espn.com Ali Contest
After Monday's judging fiasco at the pairs competition, a lot of people were wondering if they had just watched a sporting event or a staged exhibition ... like, say, WWF wrestling. Precisely, says Page 2's Chris McKendry, who advises everybody to keep that analogy in mind at all times while watching figure skating at the SLC Games.
MCKENDRY: SMACKDOWN IN SEQUINS




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If you think it's blasphemy to say any baller is better than Mike, then you'd better stop reading now -- and you'd definitely better never watch the tape of the Wiz and Lake Show last night in L.A. Page 2's Ralph Wiley says the highest level of ball is now named Ko-Be, and last night drove that point home -- the same way MJ drove it home when he took the torch from Bird.

Makin' It Better The Village Voice
Everyone's getting a new look for spring. The Indians and Royals have new unis -- as do such tradition-rich squads as USC football and Brazilian soccer. And then, there's Fox's Greta Van Susteren, who hardly resembles her old self. Evaluate all these changes in Page 2's Makin' It Better.
Is life in the Olympic Village just one step removed from a college dorm? IOC president Jacques Rogge decided to find out by living alongside the athletes during the SLC Games. Page 2's Jim Caple peers inside Rogge's Village Diary to find out what hijinks the Olympians are getting into.

SPORTOON
Valentine's Day can make people do strange things -- even athletes. With so much love in the air, Page 2 cartoonist Kurt Snibbe examines how all that amore has changed Mike Tyson, Mark Cuban, Anna Kournikova and others.


You've already checked out Page 2's list of the 10 most overrated sporting events, so now it's your turn. We've compiled our readers' choices for the most overrated events in sports along with a poll to crown the No. 1 overrated event.
10]  Olympics
"Summer or Winter Olympics. I don't understand, does anyone really care?"
9]  NBA All-Star Game
"Who wants to sit and watch overpaid millionaires miss dunks, hang out on the bench to talk with celebrities and play no defense?"
8]   X Games
"Hardly any of the sports' true stars would be caught dead there."
7]   Super Bowl
"The game never lives up to expectations."
  • GET THE FULL LIST


LAS VEGAS' ODDS TO WIN 2002 NBA TITLE
TEAM ODDS TEAM ODDS
Lakers 5-9 Magic 10-1
Kings 3-1 T-Wolves 12-1
Spurs 6-1 Raptors 15-1
Mavericks 6-1 Blazers 18-1
Bucks 4-1 Wizards 30-1
Sixers 7-1 Nets 30-1
All Times ET -- Bold indicates home team
Complete Line


 
Got a comment about something you've seen on Page 2?
Here's your chance to sound off to the editors and columnists.


CRYING GAME
Page 2's Jim Caple ventures into figure skating's Kiss and Cry Zone ... and comes back soaking wet.

MAKING PEACE
On the second anniversary of Tom Landry's death, former Cowboy Pat Toomay reveals the man behind that stoic exterior.

STAR STRUCK
From the dreadful sight of Hall & Oates to the comedy of Charles Barkley, Bill Simmons kept a running diary of NBA All-Star Saturday.

THE WATER COOLER
Inspired by the Olympic torch relay, Page 2's Brian Murphy takes The Cooler on the mother of all road trips.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


Canadian skater Jamie Salé, left, has become one of the most recognizable faces from the SLC Games. But a couple Page 2 readers say Sale could still be mistaken for actress Kate Beckinsale of "Pearl Harbor" fame. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo for Page 2.

Men's soccer: U.S. vs. Italy
2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Tough World Cup tune-up for Americans.
 
Blues at Avalanche
8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Two of West's best clash before break.
 
Winter Olympics
8 p.m. ET, NBC
Women's 500-meter speedskating, women's 1,500 short-track speedskating final, ski jumping and women's singles luge final.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Tues., Feb. 12: Sob Story
• Mon., Feb. 11: Cooler Across America
• Fri., Feb. 8: NBA Studs & Duds
• Thurs., Feb. 7: Deep thoughts
• Wed., Feb. 6: Nation of Sheep

Other featured content:
• What's Hot, What's Not in NBA
• The Power Poll
• Bizarre & Bogus
• Sportoon: NBA Midseason Report
• What Are They Thinking?
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002
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