CONTENTS

18
BANK SHOT
An unslippery slope gave Fred Couples the cushion that he needed to win the Masters for the first time
BY RICK REILLY

24
ANOTHER BATTLE JOINED
In confronting AIDS, Arthur Ashe is drawing on the same rare qualities he has used against other foes
BY SALLY JENKINS

28
THREE FOR THE ROAD
Steve Spence and two other U.S. marathoners played a sly waiting game to win spots on the Olympic team
BY MERRELL NODEN

30
UNGORGEOUS GEORGE
George Foreman was a swollen, sorry sight after narrowly beating a surprisingly tough Alex Stewart
BY PAT PUTNAM

32
ROYALLY CONFUSED
The Kansas City Royals began the season with a roster of new names but came up 0-for-opening week
BY AUSTIN MURPHY

36
TOUCHDOWN TOMMY
Stanford fullback Tommy Vardell, who should be a Top 10 NFL draft choice, sounds almost too good to be true
BY DOUGLAS S. LOONEY

44
AIR FRANCE
Arazi, the French-trained favorite for the Kentucky Derby, flew to victory in his debut as a 3-year-old
BY WILLIAM NACK

48
OUT OF THE HOOD
Forward Larry Johnson came off the mean streets of Dallas to become a big force for the Charlotte Hornets
BY LEIGH MONTVILLE

62
CAPTAIN AMERICA¬¨¬®‚Äö√¢•
Bill Koch and his America¬¨¬®‚Äö√¢• syndicate hope that money and high technology will win the America's Cup
BY JOHN GARRITY

DEPARTMENTS

6
LETTERS

11
SCORECARD

54
BASEBALL

58
PRO BASKETBALL

79
FOR THE RECORD

82
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN IACONO

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER

Amen, Amen: Nothing says "the Masters" more eloquently than the 13th green, deep in azalea-festooned Amen corner at Augusta. Here, during the second round of last week's tournament, Jack Nicklaus strides away while Bruce Lietzke remains behind to finish putting (page 18).