Leading Off

A Kobe KO

Kobe Bryant exulted after his game-winning 17-foot shot (inset) in overtime on Sunday lifted the Staples Center fans out of their seats and left the Suns wobbling. Ten and a half hours after his last-second jumper gave the Lakers a 99--98 victory and a 3--1 lead over Phoenix in their first-round playoff series (page 48), Bryant's wife, Vanessa, gave birth to the couple's second daughter, Gianna. That followed by six minutes the arrival of Shaquille and Shaunee O'Neal's sixth child, a daughter, Mearah.

Tight Lightning

Wearing matching full-body, skin-hugging Under Armour beneath their white track uniforms, Bryan Burney (left) handed off to Quentin Bowens for the anchor leg of the men's IC4A 4�400 at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia last Saturday. The Seton Hall quartet won in 3:09.59, while the women's Olympic Development 4�100 race went to the USA Blue team anchored by Lauryn Williams, who took a handoff from LaTasha Colander (inset), in 42.81 seconds.

Bridle Wear

Apprentice jockey Julien Leparoux, the winningest rider in the U.S. this year, tried to cling to Sanibel Storm after the horse veered into the rail last Friday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Leparoux was flung head over heels onto the infield, but neither rider nor mount was injured. Cowgirls Don't Cry (far left) won the race.

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