August 25, 2008 Table Of Contents
SI.com
SI Players: LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Enjoy the Olympics! Just don't think the Beijing we're seeing is the complete picture
Eliminated in singles, Roger Federer still struck gold
After 19 years Mike and the Mad Dog split
What to watch and watch for
By Sarah Kwak
By Dan Patrick
BASEBALL
Forget the curses, the billy goats and the Bartmen—let's deal in the rational world: The Cubs are the most complete club in baseball, their mighty pen led by a nasty threesome that recalls the late-inning trio of Lou Piniella's last championship team
By Luke Winn
They might not be as mean as the Nasty Boys, but the Cubs' relief corps has the same ability to blow opponents away
By Nate Silver, Baseball Prospectus
PRO BASKETBALL
While the fast NBA company he used to keep goes for gold in Beijing, Jermaine O'Neal battles back from injuries. Can he recover enough to turn his new team, Toronto, into a contender?
By Ian Thomsen
PRO FOOTBALL
Fed up with distractions and his players' frequent run-ins with the law, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis finally got mad—and is getting back to basics on the field
By Jim Trotter
BEIJING: 2008 OLYMPICS
Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in world-record time with such ease that you have to wonder: How much lower than 9.69 can he go?
By Tim Layden
China was stunned when an old injury flared up to keep its hero, Liu Xiang, from competing in the hurdles, on the same day the U.S. broke through with its first golds
By Tim Layden
Michael Phelps now belongs to history. For the rest of us the memories—and indelible images—of the Greatest Olympic Performance Ever won't be forgotten anytime soon
By Susan Casey
She didn't strike gold, but 41-year-old Dara Torres made quite a splash at the Water Cube anyway, swimming the fastest times in her 24-year career while winning three silver medals for the U.S.
With their historic one-two finish in the all-around competition, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson had the best showing ever by a pair of U.S. women gymnasts—and remained pals while doing it
By E.M. Swift
Frustrated in the past by the international rule book, the U.S. team, led by reserves Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, has shown the ability to adapt—and to dominate
The U.S. outstroked three-time defending champion Romania to win its first women's eights gold since the Los Angeles Games
Glenn Eller and Vincent Hancock had the Midas touch in leading U.S. marksmen to an impressive haul of six medals—and a windfall at home
Great Britain is preparing to take the torch with a self-imposed mandate: Spend less, medal more and put together a Games that will leave a lasting mark
Point After
By S.L. Price
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