Run-up: Assembling the gurus -- Evolution and the dunk -- Year of the dunk: Dunking year begins: twelve months to go -- Taking the measure of the man -- A natural history of leaping -- Rise of the dunk -- Besting the Fates -- A dunk contest: six months to go -- Girl on fire -- Dayenu -- Psyching myself up -- Aiming too high -- So, can white men jump? -- It's gotta be the shoes: one month to go -- Jumping secrets of the Ninjas -- Carrying capacity -- Touch-down. Allez hop!