July 11, 2005 Table Of Contents
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
TALKING WITH Pro Volleyball Player MISTY MAY And her husband, Marlins Catcher MATT TREANOR
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
The Questions with Scott Kazmir
Devil Rays Pitcher
Diamondbacks leftfielder Luis Gonzalez taps the plate three times before every at bat to honor his triplets. That's not the half of it
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Carolina players have created a place where kids can learn--and raise a ruckus
Edited by Kostya Kennedy
Tennis
While Roger Federer won his third straight title at Wimbledon, it was the unexpected triumph of a joyful Venus Williams that enchanted the crowds
By S.L. Price
BASEBALL
By Tom Verducci
Baseball
In the nick of time for a nicked-up team, Andruw Jones is having the breakout power season the Braves have long hoped for
At this year's All-Star break, the Home Run Derby goes international
By Albert Chen
Halfway through the season some unexpected names sit atop the leader boards. But will they stay there?
Pro Basketball
In a surprising (and surprisingly well-orchestrated) move, Los Angeles drafted 17--year-old Andrew Bynum, betting he'll measure up to his predecessors in the pivot
By Ian Thomsen
Drafting two local heroes in the lottery won't hurt the Bobcats at the gate. But more important, it will help them on the court
By Ian Thomsen
Motor Sports
No driver has been hotter than Tony Stewart and no star colder than Dale Earnhardt Jr., but with his third-place finish at the Pepsi 400, Junior rejoined the race for the Chase
Summer Double Issue
By Text by Richard Deitsch
The ultimate sports summer? How much time, gas and courage have you got? SI's writers make their personal recommendations here for things they feel you absolutely must do, watch, read or eat before Labor Day. Getting married in the mouth of that very large fish (page 111) is, of course, optional
By Peter King
In an age when Ty Cobb's dentures have gone up for auction and even checkers has its own hall of fame, you might think every sports collectible had already been collected. But the whereabouts of some key items remain a mystery. A fortune awaits those who can find these Holy Grails
They may not hold postgame press conferences, date Tara Reid or sign multimillion dollar contracts. But that doesn't mean they aren't consummate professionals. They've mingled with world leaders, inspired fans, and, as athletes and competitors, they're pure beasts.
By Ben Reiter
Sixth Annual Where Are They Now?
25 Years Later
First of all, in regards to the two most famous words in all of sports, he never said them. Not that it matters much. His words were still a declaration of surrender. But what Roberto Duran actually said on that strange November night in New Orleans 25 years ago was "No peleo [I won't fight]," wagging his glove softly, his back to Sugar Ray Leonard, their rematch suddenly and shockingly over. This is weird news, after all this time. So where, you ask, did No màs, the most memorable phrase yet for athletic capitulation, come from? Duran, who has been an enormously playful storyteller throughout lunch (he is in Minneapolis to help a friend with a boxing promotion), turns into his old, forbidding self. In language that would survive any translation--we all know what puta means, right?--he blames announcer Howard Cosell. "I am standing here, he is sitting there," Duran petulantly explains. "How does he know what I'm saying?"
THOUGH HE is 55 and has not stepped into a ring professionally for three years, Larry Holmes is picking a fight. On the About Larry Holmes page on LarryHolmes.com, the ex-heavyweight champ lists both his most recent bout--a 10-round decision over Eric (Butterbean) Esch on July 27, 2002--and his hoped-for next one: "George Foreman ???????????????????"
By Jaime Lowe
[JIM PLUNKETT] The Raiders' two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback is having a fine retirement, but his knees, shoulder, back and neck are living in the past
[MAGIC JOHNSON] A quarter century ago in the NBA Finals an effervescent rookie took his team--and the league--on his shoulders and lifted it to greatness
An original Showtimer, he hasn't mellowed or slowed down
The NBA's first early entry wants his rightful place in history
By S.L. Price
[ DENNY CRUM ] - Four years after retiring from Louisville, where he won NCAA hoops titles in 1980 and '86, the Hall of Fame coach is trying his hand on the poker circuit
By John Walters
The former Louisville bruiser is now in the business of comfort
By Julia Morrill
[EVONNE GOOLAGONG-CAWLEY] The winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles is back home in Australia, helping young Aborigines get a leg up both in tennis and in life
The Swedish tennis legend lives as he once played: quietly
Their indomitable will made all the difference in the World Series, when they beat the Royals in six games--and it has served them well in the years since
The compelling personalities of 1980 include Cha-Cha and the Kaiser, Seve and Skeets, a rebellious QB and the peskiest golfer--make that gopher--in all of film
By Julia Morrill
The Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
The Negro leagues served as the muse for a traveling exhibit
By Jaime Lowe
Edited by Mark Bechtel
NBA teams now have incentive to dump overpaid players--and those guys can make even more elsewhere. Got it? Your guide to the league's new rules
Facing NCAA sanctions in two major sports earlier this year, Ohio State suddenly has reasons to rejoice
Edited by Mark Bechtel
Edited by Mark Bechtel
Edited by Mark Bechtel
For years the Chiefs thrived on coach Hank Stram's innovative game plans
Team Tennis is ignored by just about everyone--except the stars who play it
The 27-year-old from Emberton, England, won the Indy 500 and leads the IndyCar Series by 76 points
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
Breaking news, scores, schedules and fresh, original Web-only stories and columns 24/7
By Tom Verducci
Edited by Mark Bechtel