June 18, 2012 Table Of Contents
SI.com
LEADING OFF
THE MAIL
Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS
Six weeks ago, the Angels were headed to oblivion. Their manager's philosophical makeover has helped turn things around
By Ben Reiter
Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake's strong showing at the Adidas Grand Prix sets up an intriguing battle with his more famous countryman—at the Olympic trials and in London
Which runners are peaking, which are floundering and which ones are just running in place as the Games draw closer
In a Belmont without I'll Have Another, Union Rags delivered a victory that validated himself and saved the day
By Tim Layden
NBA FINALS
Not since Larry met Magic has a championship series brought about a changing of the guard as pronounced as this one, which matches the two biggest stars of their generation
By Ian Thomsen
Russell Westbrook may not be the biggest name in the Finals, but how well he runs the Thunder offense will determine which megastar goes home happy
By Chris Mannix
TENNIS
Maria Sharapova regained the top ranking in Paris, and Rafael Nadal took down his chief rival, setting the stage for Wimbledon and the Olympics
BOXING
Manny Pacquiao was beaten by Timothy Bradley in a dumbfounding decision that dealt the centuries-old sport yet another crippling blow
By Chris Mannix
BASEBALL
BEING THE NATURAL ISN'T ENOUGH
Andrew McCutchen is breaking out in Pittsburgh—and providing a model for how teams can turn draft-day studs into major league stars
By Joe Lemire
Did your favorite young player just have a breakout season? Become an All-Star? Sign a rich extension? Chances are he was drafted in 2005, which—thanks to a second wave of rising stars—is turning out the be the best class in decades
By Joe Sheehan
REVOLUTION GAMES
THE 1956 MELBOURNE OLYMPICS WERE PLUNGED INTO COLD WAR INTRIGUE AS DOZENS OF HUNGARIAN ATHLETES, UNWILLING TO RETURN HOME AFTER SOVIET TANKS CRUSHED A POPULAR UPRISING AGAINST COMMUNIST RULE, DEFECTED TO FREEDOM—WITH HELP FROM A YOUNG SPORTS MAGAZINE
POINT AFTER
By Phil Taylor
Departments
Be inspired, but know that the gap between elite and rec swimmers is, well, Olympian
By Lynn Sherr
Could streamlining their concussion case against the league hurt NFL veterans?
A new NBA TV documentary lifts the curtain on the U.S.'s 1992 Olympic basketball team
Rex Ryan flips the idea of "acting coach" on its head
Edited by Alexandra Fenwick
Ferrari is banking on turning a young Canadian into a Formula One star of tomorrow
By Dan Patrick
