Success has always come naturally to Lou Piniella. He won the 1969 AL Rookie of the Year award, two World Series rings as a player and one as a manager, and two AL Manager of the Year awards, and is widely regarded as one of the game's top skippers. In contrast, winning has long eluded his new team, the Chicago Cubs. The fiery Piniella was hired to take the franchise farther than they've gone in 98 years, and while he can't provide any guarantees to Cubs fans, the roller-coaster ride should be memorable. Correspondent Frank Deford goes one-on-one with Chicago's latest savior in this Real Sports/Sports Illustrated collaboration.
In a time of widespread scandals and violations associated with big-time collegiate athletic programs, the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team has become known for doing things right. Under the guidance of head coach Bo Ryan and driven by the on-court leadership of fifth-year senior Alando Tucker, the Badgers recently became the #1-ranked team in the country for the first time in school history, while making leadership in the classroom and community their top priority. Real Sports correspondent Bernard Goldberg profiles this inspirational program.
In 1995, the struggling Buffalo Sabres hockey franchise recruited minor league coach Ted Nolan to turn things around. His toughness as a former player and resourcefulness as a coach helped him lead a young team of overachievers to the top of their division after only two years at the helm. But shortly after that successful 1997 season, Nolan's contract was not renewed. After his departure from the league, the former NHL Coach of the Year found a more meaningful way to spend his time. As a Canadian Indian, Nolan recognized a lack of opportunity for fellow Canadian Indians growing up amidst poverty, racism and alcoholism, and he took to contributing his time and efforts helping young indigenous men achieve their dream of playing hockey. Correspondent Frank Deford catches up with Nolan, who has recently become the head coach of the New York Islanders after eight years away from the NHL.
With the recent proliferation of prep school basketball programs throughout the U.S., questions about academic integrity have arisen. For years, parents have looked to prep schools for smaller, more intimate learning environments, as well as a better shot at a college scholarship. But are they getting what they pay for? Are their kids getting the education they need, or simply being exploited by the schools for their basketball talent? Real Sports correspondent Jon Frankel investigates this troubling phenomenon.
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