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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. Kansas men's basketball |
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Riding the wave of a perfect Big 12 season and top spot in both polls, the Jayhawks couldn't possibly choke this time, could they? |
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| 2. Small conference men's hoops champions |
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This is the week for the Siena Saints, North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks, Florida Atlantic Owls, Winthrop Eagles, Davidson Wildcats and Murray State Racers. Next week in the NCAA tourney, they resume their predestined roles -- nourishment for the big conference sharks. |
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| 3. UConn women's basketball |
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An NCAA title waiting to happen. Having to play them is like seeing Mike Wallace and a CBS camera crew walking up the path to your front door. |
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| 4. Detroit Red Wings |
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Now that they have that little Olympic break out of the way it's time to finish a wire-to-wire job to the Stanley Cup. By far the best team in the NHL. |
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| 5. Los Angeles Lakers |
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Apparently, they're finished fooling around. |
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| 6. Maryland men's basketball |
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No. 2 in the land but, more importantly, No. 1 in ACC. |
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| 7. Wilt's rep |
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The 40th anniversary of his 100-point, 25-rebound effort against the Knicks in Hershey, Pa. (no tape of the game exists, which means Carl Everett still doesn't believe it happened) is reminding people of what an unstoppable monster this guy was. Never been anyone like him, even Shaq. |
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| 8. New England Patriots |
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While every other good team was dumping players in the expansion draft -- or trying to -- and being forced to release more players to get under the cap, the Pats (whom, you will recall, only won the Super Bowl) lost nobody of any note. They were even able to re-sign star running back Antowain Smith to a better contract. |
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| 9. Oregon men's basketball |
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Give it up for the Ducks, folks. They just clinched their first free and clear (no ties) Pac-10 title in more than 60 years. |
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| 10. Boston Red Sox |
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The new owners' first move was to fire The Duke, Dan Duquette, as GM. So they've got that going for them. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Gonzaga men's basketball, All golfers not named Tiger Woods, Trent Dilfer & his new four-year deal, "Monday Night Football," Sacramento Kings, New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Yankees, Washington Redskins (signed Jesse Armstead), Sterling Marlin, Michael Schumacher, "John Q," "We Were Soldiers," Alicia Keys, U2
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TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 5. Orlando Magic |
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Fighting for the chance to be host for a first-round playoff series, the Magic lost to the Wizards, who were without Jordan and Rip Hamilton. |
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| 4. San Francisco Giants |
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Jeff Kent slipped while washing his truck (we are not making this up) and injured his wrist. He'll be out for at least a month, but this is the kind of injury that can hamper a power hitter for a long time ... like all season. |
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| 3. Toronto Raptors |
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Have dropped 11 straight, and are actually a ½ game behind the Jordan-less Wizards for the last playoff spot in the East. |
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| 2. Madison Square Garden |
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With the dismal Knicks sure to miss the playoffs
for the first time in 15 years, and the Rangers -- with captain Mark Messier likely out for the season -- hanging on by their fingernails to the last playoff spot in the East, the self-proclaimed World's Most Famous Arena is likely to be a lonely place this spring. The Dolans are not going to be happy.
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| 1. Baltimore Ravens |
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Between the expansion draft, retirement and the salary cap, they lost Sam Adams, Rob Burnett, Rod Woodson, Jamie Sharper, Tony Siragusa, Shannon Sharpe, Elvis Grbac, Qadry Ismail, Sam Gash and Jermaine Lewis. And Duane Starks is a free agent. On the good side, maybe Brian Billick will finally pipe down. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Cincinnati Bengals, Pugnacious NBA superstars, Memphis Grizzlies,
North Carolina men's basketball, Arkansas men's basketball |
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| Mo' Meter explained: |
No mo'; holding |
Climbing the charts |
Peaked; all downhill |
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