May 1, 2006 Table Of Contents
SI Bonus Section: Golf Plus
Has the Legends forgotten something?
By Jim Gorant
Big Play with Mitchell Spearman
Every stroke I took last week reminded me of Dick Harmon
By Lucas Glover
Air and Space
Writer's Block ... and Tackles
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
STARS CENTER
As told to Yi-Wyn Yen
By Gerald Green
The Questions with Brian Giles
Padres Outfielder
It's no fun being a defender when an NBA stud decides to pin the tale on the dunkee
2006 NFL Draft Preview
In the treacherous process of selecting college talent, a first-round decision can make or break a franchise. This year no top prospect poses a greater risk-or promises a bigger reward-than Texas quarterback Vince Young
By Peter King
NFL talent evaluators look for these 10 essentials when figuring whether a college passer has what it takes to succeed at the league's premier position
By Peter King
The player called Thunder to Reggie Bush's Lightning looked to be a first-round lock, but a tepid performance at USC's pro day has scouts puzzling over his potential
Playing to Type--and Against It
For these kinds of prospects, potential pitfalls abound-but the decision-makers know that past performance is no guarantee of future results
By Bill Syken and Ben Reiter
At the combine, on pro days and in individual workouts, scouts employ a mosaic of measures to size up potential picks physically and mentally
By Peter King
In a first round top-heavy with quarterbacks, fledgling Cleveland wagered the No. 1 pick on Tim Couch of Kentucky. Big mistake
By Peter King
Fearless forecast: Reggie going to the Texans, Matt to the Titans, Vince to the Raiders--and a load of wailing from quarterback-hungry Jets fans
SOCCER
The coach who led the U.S. to its surprise World Cup run four years ago is at it again, using psychology and ACC hoops insights to ready his team for a killer first-round Cup group
By Grant Wahl
Pro Hockey
Nearly two years after the last postseason puck was dropped, the playoffs returned with a renewed passion, a familiar intensity, power plays of all kinds--and, of course, people throwing stuff
Overlooked by the opposition, lesser-known players are once again proving to be surprise weapons in the postseason
By Yi-Wyn Yen
Features
Machiavellian. Redemptive. Necessary. Each of those words has been used to describe the Miami coach's decision to return to the bench this season, and in what could be his last shot at one more title, the heat has never been more intense
By S.L. Price
With the help of an NBA scout, SI's Jack McCallum broke down individual battles that will be pivotal in the first round
Inside
By Albert Chen
By Tom Verducci
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
A trio of Tar Heels recruits, led by guard Tywon Lawson, was the talk of Michael Jordan's all-star game
By Mark Beech
If it's a steady stream of B.S., then congratulations: There's probably a job in the world of sports that's just perfect for you
By Stanley Bing
Forget QBs with strong arms--the truth is the scarcest commodity in the NFL draft
The 56-year-old actor (The Big Lebowski) plays a girls' gymnastics coach in the comedy Stick It, which opens on April 28
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix