspect defense with three prime free agents

Joy RideToronto made bold moves at the trade deadline, but the celebratory mood was cut short by injuries

At a recent practice Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, 19, was checked hard by wing Kristian Huselius, who is skilled but not usually physical. Bouwmeester took exception and smashed Huselius...

You know about FACES IN THE CROWD, right? It's maybe the best thing we do. It's just people's achievements, simple as that. No agents, contracts or Hummers. They never fail to astound.

BryantballAs I neared the end of the article about Kobe Bryant's amazing scoring streak (Roll of a Lifetime, March 3), I was delighted to read that here was a young superstar who had just one...

LETTERS

Our cover incorporating images of all 65 invitees to the NCAA tournament required some prognostication on the part of our college basketball staff, which is headed up by senior editor Dick...

Inspired by our leaders in Congress (whose cafeteria now calls french fries "freedom fries") and by New Jersey restaurant owner Anthony Tola (who poured his Dom Pérignon down the toilet), Georgia...

Truly a man of mystery, the Pacers' Ron Artest just might be the nicest guy ever to lead the league in flagrant fouls

Counted out of the tennis elite, U.S. men are suddenly coming on strong

4Straight seasons in which UCLA hoops coach Steve Lavin, who was fired on Monday after a 10-19 season, has beaten the nation's No. 1 team; the Bruins edged Arizona in the Pac-10 tournament.

Hospitalizedwith what is suspected To be a brain Tumor, plucky ex-reliever Tug McGraw, who helped The Mets and The Phillies To championships in his 19-year career. The 58-year-old lefty was in...

CaptainedIUPUI to its first-ever berth in the NCAA basketball tournament, 27-year-old Navy veteran Matt Crenshaw. With one second left in the Mid-Continent conference title game against Valparaiso...

For the first time since '78, no one phoned for baseball's ultimate journeyman

CHESS GRANDMASTER

Brooks Kieschnick, 30, is trying to make the Brewers as an outfielder and a pitcher. How's he doing? SI's Kieschometer tells all.

Sorry I'm late. I was tending the pin for Scott Hoch.

The 50-year-old hockey guru is an analyst for ABC, MSG Network and Hockey Night in Canada

Before Frank Worth became the Los Angeles Dodgers' first official photographer, he made a name for himself as one of Hollywood's first paparazzi. Unlike today's celebrity shutterbugs, Worth got...

Next time you're in Japan, watch out for flying sumos. Asashoryu, the sport's first Mongolian yokozuna (or grand champion, right), was bowled out of the ring by a lower-ranked countryman,...

A sherpa whose grandfather carried supplies on Sir Edmund Hillary's historic 1953 Everest expedition is planning to build a cybercafe on the mountain.

Rockets center and media darling, identifying his favorite English words: "Last question."

MARCH 21-27

CBS Barters with ESPN, CNN Noize

Shelly Chessie, FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICKIce HockeyChessie, a senior forward at Bowdoin College, is the school's alltime leading female scorer, with 177 points. She helped the Polar Bears become...

After a contentious run to the World Series, the Giants rebuilt their lineup with veterans who can get along with Barry Bonds. Will the plan work?

A seemingly innocent race for the puck ended with one college player fighting for his life and another suffering the pain of being blamed

In college basketball's era of uncertainty, experienced players are essential for a team to navigate the postseason storms

Here's a team's worth of unsung seniors who could show what they've got

Julius BarnesStanford point man is a catalyst at both ends.

With neutral-site regionals forcing more top seeds to travel, the road to the Final Four could—for once—be loaded with potholes

SI's Complete Bracket Picks for 2003

In last year's Sweet 16, Sooners punished Cats inside. This time 'Zona lords over boards to deliver Olson's second crown

An MVP season? So what? Critics of one of the NBA's most versatile stars won't let up until he carries Minnesota further into the playoffs

On the March: Catch the latest NCAA tournament news, plus bracket breakdowns and on-scene analysis from SI's experts, at si.com/basketball/college.

To sign up for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's free subscriber-only e-mail newsletter, go to http://sicustomerservice.com/siextra.

The 76ers are torrid thanks to Allen Iverson, whose all-around play has vaulted him into contention in the crowded MVP race

In the tradition of so many U.S. presidents. Bill Clinton loves golf, and to this day he plays the game with passion, joy...and a flair for rule-bending that can only be described as Clintonian