WHO'S Hot/WHO'S Not

WHO'S Hot

Reggie Miller

O.K., the Pacers sharpshooter lost the last game of his 18-year career--but he scored 27 points (11 for 16 from the field) and got standing O's from the home crowd and the rival Pistons (who called a timeout to salute him). Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh, who presented Miller with a Bentley, says he's still hoping number 31 will unretire. If not, Miller's jersey will be raised to the rafters.

Washington

It's nearly Memorial Day, and D.C.'s Nationals, born of those woeful Expos, are just two games off the pace in the NL East. "There's a whole different feel to what we're doing this year," says manager Frank Robinson. Another Washington, George, is having his own resurgence. The star of David McCullough's acclaimed book 1776 is a Newsweek cover boy.

Jarrett Payton

The 24-year-old son of Sweetness, on the Titans' practice squad last year, is ripping up NFL Europe, gaining 6.2 yards a rush with six TDs in seven games for the Amsterdam Admirals. He's eyeing a spot in the Tennessee backfield and says, "I've never been as focused and as hungry."

Horse Power

More than 156,000 saw Giacomo's stunning surge at the Kentucky Derby. A record 115,318 were on hand for Afleet Alex's stunning stumble in the Preakness (page 54). There's plenty ailing the racing biz, but for three spring Saturdays--the June 11 Belmont Stakes awaits--the runners still rule. NBC just extended the rights for the Derby and the Preakness to 2010.

WHO'S Not

MVPs

Reigning NL MVP Barry Bonds's right knee is a long way from healed. Bonds's AL counterpart, the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero (right), went on the 15-day DL with a partially dislocated left shoulder, and after his Suns lost the Western Conference final opener at home to the Spurs, NBA MVP Steve Nash said, "We lost our concentration."

Cincinnati

CU wants to oust its men's hoops coach Bob Huggins (left), who was arrested for DUI last June. But Huggins stuck it to the school, rejecting a $1.4 million buyout for the last two years of his contract. Things are no brighter for the Reds (15-28), who on Monday sent closer Danny Graves to the minors after he made a profane gesture to a fan.

Josh Hamilton

The sad tale continues for the Devils Rays' bonus baby. (He got $3.6 million in 1999.) Suspended for a year in March '04 for drug use, he was arrested Saturday for busting up a friend's car windshield not long after leaving a party where, he told police, he'd been drinking.

Horse Collars

The fearsome tackling style in which a player is yanked down by the shoulder pads behind his neck is under intense scrutiny following the Cowboys' Roy Williams's use of it on Terrell Owens last December. (TO suffered a fractured fibula.) The NFL's competition committee is expected to recommend banning the tackle at this week's owners' meeting.

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MARK J. TERRILL/AP

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