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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. Williams sisters |
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More dominant than Tiger Woods. If they stay healthy, they could win every Grand Slam event for the next 10 years. We kid you not. |
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| 2. Ted Williams' rep |
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So it turns out that not only was The Kid the best hitter ever and an authentic U.S. war hero, but beneath that gruff exterior beat a heart of purest gold. Who knew? |
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| 3. Atlanta Braves |
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Biggest margin of any division leader, best record in baseball (56-32). Some things never change.
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| 4. Michael Schumacher and Ferrari |
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His British Grand Prix victory, his seventh of the season and the 60th of his distinguished career, gives him a 54-point lead atop the Formula One standings. With seven races left in the season, Schumacher can clinch his record-tying fifth world title at the French Grand Prix in two weeks. |
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| 5. New York Yankees' All-Star infield |
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The Yankees have the second-best record in baseball (55-32), thanks to Jason Giambi, Alfanso Soriano, Derek Jeter, Robin Ventura and Jorge Posada, All-Stars all. That, and a little help from the Boss' bottomless wallet. |
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| 6. Dallas Stars |
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Thanks to Tom Hicks' generosity, Dallas filled a few of its major needs by signing sniper Bill Guerin, second-liner Scott Young and rugged defenseman Philippe Boucher as free agents. |
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| 7. Contraction teams |
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The Twins have a 7½-game lead in the AL Central, largest divisional edge in the AL. The Expos are a distant second in the NL
East behind the Braves, but are proving to be the boldest, most aggressive
team in the trade market, having obtained Bartolo Colon and seemingly are on the verge of getting Cliff Floyd and Ryan Dempster
from the Marlins.
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| 8. Raul Mondesi and Jeff Weaver |
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The longest -- and best -- journey in American sports is from nowhere to the Bronx. |
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| 9. The legend that is Lance Armstrong |
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Well on his way to his fourth straight Tour de France championship, which would make him -- at worst -- the fifth-best cyclist ever, trailing five-time winners Eddy Merckx of Belgium, Miguel Indurain of Spain and Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault of France. |
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| 10. New York Rangers |
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If they can sign free agent wing Tony Amonte -- and they are the most likely to do so, along with the Islanders, according to reports -- to go with free agent signees Bobby Holik and Darius Kasparaitis, the worst little team money could buy might actually make it to the playoffs for the first time in six years. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Seattle Mariners, Anaheim Angels, Boston Red Sox,
Oakland A's, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Earthquakes, Lleyton Hewitt, Juli Inkster, Cristiano da Matta, Jerry Kelly, Michael Waltrip, "You Cannot Be Serious!", "Men in Black II"
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TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 5. Bud's team |
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Maybe if the Milwaukee Brewers actually spent some of that profit-sharing money they get from the Yankees every year on making their team better, somebody would take Bud Selig seriously and we wouldn't have yet another work stoppage. |
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| 4. Recording industry |
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As if declining record sales weren't enough. Now the deadly attack dogs of Michael Jackson and Al Sharpton are taking on industry honchos. |
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| 3. John Henry Williams |
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If his son wins the battle to cryonically preserve Ted Williams' remains, at least the late slugger will join the soul of John Henry Williams. |
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| 2. Men's tennis |
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Who are those boring guys? And does anybody care?
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| 1. Baseball fans everywhere
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About to take another hit, what with the players all set to declare a strike date. But they'll be back ... whenever ... because where else do they have to go to get their fixes?
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins, All-Stars who didn't show up, Boston Bruins, Detroit Shock, Sacramento Monarchs, whining women's tennis players, Worldcom, "Juwanna Mann," "The Powerpuff Girls Movie"
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| Mo' Meter explained: |
 No mo'; holding |
 Climbing the charts |
 Peaked; all downhill |
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