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WHO'S Hot/WHO'S Not
WHO'S Hot
Tigers
In thrilling mano a mano Woods knocked in a 28-foot birdie putt at 17 to edge Phil Mickelson at Doral and reclaim golf's No. 1 ranking (page 52). In other Tiger news: Missouri upset rival Kansas, and Detroit's major leaguers, stoked by newcomers Magglio Ordoñez and Troy Percival, brought joy to Lakeland, Fla., (page 38) with three straight wins to open their exhibition season.
Laveranues Coles
Now here's an NFL receiver who uses leverage. After a big season in '02, he left the Jets for Redskins green: a seven-year, $35 million deal. Then, tired of lowly Washington, he clamored for a trade and last week got sent back to the contending Jets, reportedly getting more guaranteed dough in the deal.
Nuggets
Behind super sophomore Carmelo Anthony, they had reeled off six consecutive wins through Sunday to get into the playoff mix (with 'Melo averaging a team-leading 22.3 points). The Nuggets haven't had a longer winning streak in 16 years, and they should stay mile-high: Starting this Sunday, they'll play seven straight games in Denver.
North Carolina
Nothing could be finer in Chapel Hill than the Tar Heels rallying from nine points down in the final 2:39 on Sunday to beat hated Duke for the first time since March 2003. It was some day for center Sean May--26 points and 24 (!) rebounds--and a big win for UNC's second-year coach, Roy Williams. Beating the Blue Devils made him a Tar Heel in full.
WHO'S Not
Michael Schumacher
It turns out the seven-time Formula One champion--the world's richest sportsman, the guy London oddsmakers listed at 8 to 15 to win this year's F/1 title--is fallible after all. A freak downpour during his qualifying run for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix left him in the back row of the grid, then he crashed on the 43rd lap of Sunday's race and failed to finish.
Chiefs
After Dick Vermeil had said his AFC-worst defense needed three new players, the Chiefs lost out on two they had coveted: free-agent LB Jeremiah Trotter (he rejected more money from K.C. to return to Philadelphia) and free-agent CB Samari Rolle, who signed with the Ravens.
Cavaliers
Despite super sophomore LeBron James's stellar play, Cleveland had lost six straight through Sunday (with LeBron averaging 26.3 points). To avoid repeating last year's late-season fall--seven straight losses cost them a playoff spot--the Cavs must straighten out before a taxing road swing this month.
Kansas
Roy Williams's old team lost four of its last six, and swingman Keith Langford (14.7 points a game) is on crutches (sprained left ankle) and may not be ready for the Big 12 tournament. Once a cinch for a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs, Kansas fell to No. 9 in the AP poll. Coach Bill Self says the Jayhawks have to "understand sometimes teams lose."
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DAVID WALBERG (WOODS)
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TONI ALBIR/EPA (SCHUMACHER)
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AL TIELEMANS (JAMES)
