
March 2, 2009 Table Of Contents
SI.com
SI Players: LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD
He cheated, he lied, he says that he loves you ... in a loosey-goosey kind of way
Will a world champion miss the Olympics?
By Tim Layden
A likable lout carries HBO's new baseball dramedy
By Adam Duerson
By Joe Lemire
What smart fans should do this week
The soccer fanatic stars in Friday the 13th
As told to Sarah Kwak
By Dan Patrick
CYCLING
That was Lance Armstrong back on his bike at the Amgen Tour of California, drawing big crowds and making time for his crusade against cancer. Next stop: Europe and a shot at an unprecedented eighth Tour de France title
GOLF
Eight months removed from his epic triumph at Torrey Pines, Tiger Woods returns with nothing less than the weight of the game resting on his reconstructed knee
By Damon Hack
PRO BASKETBALL
Forget about the Big Three. The Celtics' chances of gaining home court advantage in the East lie in the enormous mitts of Rajon Rondo, their mule-headed point guard
By Ian Thomsen
BASEBALL
Jason Giambi Gets His Renegade Back On
A little older, a little less scruffy and not an ounce less fun-loving, one of the most vaunted—and beloved—sluggers in A's history hopes to bring a much-missed jolt to the Oakland lineup and clubhouse
By Lee Jenkins
The most unlikely of underdogs reached the Series last fall. Who this year's Cinderella?
By Joe Sheehan
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Thanks to its Hell-raising coach and a tough, frenetic style that has recaptured the hearts of its disaffected fans, Missouri has overcome scandal and apathy to become a contender once again
By Tim Layden
NFL COMBINE
Desperate to find their next great quarterback, the Lions are taking a good, hard look at top-rated Matthew Stafford—who has an uncanny link to their last great quarterback
By Peter King
BOBBY ORR
The Ever Elusive, Always Inscrutable and Still Incomparable Bobby Orr
At 60 he's been a player agent for longer than he ruled the ice. He is fiercely private and deeply loyal, and the force of Orr's singular presence has not waned
By S.L. Price
Inside
With Tennessee and LSU suffering rare off years, Auburn and Vanderbilt are getting a chance to shine
By Seth Davis
Rebounding from their first losses, Miguel Cotto and Kelly Pavlik proved that being unbeaten isn't everything
By Chris Mannix
A boyish new coach has revamped Ottawa's stuffy system and has the team flying—and winning. Can it last?
Pierre McGuire's In the Crease