Who's Hot Who's Not

Author:
SI Staff

Who's Hot

LANDON

Three's a charm for the U.S. soccer stalwart, who last week notched his first EPL goal, a sweet lefty dribbler, for Everton. That's one more score than Landycakes netted in two previous European stints, and now he's got the Toffees on the rise. They've lost only once in five games since his arrival.

24/7 NFL

A banner week for the nonstop football junkie, thanks to two landmark deals. In August, cable-deprived NFL nuts will be able to watch the HBO training camp doc Hard Knocks at Hulu.com—perhaps on their iPads—and, next season, view the Red Zone Channel on cellphones.

SHIRTS

Three cheers for Louisiana senator David Vitter, who stood up for T-shirt vendors when the NFL tried to claim ownership of the Saints' "Who Dat?" war cry. Vitter printed up a batch of T's and challenged the league: Drop your ridiculous position or sue me.

SENATOR IN THE GOAL

Good luck reclaiming your job, Pascal Leclaire. Ottawa's oft-injured netminder may have been Wally Pipped by Brian Elliott (right), who strung together seven wins, in which he allowed all of eight goals, helping put the Sens back in the East race.

Who's Not

LANDINGS

Touching down proved tricky for two Olympic medal hopefuls at the Winter X Games. Shaun White went 1 for 3 on his new Double McTwist 1260, nearly losing his head in one grisly fall; freestyle skier Daron Rahlves dislocated his hip when he came down funny in skicross. So much for downtime before Vancouver.

24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON

In translating its gripping boxing-doc formula to the oval, HBO explains in the premiere episode how boring JJ is perceived to be—and then spends 28 minutes proving it. Where are the rivalries? The hype? Might the volatile Tony Stewart have been a better bet?

SKINS

Say cheese! Greg Oden and a trio of Blackhawks endured the revelation of racy photos. But were they any more embarrassing than the glimpse of 370-pound Alabama tackle Terrence (Mount) Cody (left), who made like a Jell-O jiggler at Senior Bowl weigh-ins?

TEBOW IN THE BOWL

Good luck to the team that tries to make an NFL passer of the funky-flinging ex-Gator. After going 8 of 12 for 50 yards with two fumbles at the Senior Bowl, Tebow, conceded, "If you just watched the way I played, you could see there is room for improvement."

SI PLAYERS NBA POLL

WHO'S THE BEST REBOUNDING GUARD?

Jason Kidd, Mavericks 40%

Rajon Rondo, Celtics 24%

Russell Westbrook, Thunder 9%

Kobe Bryant, Lakers 4%

Dwyane Wade, Heat 4%

FAST FACTS

Kidd's 7,650 career rebounds through Sunday ranked second alltime among those who have played the position exclusively, behind only Oscar Robertson (7,804).... The 16-year veteran's 6,006 defensive boards are the most ever for a guard; No. 2 is Michael Jordan (5,004).... The Rockets' Trevor Ariza, who this season leads guards with 5.6 rebounds per game, did not get a vote.

Based on a survey of 173 NBA players

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CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES (JOHNSON)

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CLIFF WELCH/ICON SMI (CODY)

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ANDRE RINGUETTE/NHLI/GETTY IMAGES (ELLIOTT)

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DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES (KIDD)

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JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES (RONDO)

February 08, 2010