Leading Off

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PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID E. KLUTHO SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Lid Lifter Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell (29) used his stick for mask impact against Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on May 21 at the United Center. Chicago got into Quick's head but not into his net—or at least not often enough in a 6--2 loss. At week's end Los Angeles held a 2--1 series lead.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID CANNON GETTY IMAGES

A Win And a Sprayer Beneath his outsized image (left), Rory McIlroy provided a champagne bath at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England, on Sunday after taking the BMW PGA Championship by one stroke over Shane Lowry with a final-round 66. The victory, McIlroy's first since the Australian Open last December, came four days after he called off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS MACHIAN THE WORLD-HERALD

Seams Unfair Nebraska sophomore third baseman Jake Placzek fouled a ball off the plate and back into his face last Saturday during a Big Ten tournament game against Michigan at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. Placzek wound up getting an infield single to drive in one of five sixth-inning runs in a 6--1 victory. In the title game on Sunday, No. 9 Indiana beat the 20th-ranked Cornhuskers 8--4.