July 6, 2009 Table Of Contents
LEADING OFF
Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS
The U.S. got a glimpse of the top at the Confederations Cup—now it must apply its lessons to 2010
By Grant Wahl
Thanks to big bangers like Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, heavy hitting is in vogue again at the All England Club
Little-known Mike Rodgers has gone from selling shoes out of his car to national 100-meter champion
COACH ED THOMAS
'He Was the Rock That This Community Was Built On'
In Parkersburg, Iowa, it was a high school coach who led the townspeople out of the rubble of a tornado, showed them how to live a Christian life and brought honor to a football field he mowed himself. What they can't understand is why Ed Thomas was gunned down by a former player
By Lee Jenkins
BASEBALL
Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez honed his sweet stroke in a pair of cities on either side of the U.S.-Mexico line—one that he'd love to call home for the rest of his career and the other too dangerous even to visit
By Lee Jenkins
PRO BASKETBALL
Now a Few Words From... LeBron's New Bodyguard
Traded to the Cavaliers, Shaquille O'Neal talks about protecting the King, being happy for Kobe and how he'll change the matchup with the Magic
By Ian Thomsen
SOCCER
When he came to L.A. two years ago, David Beckham was supposed to lift soccer's profile in the U.S. and help the Galaxy vie for a title. Instead he failed as a leader, foundered on the field and alienated his most important teammate
By Grant Wahl
NASCAR MIDSEASON REPORT
With nine races to go before the field of 12 is set for NASCAR's title Chase, the pressure is on to earn a playoff berth—or the season is a bust. Any driver who still has a shot at the Sprint Cup better get running
A star in the Nationwide Series, Brad Keselowski is ready to toe the line with the big boys in Cup competition. But don't call him a phenom. He's 25, not 18, and he has paid his dues
By Mark Beech
Point After
Departments
The case for congressional hearings into the BCS
By SENATOR Orrin Hatch
Broad Street gets a little tougher as Philly swaps for a rugged defenseman
NFL players prepare for life on camera
SI's annual look at who's making what
What smart fans should do this week
By Dan Patrick
SI's lead baseball writer goes inside the game. This is just a taste of what you'll get online.
By Tom Verducci