LEADING OFF

High Pressure

Lakers forwardTrevor Ariza (3) drew a foul from Rockets guard Aaron Brooks during Game 5 oftheir Western Conference semifinal on May 12 in Los Angeles. Ariza had 13points in a 118--78 victory; L.A. closed out the series on Sunday with an89--70 romp in Game 7.

Flying Colors

With the acrobaticair patrol Frecce Tricolori painting the sky, cyclists pedaled from Grado toValdobbiadene in the third stage of the Giro d'Italia on May 11. Six days laterthe riders, citing a 180-foot fall by Spain's Pedro Horrillo (who was in a comafor 24 hours), deemed the course unsafe and raced the ninth stage at halfspeed.

Water View

Sean Shughrou ofthe Elite Water Polo Club of Murrieta, Calif., made ball possession hispriority during an 18-and-under match against the Del Mar Water Polo Club onSunday in Del Mar. Shughrou's team lost 9--6.

United Front

A ManchesterUnited wall of (from left) Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs andMichael Carrick reacted to a free kick by Arsenal's Robin van Persie lastSaturday in Manchester. With the 0--0 draw, Man U won its 18th English PremierLeague title, tying Liverpool's record. On May 27, the Red Devils will faceBarcelona in the Champions League final (page 28).

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Photograph by John W. McDonough

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Photograph by Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

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Photograph by Robert Beck

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Photograph by Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images