June 9, 2008 Table Of Contents
SI.com
SI Players: LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Big Brown's human connections complicate his Triple Crown fairy tale
By Tim Layden
A coach's verdict could be good news for Bonds
The WNBA's assist leader believes the dog days of summer will end with the Shock back in the finals
As told to Andrew Lawrence
Reliving the best Mets games at unlovable Shea
What to watch and watch for
By Sarah Kwak
By Dan Patrick
NBA FINALS
It's hard to believe that 21 years have passed since the Celtics and the Lakers last met in the NBA Finals—but easy to remember all their great games and bad blood
The keys to Boston's league-best D: a new assistant, an older roster, a desire to change and lots of hustle
By Ian Thomsen
BASEBALL
A rugged, no-frills league in the Last Frontier State has funneled almost 400 college players to the majors and kept fans in Fairbanks up late each June with its quirky Midnight Sun Game
By Luke Winn
If you prefer small ball—meaning affordable tickets and young players with a hunger for the game—SI has plotted a 71-day, 15,997-mile journey through the minor leagues. It'll be worth the price of gas (promise)
STANLEY CUP FINALS
By closing in on its fourth NHL title in 11 years Detroit proved it could win on a budget, while team captain Nicklas Lidstrom helped change perceptions on the limits of European players
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Like his famous brother-in-law, new Oregon State coach Craig Robinson is promising change, and his most winning quality may be how he differs from the men who preceded him
TRACK AND FIELD
In a race that jolted his sport, 21-year-old Usain Bolt of Jamaica smashed the world record for 100 meters and established himself as a threat to win multiple gold medals at the Beijing Olympics
By Tim Layden
Lorena Ochoa
Off the golf course she may go unrecognized, but that's just fine with LORENA OCHOA. The world's most dominant female athlete never wanted to be anything more than No. 1 in her sport
Inside
After last year's French Open flameout, the U.S. men showed they might know a bit about playing on red clay after all
Carlos Quentin was obtained for a Class A player and nearly started the season in the minors; now he's raking
By Jon Heyman
Baseball Prospectus Unconventional Wisdom
By Nate Silver