CONTENTS

14
DEATH ON THE COURT
Immediately after making a typically dazzling play, Loyola Marymount's Hank Gathers collapsed
BY SHELLEY SMITH

18
'A REAL SPIRITUAL GAME'
L.A.'s Marty McSorley so described the atmosphere when his team and Edmonton set a penalties record
BY JAY GREENBERG

22
ON TOP AND HOLDING
Detroit's rugged Pistons have their game together for a run at a second consecutive NBA championship
BY RICK TELANDER

26
WAITING FOR HIS CHANCE
Pitcher Britt Burns, in lockout limbo like so many other ballplayers, has had his comeback curtailed
BY TIM KURKJIAN

28
THE WOLFPACK AT BAY
As point-shaving charges rocked N.C. State's basketball program, coach Jim Valvano prepared to step down
BY ALEXANDER WOLFF

30
CHILD'S PLAY
That's what golf is like for Paul Azinger, whose high spirits make him seem as if he's 30 going on 15
BY JOHN GARRITY

42
THE YUGOS ARE COMING
Surprisingly, basketball has become not only a very big sport but also a major export for Yugoslavia
BY LEIGH MONTVILLE

54
A HEAD FOR THE GAME
To the Athletics' Tony La Russa, the art of baseball managing lies in the mastery of the details
BY GEORGE F. WILL

DEPARTMENTS

9
LETTERS

10
SCORECARD

50
HORSE RACING

52
COLLEGE BASKETBALL

70
FOR THE RECORD

72
POINT AFTER

COVER COMPUTER GRAPHICS BY APRIL GREIMAN; PHOTOGRAPH BY CRAIG MOLENHOUSE; INSET BY V.J. LOVERO

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER

THREE BIG HEAD CASES: These Detroit fans decided not to mask their affection for Piston stars Dennis Rodman (10), Bill Laimbeer (40) and Joe Dumars, during a game last week at The Palace (page 22).