May 01, 2006 | Volume 104, Issue 18

Noah's Arc Here in Southern California we've had rain on and off for the last 40 days, so does it surprise anyone that the Florida Gators--the only team to weather the storm that was UCLA...

Ben malcolmson retired from football at age 10, following a disappointing career with the Hinsdale (Ill.) Falcons. "Everyone had to play at least four downs," he says, "and every game I played...

If it's a steady stream of B.S., then congratulations: There's probably a job in the world of sports that's just perfect for you

Forget QBs with strong arms--the truth is the scarcest commodity in the NFL draft

Won By Wladimir Klitschko, with a display of firepower that left Chris Byrd overwhelmed, the IBF heavyweight championship. Klitschko (above, right) stopped Byrd in the seventh round of their fight...

The 56-year-old actor (The Big Lebowski) plays a girls' gymnastics coach in the comedy Stick It, which opens on April 28

Like most first basemen, the Tigers' Chris Shelton (above) likes to make small talk with opposing runners. But this year's chats have gotten a little touchy-feely. Because the 25-year-old hit nine...

The "house" part is unlikely, but is Eva Longoria about to become a wife? During an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show last week Jamie Foxx referred to Spurs guard Tony Parker as Longoria's...

What to watch and watch for

Kristin Erb READING, PA. > Softball Erb, a freshman righthander at Lock Haven, pitched a two-hit shutout in a 3--0 win over Slippery Rock. She is 19-0 with 144 strikeouts and an 0.16 ERA in 129.1...

STARS CENTER

WHO'S Hot

[Hoosiers] (1986)

How do sports stars fit in? [This article contains a table. Please see hard copy or pdf.]

After two stints in the NBA's Development League, Celtics forward Gerald Green, 20, who came to the NBA out of Houston's Gulf Shores Academy, averaged 25.7 minutes and 12.7 points in Boston's...

Padres Outfielder

It's no fun being a defender when an NBA stud decides to pin the tale on the dunkee

In the treacherous process of selecting college talent, a first-round decision can make or break a franchise. This year no top prospect poses a greater risk-or promises a bigger reward-than Texas...

Get draft news and analysis from Peter King, Dr. Z and Don Banks at SI.com/nfl.

NFL talent evaluators look for these 10 essentials when figuring whether a college passer has what it takes to succeed at the league's premier position

The player called Thunder to Reggie Bush's Lightning looked to be a first-round lock, but a tepid performance at USC's pro day has scouts puzzling over his potential

For these kinds of prospects, potential pitfalls abound-but the decision-makers know that past performance is no guarantee of future results

At the combine, on pro days and in individual workouts, scouts employ a mosaic of measures to size up potential picks physically and mentally

In a first round top-heavy with quarterbacks, fledgling Cleveland wagered the No. 1 pick on Tim Couch of Kentucky. Big mistake

Fearless forecast: Reggie going to the Texans, Matt to the Titans, Vince to the Raiders--and a load of wailing from quarterback-hungry Jets fans

The coach who led the U.S. to its surprise World Cup run four years ago is at it again, using psychology and ACC hoops insights to ready his team for a killer first-round Cup group

For more on the World Cup from Grant Wahl, and for profiles of all 32 teams, go to SI.com/soccer.

Nearly two years after the last postseason puck was dropped, the playoffs returned with a renewed passion, a familiar intensity, power plays of all kinds--and, of course, people throwing stuff

Read more about the NHL playoffs in the Playoff Blog and get analysis from Michael Farber, Allan Muir and Darren Eliot at SI.com/nhl.

Overlooked by the opposition, lesser-known players are once again proving to be surprise weapons in the postseason

Talc Is Cheap

Machiavellian. Redemptive. Necessary. Each of those words has been used to describe the Miami coach's decision to return to the bench this season, and in what could be his last shot at one more...

With the help of an NBA scout, SI's Jack McCallum broke down individual battles that will be pivotal in the first round

Baseball Despite changing positions and teams, Alfonso Soriano is still slugging • Are some pitchers experiencing post-WBC syndrome?

All Right in Left After a bumpy start, Alfonso Soriano is settling in with his new position and his new team. But how long will he be there?

BIG BANG THEORIES

Buck Stoppers Loaded on offense, Ohio State could be putting its title hopes in the hands of a set of largely untested linebackers

I've never asked for anything before, right? Well, sorry, I'm asking now.

Exclusively on Verizon Wireless V CAST and SI.com.

Has the Legends forgotten something?

Utility irons, the long irons with wide soles and more weight on the back of the clubhead, are popular on the LPGA and Japan PGA tours but not on the PGA Tour--yet. Last week 31 utility irons were...

WHO: Stuart Appleby

Every stroke I took last week reminded me of Dick Harmon

by JIM GORANT

Camilo villegas wears a quizzical look as he steps from the scorer's trailer after the second round of the Shell Houston Open. The PGA Tour rookie has just shot an uninspiring 72 on the Tournament...

A trio of Tar Heels recruits, led by guard Tywon Lawson, was the talk of Michael Jordan's all-star game