LEADING OFF

Cri de Coeur

• Rafael Nadal fell to the clay and shouted for joy at Stade Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday after winning his fifth French Open singles title and regaining the world No. 1 ranking with a 6--4, 6--2, 6--4 victory over Robin S√∂derling (page 56). It was the 24-year-old Nadal's seventh Grand Slam title and his first since S√∂derling eliminated him from the 2009 French Open.

Sneaker Attack

• Celtics swingman Tony Allen put his best foot forward when the Lakers' Kobe Bryant tried to pass to Pau Gasol (16) during Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Los Angeles last Thursday. Behind Bryant's 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists, L.A. dominated Boston 102--89, but the Celtics came back on Sunday to even the series with a 103--94 victory (page 38).

Rock Slide

• Loris Capirossi skidded off course and tumbled through the trackside gravel during practice for the Gran Premio d'Italia TIM motorcycle race in Mugello, Italy, last Friday. Two days later Capirossi, a 37-year-old rider from Bologna, finished 10th in the race, the fourth of 18 events that make up the MotoGP World Championship.

PHOTO

Photograph by Bob Martin

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Photograph by John W. McDonough

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Photograph by Imago/ZUMApress.com