April 8, 2013 Table Of Contents
SI.com
LEADING OFF
Early-April optimism is more than a platitude this year. The most predictable thing about baseball in 2013 is its unpredictability
By Albert Chen
THE MAIL
MARCH MADNESS
A PLEA FROM A HORRIFICALLY STRICKEN TEAMMATE GOT LOUISVILLE TO FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND: THE QUEST FOR A THIRD NATIONAL TITLE
By Luke Winn
IT'S NO TALL TALE: FRESHMAN MITCH MCGARY TURNED MICHIGAN INTO A BEHEMOTH
By Andy Staples
SYRACUSE'S SMOTHERING DEFENSE, AS RELIABLE AS EVER, WILL MAKE OR BREAK THE ORANGE'S HOPES
By Tim Layden
WICHITA STATE WON THE UPSET-RAVAGED WEST WITH A STEELY RESOLVE THAT COMES FROM ITS COACH. NOW IT'S THE BULL OF THE BALL
THE COLLEGE ATHLETICS UNIVERSE HAS A NEW GROUP OF POWER BROKERS: THE SEARCH FIRMS THAT HELP SCHOOLS FILL THEIR COACHING VACANCIES, COMMANDING TOP DOLLAR FOR WORK THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS PAY OFF
DRAFT PREVIEW
MAN BOOBS OR MOBILITY? THUNDER THIGHS OR THE FASTEST 40 AT THE COMBINE? FOR SO MANY WIDE-BODY PROSPECTS IN THIS RAPIDLY EVOLVING GAME—THE READ OPTION, THE SPREAD—EVERY EXTRA POUND IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Once a punch line for his slapstick 40 at the combine, Bengals tackle Andre Smith decided to lose flab and regain respect
By Ben Reiter
TIGER
IT'S TIME TO TALK TIGER WOODS, NO? SIX WINS IN HIS LAST 20 EVENTS AND THE RESTORATION OF HIS NO. 1 WORLD RANKING ARE A GOOD PLACE TO START. BUT TIGER'S STALKING BIGGER GAME HERE: MAJORS HISTORY. HERE'S HOW HE GOT TO THAT GOOD PLACE AGAIN
POINT AFTER
It's Time to Build a Bettor World
By Steve Rushin
Departments
No player in history, not even Lew Alcindor, transformed college basketball more than Baylor's dunk-happy Brittney Griner
A team of filmmakers is set to follow the first gay athlete in a major team sport—whoever he may be
By Grant Wahl
Mr. T's Greatest Athletic Feats
By Mark Bechtel
By Dan Patrick
Edited by Alexandra Fenwick
Postseason play allowed a trio of stars to climb up NBA draft lists—but three others took steps back
By Chris Mannix