May 05, 2003 | Volume 98, Issue 18

The idea took root when Robert Johnson was awarded the new NBA franchise in Charlotte, making him the first minority to be the majority owner of a major professional team. In taking note of this...

Syracuse NationalsIt was indeed a Sweet Victory for the Syracuse Orangemen as they won the school's first national basketball championship (Orange Crushed, April 14). As all Syracuse fans know,...

LETTERS

Football, said George Will, combines the two worst elements of American life: violence and committee meetings. But there's no violence in the football draft—save for the butterscotch dress shirt...

Forget Abner Doubleday, Alexander Cartwright and that rounders theory—the seeds of our national pastime were planted four millennia ago on the banks of the Nile

The virus frightens visitors and hurts the Blue Jays—at the gate

1Hit in 10 at bats for the Cardinals' Fernando Viña, who singled in the winning run in Sunday's 7-6, 20-inning win over the Marlins.

ClaimedOff waivers by the Packers, 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch. The former Nebraska quarterback hasn't played since last September, when he left the Rams' camp and returned a $395,000...

Declared

Real Madrid, the most compelling club soccer team ever, comes to U.S. TV

A story in SI's April 21 SCORECARD—based on documents released by former USOC drug czar Wade Exum—revealed that U.S. Olympians tested positive for drugs in the 1980s and '90s. One was tennis star...

The trainer of three Kentucky Derby winners—Silver Charm, Real Quiet and War Emblem—will saddle up Kafwain and Indian Express in the 129th running this Saturday.

Good to be here. See if you can tell which of these jokes have "upside" and which are "need picks."

All-Star Changes, Jeers for Cheers

MAY 1-7

How about that! Former Arizona Wildcats softball pitcher Jennie Finch is following the path of broadcasting great Mel Allen. This Week in Baseball, which the folksy Allen hosted from 1977 until...

ESPN has developed an American Idol-style reality show that will chronicle the search for a SportsCenter anchor.

TY WIGGINTONMets rookie third baseman, expressing disappointment upon being given a day off after starting the first 21 games: "I was hoping for the Ripken thing."

Si's Tim Layden breaks out of the gate with complete Kentucky Derby coverage. Read his preview coverage of the Run for the Roses at si.com/more.

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Simon Culver, BROOKLYNSquashSimon, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Poly Prep, led the Blue Devils varsity to its first undefeated season in league play (11-0) in 25 years. In his two years on the...

This television mogul crashed the most exclusive all-white club in America when he purchased the NBA's new expansion team

After years of battling for fair opportunities, people of color are finally running the show (in some places) and driving the economics in sports

Kevin SentCutting through the Giants' bats like a buzz saw on Sunday, Kevin Millwood kept his string of scoreboard zeros intact by pitching the season's first no-hitter, a 1-0 Phillies win before...

With a locked-in Dirk Nowitzki scoring from all over the court and the toughness of a revamped defense, Dallas took command over Portland

In a postseason already marked by virtuoso performers, no one has played better than Minnesota's Kevin Garnett

Paul Pierce's sharp shooting, from the floor and from the line, led Boston to a 3-1 series lead over Indiana

Who scored and who didn't in PRO FOOTBALL'S two-day marathon

1 WHAT WERE THE BILLS THINKING?

The surviving Stanley Cup playoff teams, including surprises like the Wild, all share the one attribute now needed for success in the postseason—speed to burn

SI special contributor Pierre McGuire ranks the remaining playoff clubs in order of team speed.

For his new book, the author bungled on the bags of many celebrated golfers, but it was while caddying for his idol, Jack Nicklaus, that he made the biggest fool of himself

College Football

Practice injuries are twice as likely in spring as they are in fall. What are coaches doing to protect players?

Some key players are on their way back from spring injuries suffered in past years, while others face rehab after being knocked out in spring practice this year. Here's a look.

Full of LifeRob Niedermayer's move to Anaheim has sparked him and the Ducks

While rumors of former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman's coming out of retirement to go behind the Rangers' bench are false, don't be surprised if his longtime assistant Barry Smith finally gets a...

No Hit, No FunThe terrible Tigers are putting Alan Trammell's optimism to the test

CLOSED OUT?

Take our Daughters to Work Day was last Thursday, so I took my 13-year-old, Rae, for the first time. Hey, a kid will do anything to miss a day of school. By noon she was begging to go back.