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)
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NFL Draft
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FanNation
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Stanley Cup playoffs
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Baseball
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Extra Mustard
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Soccer
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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
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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)
