Lineup

36 | NBA FINALS

Lakers Back on Top
In getting his fourth NBA title and first without Shaq, Kobe Bryant revealed both his evolution as a player and his near-desperate desire to win
By Chris Ballard

46 | PRO FOOTBALL

Rex Ryan
Like his father, Buddy, the new Jets coach stresses defense, instills passion and loyalty in his players, shoots off his mouth—and never forgets a slight
By Tim Layden

52 | STANLEY CUP

Penguins on Parade
By winning a dramatic Game 7 in Detroit, Pittsburgh displayed a brilliance beyond young captain Sidney Crosby and signaled a new era for the NHL
By Michael Farber

58 | BASEBALL

Charlie Manuel
The Phillies' manager, once a national hero in Japan and now the toast of Philadelphia, may sound like a yokel, but bring up hitting and he's a poet laureate
By Mark Bechtel

Departments

4 Letters

6 Leading Off

16 Scorecard
Sportswriters tied up in knots over steroids

24 Just My Type
Mark Cuban on jersey ads, the draft, Dirk by Dan Patrick

26 Faces in the Crowd

28 Inside ...
• Swimming
Dagny Knutson surges

• NASCAR
Joey Logano learns

• Baseball
Teams eye trades

• Boxing
Miguel Cotto survives

66 The Vault
'67 Open: Jack-Arnie

70 Point After
Mickelson or Daly? Lefty's more like us by Selena Roberts

What would a team have to offer to get Victor Martinez (page 32)?

ON THE COVER
Photographs by Bob Rosato (Lakers); David E. Klutho (Penguins) Inset: Michael J. LeBrecht II/1Deuce3 Photography (Ryans)

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JOHN GRIESHOP/MLB PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES (MARTINEZ)

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