Inside: The Week In Sports

Baseball
Coming off his most painful, and least productive, season, Albert Pujols is raking again, pain-free • The secret to the Royals' first-week success

Horse Racing
Run down in the Wood, War Pass is no sure bet to handle the Kentucky Derby's longer distance • The horses to watch in this week's Derby preps

Tennis
Serena Williams, fitter and more focused, dominates at Key Biscayne • Russia's Mikhail Youzhny finally gets some attention—as a headbanger

The NBA
Why Kobe's the MVP over three other worthy candidates • The Celtics take the honors for top defensive player and team exec • The buzz on the top coach

DIAMOND GYM
No, J.R. Towles was not hand-walking to first after a hit batsman. His world was turned upside down when he tried to avoid a pitch by Cubs lefthander Rich Hill in the second inning of last Friday's game at Wrigley Field. Towles, the Astros catcher, exacted revenge two innings later with a two-run homer off Hill in Houston's 4--3 win.

PHOTO

Photograph by Nam Y. Huh/AP