| | | 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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Still unbeaten. What happens when Shaq gets into shape,
and the new guys learn the intricacies of the Triangle? |
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| 2. St. Louis Rams |
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Marshall Faulk sure is good, isn't he? |
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| 3. Nebraska football |
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No. 1 everywhere but in the AP poll. Now all they
have to do to get to the BCS championship game is beat Oklahoma again. |
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| 4. Minnesota Timberwolves |
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Only other NBA unbeaten. Toughest zone in the
league, and Kevin Garnett's on a mission to prove he belongs on the same level with Shaq, Kobe and Duncan. |
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| 5. Traditional college hoop powers |
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Connecticut's women (2-0) and Duke's
defending champion men start off the season in their usual spots -- at the top of the polls. |
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| 6. Detroit Red Wings |
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Best record in NHL and tied for most goals with
Chicago. |
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| 7. St. Louis Cardinals |
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Because to the generosity of Mark McGwire, the
Cards will be able to compete for his righteous replacement, Jason Giambi. |
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| 8. Green Bay Packers |
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The best of six 6-2 NFL teams, and the only one with Brett Favre, the born-again John Elway. |
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| 9. New Jersey Nets |
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They are 5-1 (best in the East), a place they've never
been before. Thanks, Phoenix, no Kidd-ing. |
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| 10. Miami football |
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Looked very vulnerable against Boston College --
lucky, too -- but still one of only two "major" unbeatens left. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, BYU football, Oklahoma football, Florida football, Tennessee football, Arizona men's basketball, Indiana Pacers, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Harlem Globetrotters, "Friends" (beating "Survivor" in head-to-head ratings), "24," "Monsters Inc." |
TEAM
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PAGE 2 SAYS
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MO' METER
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| 5. New York Mets' rep |
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Last year, they feigned pursuit of A-Rod. This year's fantasy to fuel the New York tabloids: They are ardently pursuing
Barry Bonds, who's asking $200 million for five years. The Mets' second free-agent choice? The Tooth Fairy. |
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| 4. New York Times college football poll |
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Oklahoma and Texas are both 9-1,
Oklahoma has played a much tougher schedule, and Oklahoma easily beat Texas, head-to-head. So why is Texas rated No. 5 and Oklahoma No. 7 by the NYT
computer (which also has 5-5 North Carolina at No. 23)? |
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| 3. Aging longtime NBA playoff teams |
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What will the Knicks (2-5), the Jazz
(3-5) and the Heat (2-4) have in common by the end of the season? Lottery picks. |
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| 2. Carolina Panthers |
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The Lions have a worse record, but at least the
Lions look like they are trying to win. |
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| 1. Lamar Odom & his future |
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The Next Magic Johnson is beginning to look more like The Next Roy Tarpley. |
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| ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Michael Jordan's shooting touch, Michael Jackson's TV special |
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| Mo' Meter explained: |
No mo'; holding
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Climbing the charts |
Peaked; all downhill
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