Skip to main content

Lineup

FEATURES

NFL DRAFT PREVIEW

38 Next!
How the simple reading of a list of names has spawned a culture of its own and become the NFL's second-biggest event
by Tim Layden
• Jeffri Chadiha's mock draft

52 Full Speed Ahead
No matter where Adrian Peterson ends up playing, he'll be running for his life
by Michael Silver

BASEBALL

56 Last Year Is History
It's a happier time for Alex Rodriguez, whose retooled swing has reestablished him as the game's most feared hitter
by Tom Verducci

HORSE RACING

60 Almost Famous
Red-hot trainer Todd Pletcher needs one of his five horses to win the Derby
by Tim Layden

MADE IN JAPAN

BOBBY VALENTINE'S
Super Terrific Happy Hour
With his creative mind and his Veeckian flair, the controversial former Mets manager is a national hero—halfway around the globe
by CHRIS BALLARD • page 64

Departments

8 Leading Off

16 Letters

18 Players
First Person: Chris Chelios
The banning of a top NBA ref
A blazing U.S. marathoner
Tom Glavine's singular theft
Debunking a homer myth
The Big O on the big screen

32 Faces in the Crowd

86 Life of Reilly
Some losses bring pain that seems unbearable. Then comes a phone call from Tony Dungy
by Rick Reilly

Inside ...

80 The NBA
Can Luol Deng carry the Bulls?

82 NASCAR
Toyota eyes the Coca-Cola 600

84 The NHL
The Rangers' regal goaltender

Cover
PHOTOGRAPH BY GREG NELSON

INSET PHOTO: John Angelillo/UPI/Landov (Rodriguez)

SI Extra
To sign up for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S free subscriber-only e-mail newsletter, go to sicustomerservice.com/siextra.

ON THE WEB
SI.COM
SPORTS IN REAL TIME. ALL THE TIME. ALL FREE. CUSTOMIZED ACCESS TO ANY FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS. HD-QUALITY PHOTOS. STREAMING VIDEO. THE BEST NEWS AND ANALYSIS ON THE WEB.

NFL Draft
Is Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas worth a Top 5 pick? Get exclusive video on prospects at SI.com/nfl.

FanNation
Throw down opinions, start blogs and get fresh Truth & Rumors every day at fannation.com.

Stanley Cup playoffs
Another Cup for Sabres star Chris Drury? The NHL playoff blog knows all, at SI.com/hockey.

Baseball
Can Vladimir Guerrero continue his torrid start? Follow every pitch at SI.com/baseball.

Extra Mustard
Sports and pop culture mix daily in this new spicy-as-Beyoncé section at SI.com.

Soccer
Keep tabs on Man U's Cristiano Ronaldo and the Champions League action at SI.com/soccer.

TRAFFIC REPORT

MOST VIEWED
1. Gallery: Top 20 draft busts of the last 20 years
2. Peter King on the dearth of first-round talent in the draft
3. Photos: In Case You Missed It
4. Don Banks's mock draft
5. Photos: Top 15 impact rookies of the last 30 years

EDITORS' PICKS
1. Jack McCallum's NBA playoff preview
2. The NFL Draft Film Room
3. Tom Verducci's Mailbag
4. Richard O'Brien on Jeff Gordon's watershed moment
5. Alex Wolff on the NBA's video revolution

ONLY AT SI.COM
Check out our selections at SI.com/editorspix.

my SI
DOWNLOAD FREE
Pick your favorite baseball team and get news from across the Web and photos on your desktop at SI.com/mySI.

PHOTO

KATHY WILLENS/AP (RODRIGUEZ)

56 SPRING FLING Alex Rodriguez left his bat and the Indians in his wake after belting a walk-off three-run homer during his April for the ages.

PHOTO

JUN TAKAGI (VALENTINE)

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER (WALLACE)

80 BYE THE BOARD Ben Wallace couldn't grab this rebound last Saturday, but his Bulls did snatch a series-opening win over Miami.

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER (THOMAS)

PHOTO

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IMAGING (FANNATION)

PHOTO

BILL WIPPERT (DRURY)

PHOTO

PHIL ELLSWORTH (GUERRERO)

PHOTO

JESSE GRANT/WIREIMAGE.COM (BEYONCÉ)

PHOTO

AP (RONALDO)

PHOTO

RUSTY JARRETT/GETTY IMAGES (GORDON)