espn.com Ali Contest
Will we ever learn? It wasn't enough, apparently, to let the Sports Guy roam the streets of New Orleans at the Super Bowl two years ago. Now we've turned Bill Simmons loose on Houston to write a Super Bowl blog as his beloved Patriots prepare for the Panthers. What were we thinking?! Oh well, the mayhem starts . . . NOW!
SIMMONS: HARMLESS, PASSIVE BARBS




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Go west, young man. Page 2's Ralph Wiley and his faithful companion, Road Dog, took Horace Greeley up on that wise counsel, and toured the Land of the Giants in the NBA's Western Conference. What did they find? They found that Paul Bunyan's got nothin' on Shaq, KG, Chairman Yao and Tim B. Dunkin.

Silver Anniversary Teams Bennifer's Future
Christian Laettner and the ACC are better than the best of the Big East, right? Wrong? In our Silver Anniversary Team bracket, you can vote on which college hoops league has produced the best players.
 'Bennifer' may be gone, but they're (it?) not forgotten. The (un)happy couple is going to be with us for a loooooong time -- for at least 40 more years, anyway, as Page 3 presents: Ben & Jen, the Interview, January 2044.

THE DAILY QUICKIE
The Daily Quickie says the persistent background buzz you hear amid Houston's Super Bowl clatter is coming from Yao Ming (37 noisy points on Sunday). Plus, Captain A-Rod, and Houston's hipster life cycle.


Should we expect the unexpected out of Sunday's Super Bowl? Should we look for the unheralded player to make the game's most critical plays? Hey, it happens. Not always, but it happens. In fact, it's happened often enough through the first 37 Super Bowls that we can rank the greatest Super Bowl subs in history
10]  Jack Squirek, Raiders, Super Bowl SVIII
Squirek's interception of a Joe Theismann pass from the end zone flat demoralized the Redskins. Why? With 12 seconds to go in the half, he returned it five yards for a TD and a 21-3 Raiders' lead.
9]  Dan Bunz, 49ers, Super Bowl XVI
The Bengals looked certain to score and pull to within a touchdown of San Francisco. But on third-and-goal from the 1, Bunz made a terrific tackle on Charles Alexander just inches short, and then assisted on a fourth-down stop of fullback Pete Johnson.
8]  J.R. Redmond, Patriots, Super Bowl XXXVI
He carried the ball only 35 times for 119 yards, and caught only 13 passes during the entire 2001 season. But as the Pats put together their game-winning drive against the Rams, Redmond caught three passes to help set up Adam Viniateri.
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NFL FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Feb. 1 Patriots 6½ Panthers 38


 
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.


Silver Superstars
ESPN is celebrating 25 years of college hoops while the Writers' Bloc is celebrating the fact that today's topic isn't Super Bowl-related (just kidding, you football diehards). Today's topic: Who is the best college basketball player of the past 25 years?

  • Archive: Public Enemies No. 1
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    SUPER SUBSTITUTES
    Don't wanna watch the Super Bowl? Page 2's Brian Murphy has some exciting other ways to spend your Sunday.

    THE SPORTS GUY
    The Sports Guy knows who he likes -- and it's not any of these five guys.
    If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


    Apparently, Hollywood style includes a little facial scruff. It's Golden Globe winner Bill Murray, left, and Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. This match was requested by Carl in Minneapolis, MN. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo.


    Men's Hoops: Purdue at Indiana
    7 p.m. ET, ESPN
    "Hoosiers" wasn't set in just any state.
     
    Winter X: Hillcross, Skiing
    9 p.m. ET, ESPN
    Best part is no closing ceremonies.
     
    Real World: San Diego
    10 p.m. ET, MTV
    It's just like your first apartment.
     
    • Complete TV Listings


    If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
    • Fri., Jan. 23: Public Enemies
    • Thur., Jan. 22: Super Moments
    • Wed., Jan. 21: Murder Mystery
    • Tue., Jan. 20: Meet Page 3!

    Other featured content:
    • The 100 Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments
    • 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
    Monday, Jan. 26, 2004
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