espn.com Ali Contest
He puts up superstar numbers. He walks around in a superstar's body. He's got the paycheck and girlfriend of a superstar. Yet when the game is on the line, Chris Webber always seems to vanish, forcing someone else to be The Man. Page 2's Ralph Wiley explains the case of an incredible talent who always takes the easy way out. WILEY: WEBB OF INTRIGUE




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For Mike Piazza, the past couple of weeks have been like a long nightmare filled with probing reporters and rampaging base-stealers. So, how is the Mets' All-Star catcher holding up during all this turmoil? Page 2 looks inside Piazza's head to find the answer.

Mystery Photo The Hot List
Maybe Tiger Woods is trying to make golf more competitive. Or maybe he's just infatuated with "Happy Gilmore." Those are the two best explanations we could come up with for this week's Mystery Photo. Thankfully, our readers were a bit more creative.
What the flop is going on here? Soccer is vowing to crack down on players taking dives in the World Cup, but everybody seems eager to hit the deck in the NBA playoffs. Page 2's Dan Shanoff is standing his ground with his weekly list of who's hot and who's ... a flop.

SPORTOON
At Page 2, we can't seem to get this steroid issue out of our system. Cartoonist Kurt Snibbe explains how to tell a steroid-using baseball player from a non-user, while Larry Johnson has a suggestion for a new MLB logo.


You've already taken a look at Page 2's top 10 individual performances in NBA Finals history, and now it's your turn. We've compiled our readers' choices along with a poll to crown the best all-time effort in a Finals series.
10]  Larry Bird, Celtics, 1986
"I'm pretty sure he touched the ball every time Boston or Houston had possession."
9]  Hakeem Olajuwon, Rockets, 1995
"Hakeem Olajuwon dominated Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic in the Rockets' four-game sweep in 1995."
7] tie  Larry Bird, Celtics, 1984
"Bird's leadership and drive willed them to victory in seven hard-fought games."
7] tie  Michael Jordan, Bulls, 1993
"He was absolutely dominant, averaging more than 40 points throughout the series."
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NBA FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Friday Celtics 4 Nets 187
Friday Lakers 6 Kings 193½
NHL FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Friday Red Wings PK Avalanche 4½
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. Plus, if you'd like to send an e-mail to The Sports Guy, here's your direct link to Bill Simmons.


THE SPORTS GUY
We'll never forget 9/11, but Page 2's Bill Simmons says the joy of watching sports has provided him with a respite.

REEL LIFE
"Rocky" won the Oscar for Best Picture in part because of its gritty realism. Page 2's Jeff Merron examines just how real the movie is.

HOOLIGAN'S ISLE
Jim Caple examines the extreme measures taken by Japanese police to prevent hooligans from disrupting the World Cup.

THE SPORTS GUY
How bad was your team's crushing defeat? See where it ranks on The Sports Guy's 13 levels of losing.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


These dudes have some pretty big games coming up. It's Rod Brind'Amour, left, of the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes and English soccer player Robbie Fowler. This match was requested by John Granquist of Seattle and A.J. Kaul of St. Paul, Minn. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.


Tennis: French Open
8 a.m. ET, ESPN2
Who's turn is it to be upset now?
 
Golf: The British Masters
10 a.m. ET, Golf Channel
European PGA Tour's version but without hype and a green jacket.
 
Expos at Braves
730 p.m. ET, TBS
Atlanta tries to pad NL East lead.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Wed., May 29: Moving Forward
• Tues., May 28: House of Pain
• Mon., May 27: Cooler & Coolest
• Fri., May 24: 5½ Feet Under

Other featured content:
• Sportoon: NBA stuck in Funk
• Power Poll
• Bizarre & Bogus
• Casting Call: "Attack of the Clones"
• Who's Soft & Who's Not
• Anna or Not Anna? The Penthouse Quiz
Thursday, May 30, 2002
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