Lineup

32 | TRAGEDY INIOWA
A Good Man Down
The town of Parkersburg can't understand why its beloved high school footballcoach was murdered by one of his former players
By Lee Jenkins

38 | BASEBALL
Adrian Gonzalez
No only is the Padres slugger a hero in San Diego and Tijuana, but, at hisbelow-average salary, he's also the best bargain in baseball
By Lee Jenkins

44 | PROBASKETBALL
Shaquille O'Neal
Shy, retiring Shaq has something to say about being traded to the Cavaliers:He's going to help King James win his ring
By Ian Thomsen

48 | BOOKEXCERPT
David Beckham, Bust
The British superstar was supposed to make soccer more popular in the U.S. andhelp the L.A. Galaxy win an MLS title. He's done neither
By Grant Wahl

56 | NASCAR
Midseason Report
With nine races left to set the Chase field, SI breaks down the drivers in therunning
By Lars Anderson
• Rising star Brad Keselowski
By Mark Beech

Departments

4 Letters

6 Leading Off

14 Scorecard
• Senator Hatch on BCS
• Top-earning jocks

22 Just My Type
Joe Torre on the steroid era and Manny
by Dan Patrick

25 Faces in theCrowd

26 Inside ...
• Soccer
U.S. earns respect
• Tennis
Heavy hitters thrive
• Track
Underdog wins 100

70 The Vault
Mac beats Borg, 1981

74 Point After
An old athlete's perfect finish
by Chris Ballard

Andy Roddickpowered into the Wimbledon quarters (page 29).

ON THE COVER
Photograph by Matthew Putney/The Waterloo Courier
Inset: Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire

PHOTO

SIMON BRUTY (RODDICK)

FIVE PHOTOS