04.28.14
INSIDE 10 THE TRUTH The NCAA needs a history lesson. By Howard Bryant 14 THE NUMBERS Believe shooters: The hot hand exists. By Peter Keating 16 ZOOM Sprucing up the Marlins’ on-deck aquarium. 18 ZOOM How FSU’s championship rings got made. 20 ZOOM Giving new meaning to the term “forecheck.” 84 THE FIX Qualifying for Boston on the number. By Chris Jones
MONEY
PLAYBOOK 23 NBA A look at the numbers behind the Spurs’ chase for a fifth title in 16 years. 28 NHL Forecasting the netminders most likely to carry their teams to a Cup. 30 TECHNIQUE Trials cyclist Danny MacAskill on the trick that has made him a YouTube sensation. 32 SOCCER Why England’s World Cup hopes might come down to adopting Liverpool’s free-flowing offense.
34 MLB With defensive metrics gaining relevance, these Web Gem regulars won’t be underpaid for long. 35 NFL Bust or franchise savior? We get to the bottom of Teddy Bridgewater’s scouting report. 36 BODY SHOT WBO middleweight champ Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin packs a punch.
cover photograph by ERIC RAY DAVIDSON WARDROBE STYLING BY CALYANN BARNETT; HAIR BY JASON AMADO; MAKEUP BY L ESLIE MUNSELL/BEAUTY FOR REAL; SUIT AND SHIRT: TOM FORD; SHOES: LI NING WOW 2, SAY YELLOW; SOCKS: STANCE X DWYANE WADE COLLECTION; POCKET SQUARE: TIE BAR X DWYANE WADE COLLECTION; WATCH: HUBLOT; THIS PAGE: SIM CHI YIN/VII
CHINA
39 THE MONEY ISSUE Welcome to China, where a booming sports economy has everyone wanting a piece of the action.
66 VEGAS ON STEROIDS Home to the world’s biggest gaming industry, Macau is gunning for the Strip’s prizefights. By Tim Struby
40 THE VALUE OF REAL With counterfeiting taking over China, the fan on the street grapples with the importance of authenticity. By Eddie Huang
72 THE PATH OF A DOLLAR Place a wager anywhere in the world and you can bet it’ll find its way to China. By Brett Forrest
48 KICKS STARTER Li Ning went all-in on Dwyane Wade, hoping the superstar can win back some of the company’s fleeing customers. By Christopher Beam 60 FOR SELF OR FOR COUNTRY Li Na and Peng Shuai ignited a tennis revolution. Will others follow their lead? By Shaun Assael
76 HELD UP IN CUSTOMS A big salary lured Brittney Griner to China, but life overseas was rougher than expected. By Kate Fagan 82 TOP-PAID ATHLETES IN THE WORLD Our annual compilation of sports’ richest superstars. Don’t worry, Money Mayweather, your rep is safe.
04/28/2014 ESPN The Magazine
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