Lineup

36 | CELEBRATIONS

The High Five

A simple hand slap—with its myriad permutations—has become the most ubiquitous gesture in sports. Why do we relish, embellish, mock and bungle it?

By Chris Ballard

42 | BASEBALL

Matt Wieters

The Orioles are lucky to have one of the sport's rarest and most sought-after commodities: a young catcher who can hit and play defense

By Tom Verducci

48 | PRO BASKETBALL

Utah Jazz

Led by All-Star point guard Deron Williams, the no-nonsense team has bounced back from a poor start and is in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the West

By Ian Thomsen

52 | HOCKEY

Detroit Red Wings

A once-dominant club is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 19 seasons. Then again, if these Wings make it, watch out

By Michael Farber

56 | COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Kansas Jayhawks

Think it's a gas to coach the best team in the nation? Just listen to Bill Self, who's baffled by his loaded squad's inconsistency

By Joe Posnanski

Departments

6 Leading Off

12 Letters

14 Scorecard

Jim Bunning still has a mean pitch

22 Just My Type

Kobe on treys, his health and soccer

by Dan Patrick

27 Faces in the Crowd

30 Inside ...

• College Basketball

Big help for Duke

• The NFL

Rating player moves

• Soccer

Beasley's comeback

64 The Vault

Jack wins TPC, '78

68 Point After

Ballin' with the old man

by Chris Ballard

THE REMARKABLE STORY OF TOM SMALLWOOD

In less than one year a GM worker went from the assembly line to the unemployment line to the PBA World Championship

By Michael Farber

PAGE 60

ON THE COVER The Orioles' 23-year-old catcher Matt Wieters, photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. Inset: Andy Hayt

FIVE PHOTOS

PHOTO

SIMON BRUTY (SMALLWOOD)