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February 19, 2007 Table Of Contents

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SI Bonus Section: Golf Plus

Phil's Message From Pebble

Phil Mickelson on suicide watch after Winged Foot? A has-been after missing the cut at Phoenix? Yeah, right. Here's what Lefty might've told Tiger about that--and more--on the way home from his five-shot win at Pebble Beach

By Michael Bamberger

International Affair

Was the death of Denver's Tour stop an aberration, or a foreshadowing?

By John Garrity

Final Fore

Tom Watson says goodbye to Pebble

By Jim Gorant

Big Play

By Steve Bosdosh

Shot Maker

Why Frank Chirkinian belongs in the World Golf Hall of Fame

By Mike Lupica

Air and Space

Flattering Themselves

By Steve Rushin

SI Players: LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD

Dwight Howard

As told to Chris Mannix

Who's Hot Who's Not

THE QUESTIONS WITH Chris Chelios

Red Wings Defenseman

Two-Sport Couple

A track star and a defensive back unite

By Lisa Altobelli

The Pop Culture Grid

How to Win in Vegas

THE MOST compelling NBA competitions this weekend will unfold the night before Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas—at the slam-dunk contest, three-point shootout and skills challenge. Former champs reveal the secrets to outballing the rest.

By Ben Reiter

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Phenomenal Freshmen

He headlines perhaps the most formidable group of first-year players in college basketball history, but Texas forward Kevin Durant is in a class by himself--and should be the first frosh to win player of the year

By Grant Wahl

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

The Gators Get Richer

Florida coach Urban Meyer used relentless recruiting tactics--and the school's first national title in a decade--to put together the best class in the land

By Stewart Mandel

PHIL TAYLOR'S RECRUITING ROUNDUP

By Phil Taylor

HOCKEY

That's Gotta Hurt

With the crackdown on obstruction in the NHL, sacrificing the body to block a shot has become a defenseman's most effective--and risky--ploy

By Michael Farber

The Maloof Brothers

What Happens in Vegas...

... stays in Vegas? This weekend, when the NBA All-Star Game comes to town, Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof will be everywhere, for all to see. And if the party is a success, the NBA--and the Maloofs--may be back in Vegas to stay

By Ian Thomsen

2007 NASCAR PREVIEW

Tomorrow Has Arrived

In a season of change for NASCAR--say moshimoshi to Toyota and hola to the restyled race car--no other newcomer is as promising as Juan Pablo Montoya, the former F/1 standout who's poised to take stock car racing global

By Lars Anderson

Talking Points

NASCAR's rules changes put a welcome premium on wins, but will too many contenders spoil the Chase?

By Mark Bechtel

Start 'em Up

Toyota hopes to shoot to the front in its Cup debut, but in racing that new-car smell isn't always sweet

By Lars Anderson

Nextel Cup Team Scouting Reports

On Sunday at Daytona the nine-month, 36-race charge for the Nextel Cup begins anew. Here's a rundown of the top teams' drivers and others with a shot at the checkered flag.

By Lars Anderson

Shootin' the Breeze with Junior

Off the track and on the record with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who talks about growing up, goofing off and missing his dad

By WITH Lars Anderson

2007 NASCAR Preview

NASCAR Evolution: Survival of the Fastest

In stock car racing, nothing ever stands still. Indeed, the Car of Tomorrow is coming up fast in the rearview mirror. Here's a high-speed look at how the great American race car--and American racing itself--has progressed over the past 60 years

By Mark Beech

The Devil Is in the Details

Though he has a rep for bending--even breaking--the rules, crew chief Chad Knaus studies every angle in making Jimmie Johnson a winner

By Lars Anderson

Inside

Inside: The Week In Sports

The NBA

By Ian Thomsen

College Basketball

By Seth Davis

The NFL

By Peter King

Life of Reilly

The Way To a Man's Heart

By Rick Reilly

Departments

Inside Cover Description

Leading Off

Letters

A Star Is Bored

... and so is everybody else at all-star games. SI's NBA writer proposes an alternative that could feel a bit less like kissing your sister

By Jack McCallum

Fish out of Water

Fired by the Marlins, the reigning NL Manager of the Year is spending his spring at home

By Tom Verducci

For the Record

Hill Topper

One of the U.S. women's rising stars finally breaks into skiing's elite

By Tim Layden

Q&A Pete Sampras

The tennis Hall of Famer, 35, will compete in the Outback Champions Series—an over-30 tour—in Boston, May 2--6

By Richard Deitsch

The Beat

By Adam Duerson

Faces in the Crowd

SI Update

Joe Mesi

By Adam Duerson

Week Ahead

What to watch and watch for

By Chris Mannix