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Page 2's Power Poll dares to rate the teams that are currently wielding the most power in the entire sports universe.
Each week, our poll will rank the 10 teams at the top of the power heap -- and the five teams that have lost the most power in the past week. And, by the way, Page 2 uses its own definition for a "team" -- any group of two or more bonded together for the common purpose.
Our Momentum Meter also predicts the direction these teams will be heading in future weeks (see the bottom of the page for a full explanation).
If you've got anything to say about our Top 10 or our Bottom 5, click here to comment -- or forever hold your peace.
TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 1. San Francisco Giants |
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They've got it all -- only undefeated team in baseball, Barry on a tear ... and Motorcycle Boy is back.
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| 2. Sacramento Kings |
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OK, maybe we were wrong about these guys. They're on an eight-game roll -- including a rare sweep of a six-game road trip -- and about to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. ... Plus, Shaq is obviously hurting. The King is dead! (Maybe.) Long live the Kings.
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| 3. D'backs' dynamic duo |
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They're baaaaack! And apparently better than ever. Curt Schilling, who struck out 17 and pitched a one-hitter Sunday against the Brewers, and Cy Young winner Randy Johnson are both 2-0 and, as Brewer manager Davey Lopes said about Schilling, "I don't know if he can pitch any better. And if he can, I don't want to see it." Page 2 wishes to note that the D'backs can't hit, which could eventually be a problem. |
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| 4. Toronto Raptors |
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Hold the Lenny Wilkens coaching obituary! Somehow, with Vince Carter out for the season, the Raptors have come back from the dead to win eight straight and take a 1½-game lead over the Pacers for the final playoff spot in the East. If they hang on and qualify for the playoffs, it will be one of the most improbable turnarounds in the history of the NBA. Praise be to the Ewing Theory!
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| 5. New York Yankees |
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So far, the only Yankees starter to give up a run is six-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens ... and he took a one-hitter
into the seventh Sunday as the Yankees ran their winning streak to five. |
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| 6. Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey |
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The Golden Gophers' first NCAA title in 23 years also made defenseman Jordan Leopold the fourth player to win a national title and the Hobey Baker Award in the same year. |
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| 7. Detroit Red Wings |
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They are losing games -- but resting key players in anticipation of a long spring drive for the Cup -- but they've been on cruise control since clinching the President's Trophy. |
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| 8. All golfers named after fowl |
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Retief Goosen won his second U.S. tournament Sunday, burying Phil Mickelson and Jesper Parnevik to win the
BellSouth Classic by four strokes and begin lift-off just in time for Masters. |
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| 9. U.S. Davis Cup team (a k a Andy Roddick) |
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Roddick improved his career Davis Cup mark to 7-0, leading the U.S. team into the semifinals against
defending champion France by pulverizing Alberto Martin of Spain, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 Sunday. |
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| 10. Boston Red Sox fans |
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Pedro Martinez flashed a bit of his old form Sunday, and fans from all around New England were suddenly able to breathe normally again. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New Jersey Devils, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland A's Big Three, "Martha Inc." "Panic Room," "High Crimes"
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TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 5. Cincinnati Reds |
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A fragile team with no depth loses its best player. That's not good.
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| 4. Texas Rangers |
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The poster child for real owners who think they're playing fantasy baseball, the Rangers are off to a 1-5 start in baseball's toughest division ... and insanely overrated "ace" Chan Ho Park is already on the DL. It could be a long 10 years for A-Rod.
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| 3. Detroit Tigers |
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Only MLB team with no wins, they managed just 13 runs
in their first six games to prompt firing of manager Phil Garner and GM Randy Smith. Rumors of Felipe Alou taking over as skipper provide some optimism, however. |
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| 2. Springtime at the world's most famous arena |
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The silence will be deafening as the Rangers (second-highest payroll in the NHL) miss the
playoffs for the fifth straight year and the Knicks (highest payroll in the NBA) miss the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.
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| 1. New York Yankees fans |
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They booed Jason Giambi after four games! Four games, of which three were wins. If these are really the sport's most sophisticated fans, then baseball has even bigger problems than commissioner Bud has been letting on. And then there's that whole YES Network-Cablevision flap. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Chicago sports fans (Cubs, White Sox, Bulls), San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Repent, Johannesburg
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| Mo' Meter explained: |
No mo'; holding |
Climbing the charts |
Peaked; all downhill |
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