CONTENTS

14
A'S O.K.
If you counted Oakland out in the American League West, count again. The A's are flying high once more
BY TIM KURKJIAN

20
SQUEAKING IN
The Lakers finished out their manic-depressive season by miraculously securing a berth in the NBA playoffs
BY RICHARD HOFFER

30
THE RACE TO PLACE
Arazi is such a favorite to win the Kentucky Derby that the real battle may be for second—and $1,000,00
BY WILLIAM NACK

32
FAT AND UNHEALTHY
After feasting for years on generous helpings of television dough, leagues must learn to get by on less
BY JILL LIEBER

38
ONE THING...OR THE OTHER
Deion Sanders may now be a full-time hitter for baseball's Braves—not for pro football's Falcons
BY ED HINTON

46
THE DISH FROM MEL
Mel Kiper lives the dream of every NFL draftnik: He has made the tan's off-season passion his job
BY TOM JUNOD

62
BIG WHEEL
Karl Malone is gassed up for another NBA playoff run and hoping his Utah Jazz does not stall early again
BY JACK McCALLUM

DEPARTMENTS

5
LETTERS

7
SCORECARD

54
BASEBALL

59
PRO BASKETBALL

77
FOR THE RECORD

78
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY RONALD C. MODRA; INSET BY PETER READ MILLER

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER

Footsie: Ranger Jack Daugherty slipped his foot under that of A's catcher Jamie Quirk and safely across the plate as Texas won 6-4 on Sunday. Despite the loss, at week's end revived Oakland still led in the tough American League West (page 14).