July 19, 1999 | Volume 91, Issue 3

Leaving the Indianapolis Motor Speedway out of the top three is questionable; leaving it out of the top 20 borders on insanity.—ROB CLEVELAND, Leesburg, Ind.

Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer. They may be mailed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, New York,...

June 12, 1972

DON'T MISS

0.9Preliminary rating for last Saturday's Craftsman Truck Series Federated Auto Parts 250 on CBS. The race, which was delayed by rain, was up against ABC's Women's World Cup Final, which was...

In the top of the fifth inning of last Saturday's Yankees-Mets game, Fox went to a split screen to show Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa at bat against the White Sox, with audio from Comiskey Park. While...

Anagrams of athletes' and celebrities' names can eerily reveal character or destiny

Julie Herdic, Peachtree City, Ga.SoccerJulie, a sophomore at McIntosh High, scored a state record 59 goals and was named the 4A attacker of the year for a second straight season. With 87 goals in...

Who's the best living ballplayer now that Joe DiMaggio's gone?

•That future Women's World Cuppers who aren't so good-looking prove just as popular.

The Falcons' TroublesHow to Pluck a Dirty Bird

1Nine-millimeter slug that a CAT scan showed in the skull of welterweight Charles Young, who had applied for a license to fight in Atlantic City.

Fan DangleHere's a whirlybird you can fly without a license—a motorized paraglider called the Whisper GTO, last seen whizzing through the Florida skies over Kissimmee. Basically a big fan attached...

After the Mavericks finished practice on July 6, assistant coach Donnie Nelson told players to run an extra set of sprints. "Why don't you run it?" forward Leon Smith shot back. A surprised Nelson...

As part of a $615,000 endorsement deal, CFL players will wear the logo of the Canadian government on their helmets.

JESPER PARNEVIKPro golfer, after finishing fifth at the Standard Life Loch Lomond: "If you put a rope around the earth and measure it at 26,000 miles and then put another rope three feet above the...

Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj shattered the six-year-old mile mark by 1.26 seconds

With the Cup on the line, a last-second hunch and a clutch left foot lifted the U.S. to a breathtaking victory over China

GOALKEEPERBriana Scurry (U.S.)Allowed only three goals in six matches; stopped Liu Ying's penalty kick in final—biggest save of Cup.

Midway through a season of surprises, power is surging, relievers are flourishing, and as many improbable names as familiar ones are making headlines. Here are the breakthrough players, the...

The Rangers unwittingly made the play of the off-season by signing free-agent Rafael Palmeiro

The Mets gave Roger Cedeño a chance to strut his stuff, and the stolen-base leader hasn't looked back

This week Gary Van Sickle anchors our coverage of the British Open from Carnoustie, and Jon Wertheim checks in daily from the Davis Cup semifinals in Brookline, Mass.

By relaxing at the plate, the Orioles' B.J. Surhoff has discovered his power stroke—and peace of mind

Longtime Angel Chuck Finley heads a list of pitchers who could be traded before the July 31 deadline

Despite his rookie mistakes, Kansas City's dazzling centerfielder Carlos Beltran is at the head of his class

A self-made slugger with a screwy stance, Houston's uniquely gifted is Mr. Indispensable

Will Sammy hit 60? Will Manny break Hack's record? Will Pedro win 30? Will Arizona play in the postseason? Here are our fearless forecasts

With a dazzling win in Ireland followed by a near victory in Scotland, Sergio Garcia, 19, of Spain is drawing comparisons to a guy named Woods

BASEBALL

For many players, the hit-and-sit role does not fit like a glove

Look for the players' association to fight baseball's plan to have the Mets and the Cardinals open next season with a series in Japan. Says Mark McGwire, "Major league baseball belongs in the...

Mets 9, Yankees 8July 10, 1999

Roberto Kelly has produced for eight teams but still pines for the Bronx

A Star Is BornGerald Wallace has suddenly rocketed to the top of recruiting lists

No Penalty CalledBuffalo escapes discipline for ripping the NHL following the finals

Red wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom has given his agent, Don Meehan, permission to negotiate a new contract with Detroit, indicating that Lidstrom is leaning toward rejecting an offer from...

Tackle FootballU.S. defender Brandi Chastain (number 6, on ground) thwarts a scoring threat by taking down China's Zhang Ouying in the second half of the Women's World Cup final at the Rose Bowl...

Music mogul and would-be NBA star is breaking into sports management, with Ricky Williams as his marquee client

We really didn't believe it was Jesus Christ, not at first.

If my career in golf is anything like my years as a police officer, it'll be very rewarding

Wesley Pate, Pensacola, Fla.Pate, 18, won the American Junior Golf Association's San Antonio Shootout by a stroke over Hunter Mahan of McKinney, Texas. Pate, whose father, Jerry, is the 1976 U.S....

Smugly American

The U.S. Senior Open, won by Dave Eichelberger, was the biggest thing to hit Iowa since the Pope

The Nike Tour's Rising StarGo-Go Gogel

What do these players have in common?

Who do you think is the better pick to win next week's British Open, Sergio Garcia or Tiger Woods?