CONTENTS

24 Face-off
Vancouver pushed the Rangers to a seventh game in the Stanley Cup playoff's
by Austin Murphy

30 Hot Not
While the NBA's image has cooled, the NHL has ignited new interest in hockey
by E.M. Swift

42 Arms and the Man
Despite limiting Hakeem Olajuwon, New York trailed Houston in the NBA Finals
by Phil Taylor

50 Dugout Doldrums
Baltimore's John Oates has felt the heat, as pressures mount for today's managers
by Tim Kurkjian

65 No Place in the Shade
In this SI Classic story, Cool Papa Bell tells why baseball was a bittersweet gig
by Mark Kram

72 The Way He Was
Genial giant Cowboy lineman Nate Newton used to be a big, bad bully
by Leigh Montville

World Cup Preview

78 It Should Be a Kick
Whether you are ready or not, Americans, here comes soccer's big spectacle
by Alexander Wolff

86 A Dream Come True
The great Brazilian player Pelè championed the U.S. bid for the World Cup
by E.M. Swift

92 True Grit
Jürgen Klinsmann is a down-to-earth superstar who hails from Germany
by Alexander Wolff

100 Scouting Reports
Likely semifinalists: Brazil, Colombia, Germany and Italy
by Alexander Wolff and Hank Hersch

DEPARTMENTS

10 Letters
14 Faces in the Crowd
19 Scorecard
60 Horse Racing
117 Inside Baseball
122 Point After

PHOTO

MIKE POWELL/ALLSPORT USA

A High, Hard One: The dirt flies as U.S. goalie Tony Meola makes a save while preparing for the World Cup finals, which begin this week all across America (page 78).