CONTENTS

18 The NCAA Tournament
Three regional favorites—Georgetown, Houston and Kentucky—and a big surprise, Virginia, made it to the Final Four

26 Baseball 1984

If precedent prevails, Baltimore won't repeat as world champ, but that's just one "sure thing" that may go awry
by Bruce Anderson

34 A chip off the old block and more, Cal Ripken Jr. did his daddy proud by becoming the MVP in his second season
by Ron Fimrite

46 Assessing the American and National League races, SI prefers the Orioles, White Sox, Expos and Dodgers

68 Once baseball's invisible men, umpires of late have brought attention to themselves with their new feisty attitudes
by Steve Wulf

84 Yogi
Yogi Berra is skipper of the George Steinbrenner Yankees, for whom managing jobs often ain't over when they're over
by Roy Blount Jr.

DEPARTMENTS

13 Scorecard
78 TV/Radio
80 Cross-Country
107 For the Record
108 19th Hole

Credits on page 107

Cover photograph by Walter Iooss Jr.

TWO PHOTOS

LEADING OFF: It took three hours and 58 minutes, four sudden-death overtimes and 87 saves before victorious

Bowling Green could wave the flag in celebration of its 5-4 NCAA championship win over Minnesota-Duluth last Saturday night in Lake Placid, N.Y. As for the Bulldogs, when it was all over all they could do was flag in despair.