espn.com Ali Contest
If last year's All-Star Game in Milwaukee was Bud Selig's worst nightmare, Tuesday night's Midsummer Classic in the City of Big Shoulders was a dream come true, thanks to Hank Blalock's eighth-inning home run. Among the usual blitz of marketing and hammy music, Mike Barnicle saw something unexpected: real baseball.
BARNICLE: THIS ONE'S FOR BUD




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In our quest to bring the best (and the worst!) of the worlds of sports and entertainment to Page 2, we proudly introduce the newest member of our team today. She's Annie "Hollywood" Hoffman, who promises to dish the dirt like never before. In her first column, she rubs elbows with Hef, Oscar and Kato.

The Daily Quickie Ballpark Tour
The Daily Quickie says baseball provided a blueprint for every other all-star game, even if Eric Gagne has to live with the results. Plus, Sportoon explores the supernatural powers of sports fans.
From the Darth Vader theme during visiting team introductions to the aerobic charm of "Let's Go, Blue Jays" during the seventh-inning stretch, Jim Caple says Toronto's not-so-new SkyDome is a unique experience.

IS BASEBALL RACIST?
Page 2's Ralph Wiley says baseball has always undervalued African-American stars like Rickey Henderson, but the real problem for blacks occurs at the game's lower levels.


Darryl Strawberry is alive! This isn't baseball's first trip into the world of whispers and heresay, so in honor of Straw we present the list of baseball's biggest rumors:
10]  MLB's money problems
Bud Selig testified that baseball lost $232 million in 2001. A few months later, Forbes Magazine reported that MLB teams had combined profits of $75 million.
9]  Roger Maris' asterisk
In 1961, commissioner Ford Frick said that if Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run record, it would go into the books with an asterisk, because it would be set in 162 games, while Ruth hit 60 in only 154 games.
8]  Billy Ripken's baseball card
In the photo on his 1989 Fleer card, Oriole Bill Ripken holds a bat with an expletive written, and clearly legible, on the end of the bat handle. The photos don't lie.
  • GET THE FULL LIST


VEGAS' ODDS TO WIN 2003 BRITISH OPEN
Tiger Woods 3-1   Phil Mickelson 10-1
Ernie Els 8-1   Vijay Singh 15-1
Sergio Garcia 20-1   Davis Love III 15-1
Mike Weir 10-1   Jim Furyk 10-1
Retief Goosen 15-1   David Toms 20-1
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 HOT LIST
With home field advantage on the line, Dan Shanoff has what's sizzling and fizzling at the All-Star Game.

SAUSAGE SHOWDOWN
Jim Caple's dream finally comes true: He races as the Italian Sausage.

BALLPARK TOUR
Qualcomm Stadium: Where the tacos are good and everything else bad.

THE SPORTS GUY
Ballpark food, weddings and movie props. Pull up a chair as the Sports Guy empties his mailbag.

READY TO REIGN
Can LeBron James possibly be as good as advertised? Page 2's Ralph Wiley explains why maybe we should believe the hype.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


It's SA soccer champion coach Carlos Bianchi, left, and Seinfeld's co-creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David. Page 2 has received 64 requests for this match. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo for Page 2.


Pete Rose on Trial
7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Rose could hit, they must acquit.
 
WNBA: Seattle at Connecticut
8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Sue Bird returns for UConn reunion.
 
Lacrosse: All-Star Game
10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Dusty Baker wants a chance to manage.
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Tue., July 15: Squeeze Play
• Mon., July 14: Sausage Glory
• Fri., July 11: Sports Guy's Mailbag
• Thurs., July 10: Sausage Assault

Other featured content:
• Ultimate Scorecard: 101 best uniform numbers ever
• The most overrated athletes of all time
• Lakers' Dream Team roster holes
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
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