June 12, 2006 Table Of Contents
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
U.S. GOALKEEPER
As told to Lisa Altobelli
Hurricanes Defenseman
By Ben Reiter
Getting on base means a chance to gab, gossip and get advice
By Reported by Matthew Waxman
Features
Twelve months after his breakout performance in the postseason, Miami's Dwyane Wade has made an even bigger jump: to headline act of a star-studded NBA Finals
The best pure shooter for a big man since Larry Bird, Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki may no longer be the most overlooked superstar in the NBA by the time the championship series is over
Diamondbacks righthander Brandon Webb started 8-0 and has stamped himself a Cy Young Award candidate thanks to a devastating sinker that's laying hitters low
By Phil Taylor
As he tuned up for his return to the Astros, Roger Clemens's first pitches were fittingly to his son Koby, a Houston minor leaguer and one of many reasons the future Hall of Famer donned a uniform again
By Tom Verducci
Serving Up Their Bread and Butter
Most pitchers rely on deception to keep hitters guessing, but like Brandon Webb, these six thrive with a signature pitch that gives hitters fits--even though they know it's coming
By Albert Chen
With his leadership and game-winning goals, workaholic centerRod Brind'Amour may be willing the Hurricanes to the title
By Yi-Wyn Yen
Imagine that every four years a monthlong tournament united the planet in an all-consuming passion that transcended barriers. Stop imagining. It's here
By Grant Wahl
The intensity that made Carolina's Steve Smith an All-Pro wideout has also earned him a reputation as a hothead. He's trying hard to harness the heat
HOW DO TIGER AND PHIL STACK UP? ONE OF THEIR FELLOW TOUR PLAYERS, ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY, AGREED TO ASSESS THEIR GAMES HEADING INTO THE OPEN AT WINGED FOOT
Inside
The Week In Sports
By Albert Chen
By Tom Verducci
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
An athlete's suffering can be instructive, even inspiring. But our emotions spill over at the sight of an injured horse
A new documentary goes deep behind the scenes of high school hoops
The actor, 36, plays a cook in a Mexican orphanage who moonlights as a wrestler in Nacho Libre, which opens June 16
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix