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Page 2's Power Poll dares to rate the teams that are currently wielding the most power in the entire sports universe.
Each week, our poll will rank the 10 teams at the top of the power heap -- and the five teams that have lost the most power in the past week. And, by the way, Page 2 uses its own definition for a "team" -- any group of two or more bonded together for the common purpose.
Our Momentum Meter also predicts the direction these teams will be heading in future weeks (see the bottom of the page for a full explanation).
If you've got anything to say about our Top 10 or our Bottom 5, click here to comment -- or forever hold your peace.
TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 1. L.A. Lakers |
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Get used to it, folks. The most dominant team in all of sports is going to be on top of this poll for a long, long time. |
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| 2. Miami Hurricanes |
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Not that impressive against Hokies, but they did what they had to do, which is more than you can say for Florida and Texas. |
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| 3. College hoops monsters |
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We know, we know, it's still early. But Duke's men and UConn's women are looking mighty fine. |
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| 4. St. Louis Rams |
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OK, OK, maybe Oakland isn't the best team in the NFL after all. On the other hand ... |
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| 5. Central Division surprise leaders |
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... maybe it's the 9-2 Bears, or the 9-2 Steelers. On the other hand ... |
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| 6. San Francisco 49ers |
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... maybe it's that dysfunctional family that Joe Montana used to play for. Jerry Rice, eat your heart out. |
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| 7. Detroit Red Wings |
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Still sailing along atop the NHL standings with five more victories than any other team. |
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| 8. Tennessee Volunteers football |
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From out of nowhere to the national championship game ... if they can sneak by LSU in SEC title game. |
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| 9. Colorado Buffaloes football |
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Might be too late to get No. 2 in BCS, but nobody wants to play these world-beaters. |
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| 10. French Davis Cuppers |
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Upset heavily favored Australia -- in Melbourne -- to win the Cup. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens,
Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, New York NHL teams, University of Oregon football, Tennessee women's basketball, Atlanta Braves, Sergio Garcia, "Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone," Creed, the reminder of how much we loved the Beatles
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TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 5. Selig's shrinkage |
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Minnesota court decisions make it more certain Twins will play 2002 in Minnesota -- and contend -- while Expos sign lease to play 2002 in Big O, leaving Bud with his dirty 30. |
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| 4. Relationship between Indianapolis Colts leaders |
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Jim Mora has a big mouth, Peyton Manning has a wobbly arm, and Colts, preseason favorites to contend for Super Bowl, are heading nowhere -- except to a rancorous offseason full of change. |
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| 3. Florida sports scene |
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Gators blew a chance to play for national college football championship; Panthers are tied for least victories in NHL; Marlins and Devil Rays are on the contraction bubble; and Pat Riley's genius rep is fading quickly with 2-13 Heat. Sunshine State, indeed. |
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| 2. Notre Dame coaching staff |
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Maybe this time the Irish will spring for the big bucks and hire someone with some head coaching experience. |
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| 1. Floundering NFL trio |
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Lions (0-11) and Panthers (1-11) are bad and unlucky. Bills (1-10) are just bad, which means they should lose to Panthers next week in the worst NFL game since first 'Skins-'Boys tilt this year. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Flutiemania, Washington Redskins (0-2 against the
woeful Cowboys this year), Michaelmania, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic's investment in Grant Hill, Texas Longhorns |
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| Mo' Meter explained: |
No mo'; holding |
Climbing the charts |
Peaked; all downhill |
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