May 5, 2008 Table Of Contents
SI Players: LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD
After years of drug scandals, track faces its future as a minor Olympic sport
By Tim Layden
Test your knowledge of the wandering coach
Rediscovering a flawed, forgotten golf legend
As told to Arash Markazi
What to watch and watch for
By Sarah Kwak
Dan Patrick
By Dan Patrick
BASEBALL
Plenty has gotten lost in translation for the newest Chicago icon, but not this: With his all-around game, he has won over fans like no Cub since Sammy Sosa
By Lee Jenkins
The Cubs have gotten the message that you have to learn to walk before you can run to a title
By Joe Sheehan, Baseball Prospectus
NBA PLAYOFFS
San Antonio began its march toward a second straight title by pushing Phoenix to the brink and likely triggering the dismantling of the once-feared Suns juggernaut
Young and athletic Philly has confounded veteran Detroit, which hasn't looked like a team capable of winning the East
By Ian Thomsen
BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
A Chinese coach at an Iowa gym has helped build smart, spirited 16-year-old Shawn Johnson into the world all-around champion and the gold medal favorite. Now she wants to bring him glory in his homeland
By E.M. Swift
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Whether it's a new coach, a new training regimen or newfound confidence, change is in the air for four storied programs on the rebound
FILLING OUT THE OFFENSE: Notre Dame
By Mark Beech
By Andy Staples
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Personal duels like the one between Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote and Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg define the character of the postseason—and determine its outcome
NFL DRAFT
No team had more work to do in the draft than the Falcons, who tapped BC's Matt Ryan as Michael Vick's replacement—the first step in the recovery of a beleaguered franchise
By Peter King
Beef stock, that is. A draft top-heavy with offensive tackles had some other weighty issues too
The Chiefs broke with their past to build for the future—and got some major help for right now
By Jim Trotter
Inside
By Jon Heyman
Baseball Prospectus Unconventional Wisdom
By Nate Silver
By Mark Beech