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WHO'S Hot/WHO'S Not
WHO'S Hot
Pilfering Podsednik
Who's off to a faster start than the Chicago White Sox (27-11)? Their own leftfielder, Scott Podsednik, who swiped four bags last Saturday and another one on Sunday, giving him a major-league-leading 23 steals and putting him on pace to snag 98--the highest total in the majors since the Cardinals' Vince Coleman stole 109 in 1987.
Howards
Transplanted U.S. goalie Tim Howard got a two-year extension from Manchester United; Mavs forward Josh Howard (right) scored 29 points as Dallas drew even with Phoenix; Jim Thome's sub, Ryan Howard, had three hits in a Phillies win, and you can't beat the buzz (Oscar talk, already!) about Ron Howard's Cinderella Man.
Ontario
Two standouts from Canada's most populous province--precocious wing Rick Nash of Brampton and bullish center Joe Thornton of London--brilliantly led their national team into the finals of the hockey world championships (page 67) in Vienna.
Annika
With golf legend Nancy Lopez on hand as host, Sorenstam won her 60th LPGA tournament--stomping the competition by 10 strokes at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship. At 34, Sorenstam has Kathy Whitworth's LPGA wins record (88) in her sights.
WHO'S Not
Giving Gagne
Just off the DL (elbow), and it already feels like a long season for the Dodgers' almost-immortal closer Eric Gagne. While appealing a two-game suspension for heckling an ump from the dugout on April 6, Gagne yielded homers to Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones--the first two batters he faced this year.
A's Fans
Last Saturday one patron threw beer on Yankee Jason Giambi. ("I wish it was Jack Daniels," Giambi said.) On Sunday two more ran onto the McAfee Coliseum field. (A's rightfielder Eric Byrnes grabbed one of 'em.) Not to excuse such behavior, but there's not much to cheer about in Oakland: On Monday the faithful awoke to find their team in last place after eight straight losses.
Onterrio
As in Smith, the Vikings running back nabbed at a Minnesota airport with a kit for beating drug tests. The two-time offender of the NFL drug policy explained that he was carrying the rubber penis and dehydrated urine for a cousin.
Tiger
After Woods missed the cut for the first time this millennium--he'd made a record 142 in a row--Vijay Singh finished third at the Byron Nelson Classic and closed in on Tiger's No. 1 ranking.
COLOR PHOTO
G. NEWMAN LOWRANCE/WIREIMAGE.COM (POSEDNIK)
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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (HOWARD)
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TODD BIGELOW/AURORA (SORENSTAM)
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ROBERT BECK
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LM OTERO/AP (WOODS)
