CONTENTS

70 What Is China's Track?
The U.S. track team—95 men and women—overwhelmed their hosts in three meets and sprinted through a carefully orchestrated tour of the People's Republic: communes, cities and a Children's Palace. They heard slogans and songs indicating that track in China may be partly a political race.
by John Underwood

16 And Now It's Avatar
The Triple Crown was split three ways when a long-shot colt won the Belmont
by Whitney Tower

20 It Was a Foreign Affair
Non-Americans won eight of 19 events at the NCAA track and field meet
by Ron Reid

22 Nero Doesn't Fiddle Around
Pacing's top-rated 3-year-old took care of Alert Bret in their first meeting of the year
by Barry McDermott

24 Another Fortress to Conquer
Augusta already his, Jack Nicklaus trains his sights on Medinah and the U.S. Open
by Dan Jenkins

32 Bringer of the Big Heat
No-hit Nolan Ryan is so fast that even his curve has been clocked at 85 mph
by Ron Fimrite

44 Nobody's Dry in Yakutat
When the rains come to this little Alaskan town, the pouring commences at the bar
by Robert F. Jones

The departments

12 Scorecard
40 Travel
54 Baseball
58 Track & Field
62 Soccer
85 For the Record
86 19th Hole

Credits on page 85

Cover photograph by John G. Zimmerman

ILLUSTRATION

ARNOLD ROTH

Next Week

QUESTION: What Panamanian-born ballplayer throws right, bats left and has a .323 lifetime average? And why is Roy Blount Jr. writing about him? Answers: a) Rod Carew of the Twins; b) because it's will-he-hit-.400? time again.

Formula 5000 blends the low-slung lines of an Indy car with the lively handling of a Grand Prix racer. The best of this road-racing breed will wheel into combat in Ontario, where Brock Yates watches the vroom at the top.