June 07, 2004 | Volume 100, Issue 23

L.A. StoryEnough about the Lakers already (The Center Cannot Hold, May 17). I understand the Lakers are an interesting story because of how dysfunctional they are; however, for all I know Wilt...

LETTERS•Please e-mail us at letters@si.timeinc.com or fax us at 212-467-4049. Letters should include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number and may be edited for clarity and space.

OCTOBER 7, 1991

In his defense, when my father dropped his pants in the bar of a Minnesota country club last Friday night, it was during a discussion of the respective benefits of boxers and briefs, which he...

The raucous crowd and healthy television audience for last weekend's NCAA lacrosse championship saw a sport on the rise

After a scandal, Gary Barnett returns to Colorado; not everyone is pleased

0Men from the U.S. who advanced past the second round of the French Open, the first time since 1968 no American reached the third round.

DisqualifiedFor signing an incorrect scorecard at the Canadian PGA tour qualifying school, NHL Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr. The five-time Stanley Cup goaltender shot a final-round 77 but signed for...

Wounded

Good to be here. Is it just me, or does it seem that the only place from which the United States has an effective exit strategy is Roland Garros?

The 81-year-old Hall of Fame slugger has been a Mets broadcaster since 1962 and is the author of Baseball Forever.

You may have noticed how rare it is that after a person sings the national anthem at a sporting event, the singer's father appears, rips off his shirt and whips the crowd into a screaming frenzy....

If you marveled at the resemblance between Mrs. Chapman and Mr. Baffert four pages back, consider this. As Smarty Jones (left) galloped to an 11½-length win in the Preakness with Stewart Elliott...

Nine of the last 20 PBA tour events have been won by-bowlers using scented balls.

JACK McKEONFlorida's 73-year-old manager, on his longevity: "I'm so old I remember Preparation A."

WHAT TO WATCH AND WATCH FOR

•According to legend, we are informed at the outset of Sumo East and West, the origin of Japan was the result of a sumo match between the gods. Cut to the film's opening shot—sumo belts flapping...

To sign up for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's free subscriber-only e-mail newsletter, go to sicustomerservice.com/siextra.

Triple threat: For complete coverage of Smarty Jones's run at the record book, including Tim Layden's daily analysis from Belmont Park, go to si.com.more.

Anjani Reddy, OGDON, UTAHTennisReddy, a senior at Swarthmore, was named the Centennial Conference women's tennis player of the year for the fourth time, an unprecedented accomplishment. She had a...

To submit a candidate for Faces in the Crowd, go to SI.com/faces.

Serious trout fishermen should make the trek to Idaho, whose array of waters offers more opportunities than any other state in the Lower 48

For more about sports in Idaho and the other 49 states, go to si.com/50.

The NFL star has long known what others are now finding out about his state

Idahoans weigh in on sports*

On a scale of 1 to 100, how would you rate your state's enthusiasm for sports, relative to other states'?62.7Rank: 44th of first 46 states polled

To read an SI Flashback story about Irv Cross's tenure at Idaho State, vote for the most impressive athletic achievement by an Idaho native or submit your own Gem State sports memory, go to si.com/50.

Middle ManPistons center Ben Wallace grabs a rebound despite being surrounded by four Pacers during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals in Detroit last Friday. Wallace finished with 19 boards,...

What will it take to ,stop the Lakers in the NBA Finals? Here are some helpful hints (a few involving the Big You-know-Who)

When Detroit's offense bogs down, Richard Hamilton perks up

Even great hitters aren't immune to horrific slumps. How does a player like Derek Jeter suddenly lose his way at the plate—and how does he find his way back?

Tom Verducci's Inside Baseball on Tuesdays and Baseball Mailbag on Wednesdays, plus scores and news, at si.com/baseball.

Derek Jeter's early-season slump, which lasted until May 25, had one glaring symptom: the precipitous loss of his ability to hit fastballs. As tracked by the Inside Edge scouting service, which...

As Hockey Nation looks on, underdog Calgary and unflappable goalie Miikka Kiprusoff have held off high-scoring Tampa Bay

For more Stanley Cup finals coverage, including a series breakdown, go to si.com/hockey/nhl/specials/playoffs/2004.

Playing with a new edge, skilled center Brad Richards has been Tampa Bay's go-to scorer

As he tries to end the 26-year Triple Crown drought, Smarty Jones has the answers to problems that stumped others at the Belmont

Tim Layden's Viewpoint, every Friday at si.com.

A jockey with vast experience in the Belmont says it's all about pace, which should favor Stewart Elliott on Smarty Jones

In the outlaw world of skateboarding in the '80s, young Christian Hosoi was seen as a god: fearless, peerless and blithely confident that he'd never fall. And then he did

For more extreme sports coverage, go to si.com/exclusive.

Motor Sports

Buddy Rice predicted he'd win Indy, and wound up having the last laugh

For the last three years Robby Gordon has attempted motor sports' Iron Man feat: racing in the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day. Once an entertaining sideshow, it has...

DeliveranceSomething's brewing in Milwaukee thanks to a happier Lyle Overbay

College players, particularly pitchers, are expected to rule in Monday's amateur draft. Here's the skinny on the top prospects.

THE 'ROID VOID

Insane TalentMarat Safin's game is brilliant, unpredictable and wildly entertaining—like the first week of the French Open

Jie Zheng left Roland Garros on Sunday with nothing to be ashamed of: She had become the first Chinese player to make the fourth round of a Grand Slam event, and her 6-4, 7-5 loss to Paola Suarez...

Ever munched on a gyro? Sipped ouzo? Smashed a plate on the floor while dancing?