Lineup

FEATURES

BASEBALL

30 The Super Natural
After bouts with drugs and alcohol, Josh Hamilton has regained the skills that now make him a Triple Crown threat
By Albert Chen

NBA PLAYOFFS

38 Killer Instinct
Nobody wants to win as much as Kobe Bryant because nobody needs to win as much. His obsession dates to childhood
By Chris Ballard

STANLEY CUP FINALS

44 Control Freaks
Possession is nine-tenths of the battle between the Red Wings and Penguins, who make up the ideal title matchup
By Michael Farber

MOTOR SPORTS

48 All Eyes on Indy
Knocked out of the race, Danica Patrick fumed while Scott Dixon was cruising to victory in a rejuvenated Indy 500
By Lars Anderson

ROME 1960

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDED

The great issues of the late 20th century—civil rights, the cold war—came together with charismatic athletes (such as Rafer Johnson, Wilma Rudolph and Cassius Clay) at a watershed Games
BY DAVID MARANISS
Page 52

Departments

8 Leading Off

14 Letters

16 Players
• The Round Mound of Teflon
• A generation gap in the NFL
• Mike Piazza hangs 'em up
• First Person: Barrett Ruud
• Video games get physical

26 Faces in the Crowd

28 Just My Type by Dan Patrick
• Mark Cuban inhales

76 Point After
I've seen where sports are heading—and I've taken matters into my own pants by S.L. Price

Inside ...

72 Baseball
• Need a quality starter? Just wait

75 Olympic Sports
• Another hurdle for Paul Hamm

PHOTO

JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (BRYANT)

38 FACE FACTS Those close to Kobe Bryant believe you need only see his change of expression to know when he's just about to take over a game.

PHOTO

AP (JOHNSON)