Cover Description

[The following text appears on the cover.]

The World's Bravest Athlete

by GARY SMITH

College Football Earthquake

by AUSTIN MURPHY

THE CORE FOUR

THE HEART OF THE YANKEES' DYNASTY BROKE IN TOGETHER 16 SEASONS AGO. IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY DID LUNCH

By TOM VERDUCCI

PAGE 38

NBA PLAYOFFS

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

PAGE 32

"TAKE A PICTURE. YOU WON'T SEE THIS AGAIN. IN ANY SPORT."

—Mariano Rivera (second from right), posing with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte

PHOTO

ON THE COVER Photograph by Walter Iooss Jr.