espn.com Ali Contest
When mild-mannered sportswriter Jason Whitlock was invited to Hugh Hefner's Super Bowl party, he was disgusted by the very idea of scantily clad Playmates and famous athletes intermingling. But he put aside his own selfish interests and attended, in the belief that you can only defeat your enemy if you truly know your enemy. Here's his report from the front. SKIN DEEP

POLL RESULTS



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The Sports Guy has a long overdue confession to make: It was him, not Bill Buckner, who blew the '86 Series for the Red Sox. Well, maybe he had help from other fans who also violated the Universal Laws of Proper Rooting, which are explained here in painful detail.

Heart to heart Daily Quickie
What the heck is going on in the Nobody But (me) Association? In less than a week, says Page 2's Jim Armstrong, a budding NBA star, a journeyman coach and the entire Kings team have given pro hoopsters a good name.
 Ron Artest, meet Simon Cowell! As NBA on-court "volatility" continues to grow out of control, the Daily Quickie has some solutions to solve the anger trend. And let's just say that Karl Malone and Mike Vanderjagt are not part of the solution.

CRYSTAL FALL
The "talented" Bengals will be a "sleeper" team. Steve Spurrier will be named Coach of the Year. The Rams and Pats will stage a Super Bowl rematch. Madonna will win an Oscar for "Swept Away." Believe it or not, all of these predictions but one was actually made last year. Tuesday Morning QB recaps the lunacy.


As we toil through the "dead zone" of sports between the Super Bowl and March Madness, Page 2 reflects on the 10 best events from in "dead zone" history.. Check out our list and vote for the best ever.

10]  Tara Lipinski wins figure skating gold (Feb. 20, 1998)
Lipinski. 15 years old. 82 pounds nailed a flawless freestyle performance to become the youngest to win an Olympic gold in her sport, and the youngest individual gold medalist in any Winter Olympics.
9]  Eric Heiden wins fifth gold (Feb. 23, 1980)
Heiden shattered the 10,000 meter speed skating world record by 6.2 seconds, and captured his fifth gold medal of the 1980 Lake Placid Games. He became the first athlete ever to win five individual golds in an Olympics.
8]  Foreman floors Frazier (Jan. 22, 1973)
Five minutes and 35 seconds. Six knockdowns. One new heavyweight champ. Foreman: 38-0. Frazier: 29-1. Soon to come: The Rumble in the Jungle.
7]  Elvin Hayes vs. Lew Alcindor (January 20, 1968)
The day college basketball went from being a sport to a Major Sport. No. 1 UCLA, led by the tall, lanky Lew Alcindor takes on No. 2 Houston, featuring forward Elvin Hayes Millions more watched the first regular-season college basketball contest to be televised nationally.
  • GET THE FULL LIST


VEGAS' ODDS TO WIN 2004 SUPER BOWL
Eagles 5-1   Raiders 10-1
Rams 6-1   Dolphins 10-1
Buccaneers 7-1   Packers 15-1
Steelers 7-1   49ers 15-1
Patriots 10-1   Giants 15-1
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.


GOING TO EXTREMES
As he prepares to head to the Winter X Games in Aspen, Page 2's Eric Neel -- a non-X-Games guy -- anticipates what he might encounter.

BASKETBALL DIARY
The Bulls are rebuilding around youngsters Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. Charley Rosen checks in on how the second-year players are progressing.

AL SHALL RETURN
Sure, Al Davis and his Raiders got kicked around in the Super Bowl. Sure, they're way over the cap. And it's a sure thing they'll be back.

REAL HEROES
Page 2's Jim Caple spent the Super Bowl with the crew of the U.S.S. Stennis -- real heroes who might be shipping off to war very soon.

THE WATER COOLER
Al Davis learned on Super Bowl Sunday of a new level of getting shown up, writes Page 2's Brian Murphy. It's called pulling a Gruden.

HEY, RUBE
The Good Doctor was publicly embarrassed by the Raiders' performance in the Super Bowl and wonders why he was such a fool.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


One of these guys had his hopes pinned on LeBron, while the other is hoping for a sequal to "Tin Cup". It's former Cavs coach John Lucas and actor Cheech Marin. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.


Winter X Games
8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
All the action from Aspen.
 
Friday Night Fights
9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Put 'em up.
 
Lakers at Kings
10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Look out, these guys just don't get along.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Wed, Jan. 29: Derelict predictions
• Tues., Jan. 28: End Game
• Mon., Jan. 27: Getting Faced
• Fri, Jan. 24: Not Gramps' Ads

Other featured content:
• MJ vs. MJ commerical
• The Bad Sports Hair Hall of Shame
• 10 Burning Questions with Shannon Elizabeth
• Uncover Anna's tattoo mystery
Thursday, January 30, 2003
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