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HOT | NOT
HOT: NADAL FOR IT ALL
While Rafael Nadal made news off court last week ("The ATP worries too little about the players," he said), the 26-year-old Spaniard won his second Brazil Open, beating David Nalbandian of Argentina in two sets, his first title after sitting out seven months with a knee injury.
NOT: SKIDS IN THE HALL
Seton Hall had lost 11 of 12 at week's end and was just 2--11 in Big East play, the Pirates' poorest conference mark in 29 years. Making matters worse? Starting forward Brandon Mobley (9.0 ppg, 5.5 boards) injured his shoulder in a 76--65 loss to Syracuse and is out for the year.
HOT: FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT
The Heat (36--14) ripped off seven wins before the All-Star break, including a 110--100 road defeat of the Thunder, to take a four-game lead in the East. LeBron James (above), who scored 30 or more in each victory, was joined in Houston by Miami mates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
NOT: PAIN IN THE ARSE
Arsene Wenger's squad, Arsenal, was booted from the F.A. Cup by a lower-league team for the first time since the manager took over in 1996, losing 1--0 to Blackburn. Said Wenger of the boos that followed, "What do you expect, people to applaud when you lose at home like that?"
HOT: QUACK ATTACK
Even though Anaheim ranked 27th in penalty killing through Sunday (72.7%), the Ducks had won eight of their last nine, thanks in large part to the league's fourth-best scoring rate (3.3 goals per game) and to Viktor Fasth's 1.78 goals-against average and 8--0 record.
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RICARDO BUFOLIN/LATINCONTENT/GETTY IMAGES (NADAL)
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CHRIS SZAGOLA/CAL SPORT MEDIA (MOBLEY)
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JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (JAMES)
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BEN QUEENBOROUGH/BPI/ICON SMI (WENGER)
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GARY A. VASQUEZ/USA TODAY SPORTS (FASTH)
