February 19, 2007 | Volume 106, Issue 8

IT'S HERE, that special day in February we guys mark in red on the calendar, the day we rekindle our love. This, of course, is the day pitchers and catchers report.

Manning's Moment I loved your article on Peyton Manning's taking the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl (It's Our Time, Jan. 29). It's good to see Peyton got the chance to prove himself in the...

LONG BEFORE George Costanza began calling himself T-Bone, humans—and superhumans—were giving themselves nicknames, from God (who announced Himself to Moses as He Who Is) to Rod Smart (who...

... and so is everybody else at all-star games. SI's NBA writer proposes an alternative that could feel a bit less like kissing your sister

Fired by the Marlins, the reigning NL Manager of the Year is spending his spring at home

Won By the U.S., its Davis Cup match against the Czech Republic. Andy Roddick (above) clinched the win with his second singles victory, a four-set win over Tomás Berdych that ran Roddick's career...

100 Seconds it took Hurricanes winger Ray Whitney to score a hat trick in the second period of a 5--2 win over the Bruins.

AFTER HANK BAUER returned from a 34-month overseas stint in the Marines, he thought his baseball career was over. An outfielder for Oshkosh of the Class D Wisconsin State League, Bauer, who died...

LEW BURDETTE, who died last week at age 80, will be best remembered for beating the Yankees three times in the 1957 World Series for the Milwaukee Braves. But the righty's proudest moment came a...

The tennis Hall of Famer, 35, will compete in the Outback Champions Series—an over-30 tour—in Boston, May 2--6

One of the U.S. women's rising stars finally breaks into skiing's elite

THERE ARE those who believe that President Bush is out of touch, but don't tell that to David Wright. After having dinner at the White House on Feb. 5, the Mets third baseman said, "The President...

A 73-year-old great-grandmother faces a year in jail for allegedly running a $50 Monday Night Football pool at the California Elks lodge where she tends bar.

No, MLS isn't having attendance problems. San Siro in Milan was one of 25 Italian stadiums closed to fans last week because the arenas failed to meet security standards after a police officer was...

ARTHUR BLANK, 64-year-old owner of the Atlanta Falcons, on the benefits of winning the Super Bowl next year: "It would get my mother off my back."

Stephani Victor PARK CITY, UTAH > Paralympic Skiing Victor, 37, a documentary filmmaker and 2006 Paralympic slalom gold medalist, won the slalom and took second in two Super G races to win her...

Joe Mesi

What to watch and watch for

MAGIC CENTER

Who's Hot

Which NBA player is least interested in playing defense?

Red Wings Defenseman

A track star and a defensive back unite

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

THE MOST compelling NBA competitions this weekend will unfold the night before Sunday's All-Star Game in Las Vegas—at the slam-dunk contest, three-point shootout and skills challenge. Former...

He headlines perhaps the most formidable group of first-year players in college basketball history, but Texas forward Kevin Durant is in a class by himself--and should be the first frosh to win...

Who's No. 1?

Florida coach Urban Meyer used relentless recruiting tactics--and the school's first national title in a decade--to put together the best class in the land

Signing Bonus

1 FLORIDA

Joe McKnight shocked LSU by running off to the Trojans

These newly hired coaches made strong first impressions

Champaign Toast

Lip Reading Even with an ample application of body English, Phil Mickelson couldn't get a 25-footer to drop for birdie on the 12th hole during the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Sunday....

With the crackdown on obstruction in the NHL, sacrificing the body to block a shot has become a defenseman's most effective--and risky--ploy

PHOTO

... stays in Vegas? This weekend, when the NBA All-Star Game comes to town, Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof will be everywhere, for all to see. And if the party is a success, the NBA--and the...

Live from Las Vegas

In a season of change for NASCAR--say moshimoshi to Toyota and hola to the restyled race car--no other newcomer is as promising as Juan Pablo Montoya, the former F/1 standout who's poised to take...

NASCAR's rules changes put a welcome premium on wins, but will too many contenders spoil the Chase?

Toyota hopes to shoot to the front in its Cup debut, but in racing that new-car smell isn't always sweet

In stock car racing, nothing ever stands still. Indeed, the Car of Tomorrow is coming up fast in the rearview mirror. Here's a high-speed look at how the great American race car--and American...

Though he has a rep for bending--even breaking--the rules, crew chief Chad Knaus studies every angle in making Jimmie Johnson a winner

On Sunday at Daytona the nine-month, 36-race charge for the Nextel Cup begins anew. Here's a rundown of the top teams' drivers and others with a shot at the checkered flag.

Off the track and on the record with Dale Earnhardt Jr., who talks about growing up, goofing off and missing his dad

The NBA At the All-Star break, SI looks at the front-runners for season awards—and who else is still in the hunt • Five teams to watch in the second half

Trophy Cases

When play resumes next week and clubs begin their pushes for the playoffs, keep your eye on this quintet, which should make headlines for one reason or another.

Paper Tigers

1 If Kentucky could shoot, it would be unbeatable. The Wildcats, who are ranked ninth in the SEC in three-point percentage, attempted 22 treys against No. 1 Florida last Saturday and made just...

Taking the Reins

1 Expect the 49ers to make a strong push for seventh-year Ravens outside line-backer Adalius Thomas, one of this year's prize free agents. San Francisco has $38 million in salary-cap room and a...

Tom Watson says goodbye to Pebble

Buy 18, get two free at this unique par-76 course near Cincinnati

11

WHO: Phil Mickelson

Why Frank Chirkinian belongs in the World Golf Hall of Fame

by JIM GORANT

Michelle Wie's wrist injury may keep her out of the Kraft Nabisco

Phil Mickelson on suicide watch after Winged Foot? A has-been after missing the cut at Phoenix? Yeah, right. Here's what Lefty might've told Tiger about that--and more--on the way home from his...

Was the death of Denver's Tour stop an aberration, or a foreshadowing?