Lineup

44 | BASEBALL
Perfect Game
For White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle, many imperfect elements came together to form the masterpiece that he pitched against the Rays
By Lee Jenkins

52 | TOUR DE FRANCE
Lance Armstrong
He didn't win this year's Tour—Alberto Contador did—but the Texan tamed Mont Ventoux, finished third and set the table for next year
By Austin Murphy

56 | COLLEGE RECRUITING
Junk Mail
High school guard Roberto Nelson received more than 2,000 letters from 56 schools. How much did they influence his college choice?
By George Dohrmann

62 | PRO FOOTBALL
Tony Gonzalez
He's one of the best tight ends in NFL history, but as his new teammates, the Falcons, will learn, what sets him apart is his inquisitive mind
By Austin Murphy

66 | OLYMPICS
Beijing After the Games
The city is feeling the hangover that comes after hosting the world's biggest coming-out party. Last year's spectacle left a mixed legacy
By Michael Meyer

Departments

4 Leading Off

12 Letters

16 Scorecard
T.O. show makes its debut in Buffalo

28 Just My Type
Hall double talk: Rice and Henderson
by Dan Patrick

30 Faces in the Crowd

32 Inside ...
• Baseball
Matt Holliday's value
• The NBA
Team USA minicamp
• The WNBA
Aussie sparks Fever
• NASCAR
Montoya bears down

74 The Vault
Boycott couldn't spoil '84 Games

78 Point After
Korey Stringer's lifesaving legacy
by Selena Roberts

ON THE COVER
Photograph by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Inset: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

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PHOTO

HOWARD SMITH/US PRESSWIRE (HOLLIDAY)

Holliday gives a teammate more swings (page 33).

FIVE PHOTOS