The Lineup
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
36 We Love to Watch
As March Madness begins, one player stands out as the star of the show: Illinois's Dee Brown
by Grant Wahl
PRO FOOTBALL
42 The No. 1 Question
Who will the 49ers take first in the draft? SI slots the top four players at the scouting combine
by Peter King
BASEBALL
48 A Winning Hand?
In discarding a pair of aces, Oakland A's G.M. Billy Beane took his boldest gamble yet
by Daniel G. Habib
PRO BASKETBALL
52 Executive Decision
Kevin McHale has taken charge of his moribund T-Wolves. Risky move.
by Jack McCallum
BASEBALL
56 Unsafe at Home
Despite their success in the major leagues, Venezuela's beisbol stars are crime targets
by E.M. Swift
Departments
4 Leading Off
12 Contributors
15 Letters
17 Air and Space
Andy Van Slyke has some advice for his old teammate Barry Bonds: Look in the mirror by Steve Rushin
18 Scorecard
• NBA trade deadline madness
• John Chaney finally crosses line
• Jose Canseco, literary lion
26 Faces in the Crowd
29 Players
70 The Life of Reilly
You asked for it: an update on many of the little guys I've written about in 20 years at SI by Rick Reilly
Inside...
66 College Basketball
• Louisville primed for NCAA run
68 The NBA
• Magic's Howard justifies top pick
• Sonics, Allen can't make a deal
Cover
PHOTOGRAPH BY AL TIELEMANS
INSET PHOTOS: Manny Millan (Felton, Rondo); David E. Klutho (Jack); Steve Jahnke/The Southern/AP (Brooks); Brett Hansbauer/US Presswire (Basden)
SI Extra
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SI.com
• Who's in, out, on the bubble? Up-to-the-minute college hoops scoop, including SI.com's bracket watch, power rankings and complete coverage of conference tournament week, at SI.com/basketball/ncaa.
COLOR PHOTO
BRAD MANGIN
SPRING FLING
At training camp in Arizona, A's ace Barry Zito dusts off his lefty delivery (page 48).