Inside THE WEEK IN SPORTS

THE NHL
Red Wings' Verbeek is Hall of Fame pest
Required playoff reading
Islanders to get (another) new owner

BASEBALL
Relaxed Angel Erstad starts strong
New parks show their character
Coping when closer is hurt

HORSE RACING
Derby dark horse (chestnut-colored)
Flighty Pegasus wins again
High Yield lives up to name

MOTOR SPORTS
Gordon shows he's no has-been
Tracy comes from behind
Nineteen-year-old woman tackles IRL

THE NBA
Laker for MVP and Rocket for Rookie of the Year
SI's all-league picks
Let the mind games begin

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY AL TIELEMANS Ice Cap Snow on the Rockies--and the Cardinals--put the lid on a Colorado-St. Louis game at Coors Field.