WHO'S Hot/ WHO'S Not

WHO'S Hot

Orioles

Having swept the Yanks for the first time in five years, the 8--4 AL East leaders were riding a power-packed lineup their Hall of Fame ex-manager Earl Weaver would have loved. More happy times ahead: Weaver's old minor league club, the Rochester Red Wings, is giving him a bobblehead night on May 14. The doll has a movable leg for kicking dirt on umps.

George Steinbrenner

He's not only hot under the collar--the Boss erupted last week saying he was "bitterly disappointed" by the Yankees' slow start--he's also hot on the trail of a Kentucky Derby win. His colt Bellamy Road is the early favorite for the May 7 race at Churchill Downs.

Steve Spurrier

South Carolina coach is loving life back in college after his 12--20 tenure with the Redskins--and Gamecocks faithful are loving him back. Nearly 39,000 were at last week's intrasquad game. (Usually only 10,000 show up.) Spurrier, 59, to USA Today: "I'm sort of a reborn football coach."

Grizzlies

Sure they've struggled lately (four straight losses), but they're in! Team that was 12--17 at Christmas, and reeling from the resignation of coach Hubie Brown, made the postseason for the second straight year.

WHO'S Not

Devil Rays

Two key players (Roberto Alomar, Danny Bautista) retired in spring training, outfielder Alex Sanchez got suspended for failing a performance-enhancing drug test, and the bad breaks won't end for these 4--8 AL East cellar-dwellers: The woman who plays team mascot Raymond broke her arm and is out six to eight weeks.

Dan Gilbert

Since he took over as Cavs owner on March 1, the once fourth-seeded team has gone 9--16, putting it in playoff peril. Gilbert fired coach Paul Silas and hasn't backed G.M. Jim Paxson. Even if Cavs do sneak in, Gilbert has helped sour the Second Season of LeBron.

Marion Jones

The winner of five medals at the 2000 Olympics finished dead last in the 400 meters at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays. With suspicions of past drug use dogging her, Marion said after the race ... well, we're not sure. She refused to speak to reporters.

Gonzalezes

The Indians' Juan languishes on the DL, the D-Backs' Luis is cooling off, the Marlins' Alex is three for his last 19, the Pirates' Mike has given up four runs in six innings, and the Devil Rays' Alex plays for the Devil Rays.

CORRECTION

In last week's issue an item about Detroit Free Press reporter Mitch Albom's fabricating a scene in his column on Michigan State's Final Four game said that Albom "wasn't even in St. Louis." Albom--who concedes that the scene was fabricated--was in fact at the game in St. Louis. We regret the error.

COLOR PHOTO

MARC SEROTA/REUTERS (TEJADA)

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CY CYR/US PRESSWIRE (RAYMOND)

COLOR PHOTO

BOB ROSATO (SPURRIER)

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LOUIS J. LOPEZ/BEIMAGES (JONES)