espn.com Ali Contest
For the past 19 years, he has delighted children, charmed women and warmed the hearts of thousands of hockey fans. So why would a sick individual senselessly attack Harvey the Hound, the original NHL mascot? After weeks of investigation, Page 2 reveals all the ugly details of this crime against ... uh, hound-manity.
GARBER: TONGUE-TIED IN CALGARY




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He hasn't swung a bat in 15 years. Headlines about him constantly include words like "gambling," "tax evasion" and "home shopping network." And yet Pete Rose remains one of the most popular figures in baseball. Page 2's Jim Caple says Rose is simply a bad guy who has been made into martyr. So, will anybody still care about him after he does finally make the Hall?

The Big, Bad Lakers The Daily Quickie
Doesn't matter if they're the sixth seed. Doesn't matter if they have home court. The Lakers are the team to beat in the NBA playoffs, and mentally, their opponents are down 1-0 in the series before it begins. So, can the Mavs, Kings, Spurs or Blazers break that mind meld? Page 2's Charley Rosen puts 'em all on the couch.
 Amid all the bricks tossed by his team and the expletives tossed by Geno Auriemma, something special emerged Tuesday night in that historic loss for the UConn women. The Daily Quickie says we got a first-hand look at the blueprint every underdog should use next week in the NCAA Tournament. Favorites, you've been warned.

WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY THINKING?
Jim Harrick, David Wells, Anna Kournikova and the folks at St. Bonaventure are all having a tough week. But, at least none of their mistakes was as permanent as a Billy Bob tattoo on your left shoulder. Like Angelina Jolie trying to erase the past, Page 2 looks at some regrettable mistakes in "What the Heck Are They Thinking?".


The hot rumor right now is that one of the conditions for Pete Rose's reinstatement into baseball is for Charlie Hustle to admit that he lied when he said he never bet on the National Pastime. Page 2 loves this stuff -- in fact, we're using the opportunity to reflect on the top 10 lies ever told in sports history. Check out our list and then vote for your favorite fib.
10]  Peter Ueberroth on collusion: "You can't get 26 owners to agree on anything"
Some charged baseball's owners with colluding to hold down salaries -- a clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement -- as early as 1985. Ueberroth denied anything of the sort, but the owners were eventually found guilty to the tune of $280 million.
9]  David Wells: I was "half-drunk" when I pitched my perfect game
Unless you've been out of the country for the last two weeks, you know this story very well by now. The hefty lefty now claims that he was misquoted in his autobiography.
8]  Tim Johnson: "I saw combat in 'Nam"
Johnson, in his first year as a big-league skipper in 1998, motivated his Blue Jays by telling them stories about his days of combat as a marine in Vietnam. Trouble is, it was all a lie ... and it eventually cost Johnson his job.
  • GET THE FULL LIST


VEGAS' ODDS TO WIN 2003 NBA Finals
Kings 9-5   Nets 11-2
Mavericks 3-1   Trail Blazers 15-1
Lakers 3-1   Pistons 33-1
Pacers 9-2   Celtics 40-1
Spurs 5-1   Sixers 45-1
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.


HEY, RUBE
The brackets aren't even out yet, but The Good Doctor is ready to make his pick for the NCAA tourney. And, no, he didn't learn his lesson last year.

BASEBALL DIARY
Eric Neel loves spring training, but he's tired of odes to hope. Bring on the season, where the unknown exists to surprise us.

SLICK SLOGANS
We decided the marketing geniuses at MLB needed help with team slogans, so Eric Immerman wrote one for all 30 big-league clubs.

THE LIST
Page 2's Tim Keown feels it's his philanthropic duty to teach cheating basketball programs on how to not get caught.

THE WATER COOLER
From March Madness to baseball to the award shows -- it doesn't get any better than spring, writes Page 2's Brian Murphy.

NAKED TRUTH
Why would anyone voluntarily disrobe in front of millions? Wayne Drehs gets the lowdown on the world's top sports streaker.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


Don't ask tough questions in this dojo! It's UConn women's hoop coach Geno Auriemma, left, and actor Martin Kove, who played Kreese of the Cobra Kai Dojo in "Karate Kid." This match was requested by Rhema Fuller of Storrs, Conn. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo for Page 2.


Men's hoop: Big East tourney
Noon ET, ESPN
Round One: Irish take on St. John's.
 
Men's hoop: C-USA tourney
3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Round One: South Florida vs. DePaul.
 
Men's hoop: Big Sky finale
9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
For a golden ticket to the Big Dance.
 
• Complete TV listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Tues., March 11: Scarred for Life
• Mon., March 10: Bringin' the Heat
• Fri., March 7: Pill-Poppers
• Thurs., March 6: Naked Truth
• Wed., March 5: Perfect Storm

Other featured content:
• Page 2's Ultimate Scorecard
• 10 Burning Questions with Jennie Finch
• Diary of Anna Kournikova's marriage
• The top 10 divorces in sports history
• The Clippers win it all in 2004
• Vote for the best throwback jerseys
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
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