Leading Off

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PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL FRAKES FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

A Win And a Sprayer Ahmed Zayat, the owner of American Pharoah, got a celebratory soaking from jockey Victor Espinoza after the bay colt won the Kentucky Derby last Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville (page 27). The victory was Zayat's first in a Triple Crown race and Espinoza's fifth, including three in the Derby.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN W. MCDONOUGH FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

CP3, For Two, On One Leg, in Game 7 Clippers point guard Chris Paul delivered a driving bank shot over 6'11" Tim Duncan last Saturday in Los Angeles to KO the defending NBA champion Spurs 111--109 in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series. The teams traded the lead 31 times, and neither held an advantage of more than three points over the final 5:26. Paul, who strained his left hamstring in the first quarter and missed more than seven minutes to receive treatment, hobbled to a team-high 27 points—the last two on this improbable heave off his injured leg with one second left.

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INSET BY STEPHEN DUNN GETTY IMAGES

[See caption above]

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PHOTOGRAPH BY ROMEO RANOCO REUTERS

Manny Of the People Fans in Manila gathered to watch their native son—and Philippine congressman—Manny Pacquiao (in yellow) battle welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr. 7,300 miles away in Las Vegas last Saturday in what was billed The Fight of the Century (page 20). Pacquiao, 36, lost a unanimous decision.