CONTENTS

STILL UP FOR GRABS 18
After the Detroit Pistons won Game 1, the L.A. Lakers came back to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA finals
by Jack McCallum

AN IRAN YOU CAN ROOT FOR 24
With his KO of WBC middleweight champ Thomas Hearns, Iran Barkley is an underdog no more
by Franz Lidz

BRAVING THE DEPTHS 26
After years of bad management, the Atlanta Braves have hit rock bottom—or at least they hope they have
by Gerry Fraley

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON 34
Risen Star won the Belmont in dazzling style, just as his celebrated father, Secretariat, did 15 years ago
by William Nack

TWO FOR THE BOOKS 36
Studious Stanford beat Arizona State to win the College World Series for the second consecutive season
by Jaime Diaz

BEWARE THE BUG'S BITE 38
Lyme disease, an ailment borne by a tiny tick, is reaching epidemic proportions in some parts of the U.S.
by Robert H. Boyle

SOME SAY NO LEICA 48
Astro lefty Bob Knepper has a decidedly controversial focus on the world, but his pitching this year is on target
by Jill Lieber

A GUY WHO'S OPEN-MINDED 52
Beating Tom Watson to win the U.S. Open title of '87 didn't alter Scott Simpson's even ways or questing mind
by Jaime Diaz

'JUST PRAY FOR ME, BABY' 64
Michael Spinks will rely on more than just his strength and his cunning as he goes for Mike Tyson's crown
by Gary Smith

DEPARTMENTS

Letters 6
Scorecard 13
Inside Baseball 56
Rowing 62
For The Record 82
Point After 84

Cover Photograph by Ronald C. Modra; Inset by Richard Mackson

PHOTO

JOHN W. McDONOUGH

ELECTRIC AND OTHERWISE: There were all sorts of fans at the Silverdome for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, including 10,000 with Jack Nicholson masks—and the Lakers' No. 1 booster himself (page 18).