espn.com Ali Contest
Even the great ones have to know when it's time to say goodbye, and, for Michael Jordan, that time has obviously come, says Page 2's Bill Simmons in his All-Star Game diary. For an older, wiser, more "physically mature" Mariah Carey? Well, all The Sports Guy has to say on Jeter's ex is: Let the comeback tour commence.
THE SPORTS GUY'S RUNNING DIARY




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While most of the sports world was focused on MJ's All-Star Game swan song, the players themselves had something else on their minds: LeBron James. Page 2's Ralph Wiley reveals the intimate hopes and fears of hoop's finest as they contemplate the imminent arrival of the child king.

Basketball Diaries The Water Cooler
Yes, the Lakers are finally getting their game in gear, says Page 2's Charley Rosen, but they still have a long way to go to achieve true championship form. The problem? Well, as usual in La-la-land, a winning record doesn't mean that there's no carping in the locker room.
 The Cooler has never had much love for pro hoops, and Sunday's NBA exhibition game did nothing to alter Coolermeister Brian Murphy's grumpy point of view. However, Page 2 cartoonist Kurt Snibbe couldn't get enough of what he likes to call the Air-Star Game.

DAILY QUICKIE
All-Star Weekend is end-to-end with winners and losers, and the Daily Quickie details all of them. Sadly, one of the biggest losers was Quickie author Dan Shanoff himself, whose uninterrupted string of successful 2003 predictions was LeBron-ed to smithereens.


It has infected Pat Riley, Mike Vanderjagt and umpire Bruce Froemming over the last couples weeks. It's called "foot-in-mouth disease," and it causes otherwise rational people to say very stupid things. Page 2 looks at the top 10 all-time cases of "foot-in-mouth" and asks you to vote for the No. 1.
10]  Derrick Coleman, 1994
Shortly after Kenny Anderson, the Nets All-Star guard, went AWOL for a day in Dec. 1994 and missed a Nets practice, teammate Derrick Coleman responded to reporters' questions about the incident by simply saying: "Whoop-de-damn-do. I didn't feel he owed anybody an apology."
9]  Charlie Ward, 2001
The Knicks guard touched off a firestorm in the Big Apple when his comments from a Bible study group where published in the New York Times Magazine. Among them: "Jews are stubborn;" "There are Christians getting persecuted by Jews every day;" and "They had blood on their hands."
8]  Charlie Dressen, 1951
In August 1951, with the Giants way out of the running, Brooklyn manager Charlie Dressen said, "The Giants is dead." Unfortunately for Dressen, they came back to life, erasing a 13½ game deficit to tie the Dodgers and force a playoff for the NL pennant. Nobody heard what Dressen had to say after Bobby Thomson's shot buried the Dodgers.
  • 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.


THE J-LOWDOWN
Jennifer Lopez just won big betting on the Super Bowl. Page 2's Eric Immerman reveals what happened that special day.

COOL THREADS
While he loves throwback jerseys, Page 2's Eric Neel can't wait until he can pick any player from any era.

JERSEY-OLOGY
Sporting a retro jersey may say you're hip, but according to Page 2's Dan Shanoff, it can say a lot more than that.

MEMORY LANE
Page 2's Jim Caple discovered that turning back your inner sports clock will cost you some cash.

THE SPORTS GUY
How is The Sports Guy biding his time until March Madness begins? Well, we've got four sad words for you: The Yard Sale Guy.

THE LIST
So LeBron James loses out on a few games? That's nothing, says Page 2's Jeff Merron as he looks at the top 10 suspensions ever.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


It's Mavs guard Nick Van Exel, left, and talk show superstar Oprah Winfrey. Page 2 has received 49 requests for this match. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo for Page 2.


Men's hoops: Syracuse at Connecticut
7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Huskies are 11-1 at home.
 
Sharks at Red Wings
8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Detroit's riding a six game winless skid.
 
Men's hoops: Oklahoma at Texas
9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Sooners have won nine of last ten.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Fri., Feb. 7: Jenny From the Book
• Thurs., Feb. 6: Goin' Retro
• Wed., Feb. 5: Banned in USA
• Tues., Feb. 4: Indianapolis Dolt

Other featured content:
• Vote for best throwback jerseys
• The Top 10 suspensions of all-time
• Sex and the Super Bowl
• MJ vs. MJ commerical
• The Bad Sports Hair Hall of Shame
• 10 Burning Questions with Shannon Elizabeth
Monday, Feb. 10, 2003
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