March 10, 2008 Table Of Contents
SI Bonus Section: Golf Plus
For Ernie Els, a narrow win at the Honda Classic was not only a relief but also a welcome sign of progress in the larger scheme
Vardon, interlocking or 10-finger. Strong, weak or neutral. For every Tour pro, the seemingly simple act of holding a golf club contains a story
By Curt Sampson
After a nearly career-ending decline, Steve Stricker used introspection and hard work—as well as a mirror—to recapture the success he experienced a decade ago
Big win, bold talk by Ochoa
By Jim Gorant
By Mark Wood
By Dan Patrick
After years of suffering, I'm trying to beat my allergies
By Jill Mcgill
SI Players: LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Barry has left the building—and the Giants are loving life
By Phil Taylor
W.C. Heinz wrote sports with spare elegance
By Mark Bechtel
RED SOX CENTERFIELDER
As told to Austin Murphy
Sightless students make a tense Everest trek
By Adam Duerson
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Sarah Kwak
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Nobody plays harder or has done more to make his team a winner than Tyler Hansbrough, No. 1 North Carolina's maniacally focused junior forward—which is why he's SI's pick for national player of the year
By Grant Wahl
Tennessee's Candace Parker has topped last year's all-world season with a better one—and is SI's pick for women's POY
PRO FOOTBALL
Thanks to the lessons of his Hall of Famer dad, the Virginia standout learned early that to be a top NFL prospect requires an uncommon passion
By Lee Jenkins
HOCKEY
Bully defenseman Mike Komisarek has transformed the Canadiens into the meanest, most Cup-worthy team that Montreal has had in years
BASEBALL
Having endured so many departures, Cleveland fans are expecting the worst as C.C. Sabathia approaches free agency
By Ben Reiter
SKIING
Once known for her highlight-reel crashes, Lindsey Vonn started relying more on technique than breakneck speed and developed into a dominant force on the World Cup circuit
PRO BASKETBALL
The red-hot Rockets figured to plummet after Yao Ming went down. But their upward path has continued thanks to Tracy McGrady and some surprising contributors
By Chris Mannix
NEGRO LEAGUES
Luminous paintings by Kadir Nelson re-create the power and majesty of the Negro leagues, in a time when some of the game's greats played in undeserved obscurity—but with undiminished passion
By Phil Taylor
Inside
By Luke Winn
Point After
By S.L. Price