espn.com Ali Contest
A few days ago, Page 2's Ralph Wiley came up with 29 reasons why the NBA version of hoop is better than the NCAA's. You, the reader, didn't like that. And colleague Dan Shanoff expressed his dismay, as well. The unchastened R-Dub enlisted the Dog to provide 29 more reasons why he is right ... and you are crazy.
WILEY RESPONDS | SHANOFF | 29 REASONS

POLL RESULTS



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As baseball commissioner Bud Selig has proven many times, he's not afraid to try something new to help the game he loves -- contraction, a little misdirection before Congress, empty promises to sway public opinion in the struggle with the union. Now he's taken to the 'Net, and Jim Caple provides the transcript of a recent chat between Bud and some adoring fans.

10 Burning Questions Big Jay, Baby Jay
With "The Rookie" opening today, Page 2 continues with its attempt to ask 10 Burning Questions of anyone who had anything to do with the movie. Today's guest: Steve Earle, who wrote the song "Some Dreams" for the movie, which stars Dennis Quaid as former Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Jim Morris.
 At Final Four time, we hear about the pressures facing players and coaches. Nobody thinks about the mascots -- and they have their share of hopes, dreams, worries and strange ideas. So Page 2 threw 10 Burning Questions at Kansas' mascots -- Big Jay and Baby Jay -- and we came away a bit shaken.

FOR OPENERS ...
After a tumultuous offseason, no one will be happier than Bud Selig to see baseball on Opening Day. But as Page 2 cartoonist Larry Johnson shows, the commish still has plenty of problems to solve if he wants to get baseball back in the U.S. public's good graces.


The NCAA Tournament always gets people talking about "choking," so Page 2 compiled our list of the worst choke artists of all-time. Now we've compiled your top 10 along with a poll to pick the top choker ever:
10]  Jean Van de Velde
"Clearly a case where the stage was bigger than the man."
9]  Greg Norman
"If I had to pick one guy who I would not pick to golf a round when my life depended on it, it would be Norman."
8]   Atlanta Braves
"Usually, October means choking on Halloween candy, not choking on the ballfield."
7]   Scott Norwood
"His wide right will live forever as the biggest miss in Super Bowl history."
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NCAA men FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Saturday Oklahoma 6 Indiana 135½
Saturday Kansas 1 Maryland 169
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.


THE SPORTS GUY
Page 2's Bill Simmons lists all the reasons why he and major league baseball have officially jumped the shark.

HEY, RUBE
The Good Doctor is quite disillusioned with the quality of play -- putrid, he says -- in this year's NCAA Tournament.

ISN'T THAT GREAT
Are Ewing, Bonds and Marino all great athletes? Page 2's Bob Halloran examines the fine, and arbitrary, line we use to determine greatness.

THE SPORTS GUY
No, this ain't the Oscars. It's Bill Simmons' picks for the worst movies and worst acting performances of 2001.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


Sixteen of our readers thought Maryland forward Chris Wilcox was a younger version of rapper-actor Busta Rhymes, right. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.

Women's hoops: Oklahoma vs. Duke
7 p.m. ET, ESPN
NCAA Tournament semifinal at San Antonio.
 
Women's hoops: Connecticut vs. Tennessee
9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Great rivals meet in NCAA Tournament semifinal.
 
Trail Blazers at Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass
True test in West for both.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Thurs., March 28: Praising amateurs
• Wed., March 27: Celluloid Cellulite
• Tues., March 26: Billy Awards
• Mon., March 25: NBA rules
• Fri., March 22: Seeing Red

Other featured content:
• What the Heck Are They Thinking?
• Closer Look: "Hoosiers" reel life
• Sportoon: Fantasy baseball primer
• 10 Burning Questions with Luis Gonzalez
• The Power Poll
• Sportoon: Blazing trail to Hot'lanta
• All-Hair Team for NCAAs
Weekend Edition, March 29-31, 2002
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