CONTENTS

Stating Their Case 16
In the Stanley Cup, Boston's Brad Park and the Montreal Three made persuasive arguments for the defense
by Peter Gammons

South America Takes It Away 20
The U.S. was ousted from Davis Cup play by Argentina, which parlayed Willie Vilas and the 61st-ranked player in the world
by Walter Bingham

Babes in the Woods 22
The Trail Blazers and the Nuggets, playoff neophytes, battled each other into the seventh in the NBA's scenic series
by Curry Kirkpatrick

A New Generation of Blues Fans 24
While Olympians were suffering a post-Montreal letdown at the Drake Relays, a couple of unknowns hit the high notes
by Joe Marshall

The Scent of Roses 34
For the moment, the winner of the Blue Grass seems to have a chance of upsetting Seattle Slew, but only Derby Day will tell
by William Leggett

Not Pretty, Just Persistent 40
Onetime boy gravedigger and Olympic flop, Heavyweight Duane Bobick gets set for his big-time bout with Ken Norton
by Douglas S. Looney

The Cowboy Who Showed 'Em 68
Cecil Smith, a Texas ranch hand when he discovered polo in the 1920s, became the best player in that rich man's game
by Robert Cantwell

The Departments

Scorecard 11
TV/Radio 48
Baseball's Week 50
Tennis 56
Pro Basketball 63
Bowling 66
For the Record 83
19th Hole 84

Credits on page 83

Cover photograph by Dick Raphael

Next Week

A laugher is what the Dodgers are threatening to make out of the race in the NL West. Led by record-setting slugger Ron Cey, Los Angeles lost only three times in April and opened a big lead. Larry Keith tells of a man and a team on a tear.

Two different worlds exist side by side at the Indianapolis Speedway in May. Lane Stewart photographed 1976 winner Johnny Rutherford in the days before the 500, while John Cole reports from a first-time spectator's frame of reference.