WHO'S Hot WHO'S Not
WHO'S Hot
Randy Johnson
At 44, and six months removed from back surgery, the Diamondbacks leftybelieves his famous arm, like hope, can spring eternal. So far, so sharp."He came out throwing bullets," said manager Bob Melvin of Johnson'smound debut on Sunday.
Maryland Women
Way to deliver! Hours after basketball coach Brenda Frese gave birth to twins,the No. 4 Terrapins—behind Crystal Langhorne (right)—won easily at Duke. TheTerps, noted Blue Devils coach Joanne P. McCallie, "had a kick in theirstep."
Rangers' Keeper
He rested, he reaped, he rewarded. During an eight-day respite over theAll-Star break New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist got a six-year, $41.25 millionextension, then turned in back-to-back wins. Is he also emerging as an analyst?Said Lundqvist on Sunday, "Our chances to win are much greater when we keepour goals-against low."
Zito's Stable
Not one, not two but four of trainer Nick Zito's horses seem destined for theMay 3 Kentucky Derby after Fierce Wind won the Sam F. Davis Stakes in Tampa.Add contenders Anak Nakal, Cool Coal Man and 2-year-old champ War Pass (right),and you've got a monster movie called The Beast with 16 Legs.
WHO's Not
Clint Bowyer
Leading the Daytona 500 (page 42) late, Bowyer got bumped in the rear (thanks,Juan Pablo Montoya) and spun out of contention into the infield. This, a yearafter he flipped in a Daytona pileup. Said Bowyer (above) of Sunday's end,"It's hard to stomach."
Mississippi Men
Once sailing along at 13--0, Ole Miss's hoopsters—including center DwayneCurtis (right)—had lost six of eight. How to handle it? Said coach AndyKennedy, "You would like to throw up the white flag to take time toregroup, but you can't."
Flyers
They gave the faithful the shirts off their backs on Sunday—a postgame gesturefor fan appreciation day—but not much else to cheer about. Banged-upPhiladelphia lost its seventh straight, and star center Daniel Briere had onegoal in his last 12 games. Briere to Philly's Inquirer: "When I snap out ofthis I will get going."
Clemens's Stuff
The Yogi Berra Museum in New Jersey removed a Roger Clemens Yankees jersey fromdisplay and memorabilia experts say demand for Clemens collectibles hasplummeted. One report—in New York's Post—said that one of his rookie baseballcards sold on eBay for less than 10% of its initial asking price.
SI PLAYERS NHL POLL
If you were starting a team, who'd be the first activeplayer you'd pick to play on it?
Sidney Crosby, Penguins C....................39%
Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals LW...........14%
Roberto Luongo, Canucks G....................14%
Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning C...............6%
Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings D................5%
FAST FACTS
Players couldn't vote for a teammate.... Last season Crosby, 20, became theNHL's second-youngest MVP; he's been out since Jan. 18 with an ankle sprain andis due back in March.... Ovechkin (page 52) led the NHL with 78 points throughSunday.... The Devils' Martin Brodeur (eighth, 2.2%) was the only other goalieamong the top 10 vote-getters.
[Based on a survey of 365 NHL Players] • For more onthe poll, and to comment on it, go to SI.com/players.
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MARK J. REBILAS/US PRESSWIRE (CAR)
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GREG DRZAZGOWSKI/ICON SMI (CURTIS)
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DAVID GARD/AP (FIERCE WIND)
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DAMIAN STROHMEYER (LANGHORNE)
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JOHN BIEVER (JOHNSON)
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LOU CAPPOZZOLA (CROSBY)
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LOU CAPPOZZOLA (OVECHKIN)