espn.com Ali Contest
It was an omen. How else to explain the sudden end of The Sports Guy's hot streak in the NFL playoffs? There he was in Vegas, and he didn't gamble. There he was in the . . . ahem, 'Adult Entertainment Expo', and he . . . well, let's just say Page 2's Bill Simmons left Vegas 13 hours later with his tail tucked between his legs.
SIMMONS: THROW ME IN SADDAM'S HOLE




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Can one man single-handedly turn Boston into a cow town? If anybody can do it, Kevin Millar can. When Page 2 sat good-guy Millar down for 10 Burning Questions, we got an earful about the long, strange trip that took him from Hollywood to Texas to the Red Sox. He's been 'cowboying' it up ever since.

Rank 'Em: The Top 25 Illegal Motion
SportsNation wants you to rank the top 25 athletes of the past 25 years. When we put our own Eric Neel to the test, he cycled right through to No. 1. But what to do about a certain boxer?
 So John McEnroe says he indavertenly took steroids as a player. Who knew? Illegal Motion presents a Detection Guide for tennis steroids so we don't get fooled again.

THE DAILY QUICKIE
The Daily Quickie knows the quarterback was down before the ball came loose. But after "The Tuck" and now "The Knee", Mr. Quickie wants Tom Brady's luck. Plus, playoff not 'n not, and baseball ironies.


Man, oh man. Have we seen some terrific playoff football over the last couple of weekends, or what! If it isn't overtime, it's last-second scores. If it isn't road upsets, it's brilliant individual performances. But do these recent games measure up to the ones on our list of the greatest NFL playoff games (not counting the Super Bowl) in history??
10]  Immaculate Reception: Steelers 13, Raiders 7 (1972)
Here's the dirty little secret of the Immaculate Reception game -- it was more memorable than great. In fact, it makes this list only because of the spectacular, and still sometimes disputed, ending.
9]  Sea of Hands: Raiders 28, Dolphins 26 (1974)
With no timeouts remaining, Ken Stabler rolled left and threw to RB Clarence Davis, who made a great catch among a "sea of hands" belonging to three Dolphins defenders, for the winning TD with 24 seconds remaining.
8]  The Botched Call: 49ers 39, Giants 38 (2003)
The 49ers overcame a 38-14 deficit in the final 19 minutes. New York botched the snap on a 41-yard FG attempt as time expired, but the NFL later admitted pass interference should have been called on the 49ers, giving the Giants another opportunity.
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NFL FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Sunday Patriots 3½ Colts 43
Sunday Eagles 5 Panthers 38½


 
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.


Lance, MJ and the Great Ones
Eric Neel dared to rank the 25 greatest athletes of the past 25 years and the Writers' Bloc immediately jumped his case faster than you can say, "Michael Jordan at No. 2." Things get a little heated.

  • Archive: Football HOF: Who's in?
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    WAR OUT WEST
    Page 2's Eric Neel says forget Yanks-Sox -- Lakers-Kings is the best sports rivalry going.

    RUBIK'S CUBES
    Page 2's Ralph Wiley says the QB play of Manning and McNabb will solve the Super Bowl puzzle.
    If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


    It's Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil, left, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. This match was requested by 45 Page 2 readers. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.


    Men's Hoops: Pittsburgh at Connecticut
    7 p.m. ET, ESPN
    ASPCA frowns on Huskies vs. Panthers.
     
    American Idol 3 Season Premier
    8 p.m. ET, FOX
    But there's still only one Clay.
     
    Tennis: Australian Open
    10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
    All the action Down Under.
     
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    If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
    • Thur., Jan. 15: Stump Page 2!
    • Wed., Jan. 14: Rubik's Cubes
    • Tue., Jan. 13: White Men Can't Pedal
    • Mon., Jan. 12: Eskimo Up!

    Other featured content:
    • The Least Powerful People in Sports
    • What the Heck Were They Thinking?
    • Best Sports Cities of 2003
    • Sex and Sports, 2003: Part I
    • Sex and Sports, 2003: Part II
    • All-Time World Series Rankings
    • 100 Greatest Home Runs of All Time
    • Ultimate Scorecard: 101 best uniform numbers
    Weekend Edition, Jan. 16-18, 2004
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