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Page 2's Power Poll
Page 2 staff

Every week, the Power Rankings on ESPN.com's NFL, NBA, NHL and baseball pages rate the best teams in each of the individual pro sports. But nobody has had the gumption to rate the teams that are currently wielding the most power in the entire sports universe.

Until now. Each week, Page 2's Power Poll will rate 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 good.

Our Momentum Meter also predicts the direction these teams will be heading (see the bottom of the page for a full explanation).

TEAM	PAGE 2 SAYS	MO' METER

1. NBC	XFL scores big ratings on opening weekend. Never underestimate nation's desire to watch bad football and half-naked women.


2. North Carolina men's hoops	Tar Heels knock off hated Blue Devils, then get help from UCLA to take over top spot in men's hoop poll. Roy Williams, eat your heart out.


3. Minnesota Timberwolves	Bad time for an All-Star break. T-Wolves have won 10 straight.


4. All golfers not named Tiger Woods	Davis Love III's turn to win. Tiger will scream "Fix" when Fuzzy Zoeller wins.


5. Oklahoma football	National championship attracts great recruiting class, and no more NFL openings mean coach Bob Stoops is staying.


6. Colorado Avalanche	Winning streak stopped, but still far and away best club in NHL with five All-Stars. Bourque again on target in skills competition.


7. Bad-girl cheerleaders	Besides sultry vixens gyrating during half of XFL broadcasts, naughty-girl pic "Sugar and Spice" was 12th at box office after making $3.6 million last weekend.


8. Illinois men's hoops	Michigan State's Big Ten title run is in serious jeopardy.


9. Super Mario and the Pens	Lemieux lovefest continued in Denver for All-Star weekend, and for first time in Mario's nine All-Star trips he actually seemed to enjoy it -- a lot.


10. New York Yankees	About to sign one of best young players in game without paying more than market value. Only nine more months to next parade in Canyon of Heroes.


ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Buffalo Bills, Milwaukee Bucks, UCLA men's hoops

TEAM		PAGE 2 SAYS	MO' METER

5. UConn women's hoops		Huskies lose to rival Vols and lose Svet in process. Oh well, that's two more reasons to watch women's tourney now.


4. Team Commishes		Tags hands Super Bowl MVP to Ray Lewis, and Bettman watches his All-Star ratings lag behind XFL. Can there be any doubt that Stern will be forced to award All-Star MVP trophy to ... Latrell Sprewell.


3. The Canadiens and all Canadians		First, Joe Canada announces he's moving to L.A. Then, Habs get bought by an American who once declared bankruptcy. Better have Mounties check whereabouts of McKenzie brothers.


2. Phoenix Suns		Three players arrested in last four months. Maricopa County jail team applies for CBA membership.


1. Brainiac college hoops teams		Duke loses to UNC when country's smartest player has brainlock in final seconds. Stanford gets blitzed at home by unranked UCLA. At least Princeton's still co-leader of the Ivy League.


ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: The 1951 New York Giants, Super Bowl defensive coordinators, Kansas men's hoops, the CBA

Mo' Meter explained:	No mo'; holding	Still climbing the charts	Peaked; all downhill

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	ALSO SEE: Page 2's Power Poll: Jan. 24-30, 2001

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