espn.com Ali Contest
It's the dream of every hoops junkie -- spending a night watching NBA playoff games with Charles Barkley as the TNT analyst guzzles Coronas and offers his uncensored views on the basketball world. Page 2's Bill Simmons got to live that dream, and you can live vicariously through him in part 2 of his visit to the set of "Inside the NBA." SIMMONS: PART 2 | PART 1




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What do Bobby Clarke, Mike Tyson, the Big Unit, Shaq, the B Brothers (Gary Bettman, Jim Brown and Charles Barkley) and the puck-taming team of Hasek and Roy have in common? They're all members of a group of freaks and geeks who make up Ralph Wiley's Mad Menagerie of Sports. All that's missing, Wiley says, is an organ grinder and a monkey in a pillbox hat.

Mystery Photo The Power Poll
We wondered what Hugo, the mascot of the lame-duck Charlotte Hornets, was doing in this week's Mystery Photo. Waving bye-bye? Signaling to the last fan leaving the Hive to turn out the lights? As ever, you came through with captions both witty and unprintable. Get 'em before they're gone.
The all-Cali showdown in the West is one Lakers' win from becoming reality. Page 2 does not like to take sides in these matters, but somebody has to do it. So check out this week's Power Poll to see who we think will win the "real NBA Finals." Here's a hint: Phil Jackson really is a genius, and not just in his own mind.

SPORTOON
The family of Kurt Snibbe, one of Page 2's ace cartoonists, just welcomed a new member. And the poor guy is so whacked out, thanks to the usual lack of shut-eye that accompanies these situations, he's now looking at the entire world of sports through his own sleepless eyes. Oh, baby!


This week, Page 2 has compiled a list of the 10 biggest cheaters in baseball history. Check out our list, then send in your choice for the biggest cheater. Later this week, we'll run our readers' list, along with a poll to crown baseball's all-time biggest cheater.
10]  Amos Otis, 1967-84
Otis admitted that he used a funky bat much of his career. "I had enough cork and superballs in there to blow away anything," he said.
9]  Graig Nettles, 1967-1988
In his next at-bat after Nettles hit a home run against Detroit, he hit a broken-bat single. Tigers catcher Bill Freehan scrambled for the six superballs that came bouncing out. "I didn't know there was anything wrong with the bat," Nettles said.
8]  Norm Cash, 1958-74
By his own account, he used a corked bat during the 1961 season, a breakout year he never came close to duplicating.
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NBA FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
5 p.m. Tues. Pistons 2½ Celtics 175
7:35 p.m. Tues. Lakers 6½ Spurs 182
NHL FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
7 p.m. Tues. Senators PK-120 Maple Leafs 5
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. Plus, if you'd like to send an e-mail to The Sports Guy, here's your direct link to Bill Simmons.


MUST-SEE TV
Page 2's Jim Caple has a sneak preview of some riveting sports TV shows planned for May sweeps.

REEL LIFE
How does "A League of Their Own" compare to the real All-American Girls Professional Baseball League? Page 2's Jeff Merron explores.

FE-MAIL INTUITION
Chris McKendry's column on Billie Jean King sparked a round of e-mail debate on Title IX and the Fed Cup controversy.

THE SPORTS GUY
Bill Simmons answers his e-mail and simultaneously checks the pulse of the common folk, the strange and twisted thoughts of you, his readers.

THE HARD WAY
They gripe, they bicker, they snipe. They also both prefer things to be hard. And Allen Iverson and Larry Brown couldn't stand to be apart.

ODE TO A.I.
No matter what you think about Allen Iverson, Page 2's Eric Neel says you can't dispute that the guy is always interesting.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


It's Hornets co-owner Ray Woolridge, whose team will soon be beaming up to New Orleans, and actor William Shatner, forever known as Capt. James T. Kirk of "Star Trek." Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo for Page 2.


Senators at Maple Leafs
7 p.m. ET, ESPN
One game free-for-all battle of Ontario.
 
Celtics at Pistons
8 p.m. ET, TBS
Detroit fights to survive in Game 5.
 
Spurs at Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET, TBS
San Antonio tries to avoid being roadkill in L.A. march to threepeat.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Mon., May 13: Pure Dynamite
• Fri., May 10: Must-See TV
• Thurs., May 9: Iverson vs. Brown
• Wed., May 8: Anna Quiz
• Tues., May 7: Red Whine

Other featured content:
• Bizarre & Bogus
• Anna or Not Anna? The Penthouse Quiz
• Top 10 Ken Griffey Jr. complaints
• New School vs. Old School
• Win, Lose or Draw: The Answer
• Being Anna Kournikova
• The Luckiest Man Alive
• Makin' It Better: Kobe's hair
Tuesday, May 14, 2002
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