Lineup

FEATURES

NBA PLAYOFFS

36 Gone, NotForgotten
There was no meltdown in Motown, but by taking Detroit to the brink, theCavaliers exposed flaws in the Pistons, who bore witness to LeBron'sarrival
by Chris Ballard
• Fantastic finishes, bad blood and small ball have given the postseason amuch-needed jolt

HORSE RACING

40 ShatteredHopes
A brilliant colt's bid to give his desperate sport a Triple Crown championturned tragic when Barbaro broke down in the Preakness and began a fight forhis life
by Tim Layden

BASEBALL

44 Prince of theCity
In David Wright, the resurgent Mets have a homegrown star to build around
by Franz Lidz

NHL PLAYOFFS

50 The CinderellaFour
Midnight has yet to strike for the long-shot teams that are rewriting therules
by Michael Farber

TENNIS

52 SnappyComeback
After a three-year break, Martina Hingis is winning over fans as neverbefore
by L. Jon Wertheim

CARSON PALMER

The Rebuilding Ofa Career
After a devastating injury to his left knee four months ago, the young BengalsQB had to confront his football mortality-- then fight to be healthy for theseason opener on Sept. 10
by Michael Silver
PAGE 58

Departments

6 LeadingOff
12 Letters
15 From the Editor
17 Air and Space
Looking for a silver lining? The rain delay has inspired painting, poetry andpros by Steve Rushin

18 Scorecard
• An ex--49ers owner wants back in
• Danny Almonte grows up
• Justin Gatlin's roller-coaster week

28 Faces in the Crowd
30 Players
84 Life of Reilly
A new kind of heavyweight champ: He'd rather teach people's kids than eat themby Rick Reilly

Inside ...
78 Baseball
• The White Sox' hold on Chicago
• Brad Lidge gets a welcome tip

82 WNBA
• Phoenix turns to an offensive guru

Cover
PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON BRUTY
INSET PHOTO: Robert Beck

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GO TO SI.COM DAILY FOR SCORES, STATS AND BREAKING NEWS

>>INDIANAPOLIS 500
Unlike a year ago, when she started fourth at the Indy 500 and was all therage, Danica Patrick (left) qualified 10th this month while fending offcriticism over her failure to win any of her 19 IRL races. Go to SI.com/racingto read the nine biggest issues facing Patrick; the most famous family feuds inBrickyard history; and which NASCAR drivers would have the best chance to winthe 500.

>>RIFFSOF REILLY
This week, SI's award-winning columnist Rick Reilly takes jabs at DannyAlmonte, Barry Bonds and Bubba Watson, among others. In bidding farewell to theretired Doug Flutie (above, right), Reilly jokes, "It was always fun to buyhim dinner. He could order off the child's menu." Get the latest Riffsevery Thursday at SI.com.

>>MEDIACIRCUS
Who are the biggest players in the sports media? Check out the Power Rankingsin Richard Deitsch's Media Circus column at SI.com.

>>WORLDCUP
Are Ronaldinho (right) and heavily favored Brazil all they're cracked up to be?Get ready for the tournament by visiting SI.com's new World Cup page, featuringteam previews, schedules, statistics, insider columns and the latest news, atSI.com/soccer.

PHOTO

ROBERT BECK (WRIGHT)

 44

WRIGHT ON TOP At 23, third baseman David Wright has earned the admiration ofhis fellow Mets for his poise and dedication.

PHOTO

SIMON BRUTY (PALMER)

PHOTO

ROCKY WIDNER (TAURASI)

 82

MERCURY FALLING

Diana Taurasi and Phoenix stumbled out of the gate at Sacramento last Saturdayin the team's first game under coach Paul Westhead.

THREE PHOTOS

BRENT SMITH/REUTERS (PATRICK); DAMIAN STROHMEYER (FLUTIE); SPORT-PRESSE-FOTOS (RONALDINHO)