espn.com Ali Contest
As Dan Shanoff watched Maryland take the heart out of Indiana in Monday night's NCAA curtain-closer, he realized a game of this magnitude provides, beyond the champ and runner-up, a boatload of winners and losers. For your edification, he rates everything from mascots to the fans to whether this game was good for budding screenwriters.
WINNERS AND LOSERS | SPORTOON

POLL RESULTS



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As the Expos open today what is likely their final season in Montreal, Page 2's Jim Wilkie noticed some striking similarities between the team's recent history and the new film "Death to Smoochy." There might be a more sinister plot behind plans to eliminate the underappreciated Expos.

10 Burning Questions End of an era
"Mohr Sports" debuts tonight on ESPN, and the show's edgy host, comedian Jay Mohr, took time to answer 10 Burning Questions on topics ranging from the Jeff Van Gundy vs. Gene Keady hair faceoff to what past co-stars Tom Cruise, Al Pacino, Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Aniston are really like.
 Page 2's Bill Simmons has seen the future of once-dominating Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez, and it is not pretty. The slight and increasingly fragile pitcher was bombed Monday in the season opener at Fenway, and The Sports Guy wonders if this could be the end of the Pedro Experience.

POWER POLL
As contrarian as Page 2 can sometimes be, even we recognize that college hoops is king this time of year. But which team deserves to be on top of this week's Page 2 Power Poll -- the unbeaten Lady Huskies of UConn or the mighty Terps of Maryland?


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


Baseball futures: Odds to win World Series
Yankees 2-1 Athletics 8-1
Mariners 4-1 Diamondbacks 7-1
Braves 6-1 Cardinals 10-1
All Times ET -- Bold indicates home team
Complete Line


 
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TRUE CHAMPS
Page 2's Chris McKendry offers an appreciation of the perfect women of UConn -- and T-shirts that make you think.

THE WATER COOLER
Page 2's Brian Murphy is wired! It's almost too much! Baseball's opening day and the NCAA finals, simultaneously!

THE SPORTS GUY
Page 2's Bill Simmons puts his thumbs to the test to evaluate his beloved Red Sox's chances this season.

CRITICAL MASS
Eric Neel reveals his list of summer dreams -- which include a Bud Selig voodoo bobblehead doll and a special Big Wheel for Jeff Kent.

SCHOOLIN' YA
Road Dog has Ralph Wiley's back, explaining why the NBA is The Bomb and your NCAA student-athletes are merely bombing.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


Maryland's Byron Mouton has a national championship to celebrate and the satisfaction of 55 readers suggesting he looks like Oscar winner Denzel Washington, right, in "Training Day." Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.

Soccer: Manchester United at Deportivo La Coruna
1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Champions League quarterfinals, first leg, at Spain.
 
Bruins at Flyers
8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Eastern Conference's two best teams clash.
 
Lakers at Wizards
8 p.m. ET, TBS
David Stern's dream NBA Finals matchup.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Mon., April 1: Cooler Day
• Fri., March 29: Know your role
• Thurs., March 28: Praising amateurs
• Wed., March 27: Celluloid Cellulite
• Tues., March 26: Billy Awards

Other featured content:
• Makin' it Better: Seahawks uniforms
• 10 Burning Questions with Dennis Quaid
• 10 Burning Questions with Jim Morris
• Johnson cartoon: Opening Day questions
• 10 Burning Questions with Jayhawks
• What the Heck Are They Thinking?
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
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