June 19, 2006 Table Of Contents
SI Bonus Section: Golf Plus
Before a Playoff Win at the LPGA Championship the Iconic Korean Took Time Off to Get a Life
By E.M. Swift
Coal miner Terry Helms always wanted a better life for his son, Nick. But it took Terry's death in the Sago mine cave-in to allow Nick to act on his dream of becoming a pro golfer
By Franz Lidz
Vijay Singh ends his winless streak
By Jim Gorant
By Mark Wood
I won't give up my fight against a rule limiting tee heights
Leading Off
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
STEELERS GUARD
As told to Ed Bouchette
When an irresistible force meets an immovable catcher, memories ensue
The Questions with DiSagana Diop
Mavericks Center
Features
What drives David Ortiz, the supersized Red Sox slugger, is his resentment of the ball club that did him wrong ... and the fighting spirit of his late mother, Angela Rosa
By Tom Verducci
With the location of every batted ball meticulously charted, defensive positioning is becoming increasingly customized
By Albert Chen
All the confidence the U.S. team built coming off a strong showing four years ago blew up in a devastating 3-0 opening defeat to the Czech Republic. Now it's on to a must-win match with hellbent Italy
By Grant Wahl
Italy stayed focused against Ghana despite an investigation into betting and match-fixing that has caught up team members
By Mark Bechtel
In an inspired performance, the Hurricanes and rookie goaltender Cam Ward were closing in on the first NHL championship of the postlockout era. Too bad no one was watching
Second-ranked Rafael Nadal defended his French Open title by continuing his domination of No. 1 Roger Federer and spoiling his rival's Grand Slam bid
No owner is more wired into his players and fans than Mark Cuban, the ref-berating, serial blogging face of the Mavs who stands on the brink of (gulp!) ruling the NBA
Q/A NBA COMMISSIONER David Stern
Mark Cuban's good pal riffs on everything from a glorious spring to the inglorious Knicks
Features
Two games into the Finals there was a hole in the middle of the Heat offense where Shaq usually reigns supreme. The Mavericks used all their 7-footers to gang up on the Diesel and shut him down
Inside
By Bill Syken
By Albert Chen
By Tom Verducci
Life of Reilly
English fans sing to their star, "There'sonly one Michael Owen." After a fellow Brit was rumored to be schizophrenic, opposing fans chanted, "There's only two Andy Gorams."
By Rick Reilly
Departments
League officials and politicians talk a good game, but an IRS investigator is doing the most to keep sports clean
By Mark Fainaru-Wada
The Steroid Era may be over, but the equally insidious HGH isn't going away
A teenage jockey and a spunky Jazil added much-needed dazzle to the Belmont Stakes
By Gene Menez
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix
Paul Slansky rates baseball apologists
By Paul Slansky
Rounder balls? Hit birdsmen? It was a week of odd sports moments