LEADING OFF

A-OK Rod

After a fewpractice cuts in the on-deck circle at Camden Yards last Friday, Yankeesslugger Alex Rodriguez stepped to the plate for the first time since undergoingarthroscopic surgery on his right hip in early March, swung at the first pitchfrom Orioles hurler Jeremy Guthrie and belted a three-run homer to left.Rodriguez, who said he felt no pain in the hip, went 1 for 4 in New York's 4--0victory.

Hair Force

Allison Brennandived hair-first during the women's three-meter springboard finals at theAT&T USA Diving Grand Prix in Fort Lauderdale last Saturday. Brennan, whowon the event, is the 26-year-old daughter of Cathy Ferguson, who earned twogold medals in swimming at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

Photo Finnish

Jussi Jokinen(36), a Hurricanes forward from Finland, slipped a shot past Bruins defensemanMark Stuart and goalie Tim Thomas during Game 4 of their Stanley Cup playoffseries in Raleigh last Friday. Carolina won 4--1, and at week's end led theEastern Conference semifinal three games to two (page 44).

Fall Guy

Kayaker TylerBradt, 22, of Stevensville, Mont., paddled over 186-foot-high Palouse Falls inPalouse Falls State Park, Wash., on April 21 to break the waterfall worldrecord of 127 feet set by Pedro Olivia of Brazil on March 4. Bradt was fineafter the plunge—though he did break a paddle. Check out a video of Bradt'sfeat at SI.com/bonus

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Photograph by Simon Bruty

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Photograph by Heinz Kluetmeier

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Photograph by Dave Sandford

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Photograph by Erik Boomer/Aurora Photos