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Page 2 readers sound off
From the Page 2 mailbag

We think we heard from every North Carolina men's basketball fan out there who wasn't too busy starting fires or turning over cars last week.

Seems a lot of Tar Heel followers didn't like being ranked second behind NBC with a prediction that Matt Doherty's team won't stay on top for the rest of the season.

We at Page 2 believe U.S. culture is just a little too obsessed with being first. That's why we rank the top 10.

What's so bad about No. 2? Be proud like Avis, the Buffalo Bills, Robert Wagner or Mr. Hanky from "South Park," some of the more memorable performances as No. 2s.

Here are your responses from last week's Page 2 Power Poll:

How could you not include the Bucks in the top ten and the Pacers in your bottom five? I mean Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen are killing! They are the hottest team in the East. If it weren't for the Knicks or 76ers, they would probably go to the finals.

Not only that how about the Pacers? They are horrible! Reggie Miller's actions should get him the MVB award at the end of the year (if you can't figure out the letters, it's most valuable baby, or brat ... whatever). Hey, Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender were the two worst pickups by the Pacers ... since Derek McKey! They are falling and falling fast, better get the safety net. I guess it could be worse, they could be the Bulls!
Dante
Indianapolis

Saying the Avs are "far and away best club in NHL" is an extremely moronic statement considering the fact that the Devils smoked them 6-1. Try to ease up on the overzealous praise!
Steve
Nutley, N.J.

Never underestimate the power of arrogance. It comes as no surprise that ESPN has been bashing the XFL even before it ever played a game. Why is that? Gee, could it be because you have Sunday Night Football, and ABC has Monday Night Football? Keep dogging your competition and you are going to turn people off of you. The XFL might not be that great but the last time I checked, Monday Night Football's ratings sucked, too.
Jeff
Bellingham, Wash.

How does UCLA not make the top ten? This is ESPN, not Fox Sports Net right? The current top ten is a joke ... you blew it.
Gary Dunn
Santa Barbara, Calif.

It's about time Illinois got some credit. Look at the teams they have played: Michigan State, Duke, Arizona (twice), Maryland, Seton Hall, Iowa, Missouri, do I need to continue.
Blake Ring
Champaign, Ill.

Illinois No. 8? So ESPN is in on it to make sure that the Illini get too much coverage and flop.

Please, please, please, I am a long-suffering fan (I was there during the 18-game football losing streak), could you please ignore the Illini so we can be on our way to greatness.
Glenn Kanter
Chicago

What about the Celts? Six-game winning streak, 8-5 under Jim O'Brien.
Taylor Baybutt
Massachusetts

This page is awesome. You get good marks for your "also receiving votes" category and for mentioning Princeton atop the Ivy, and bad marks for placing the Avs above the Pens. Who was it that Lemieux beat on his first shift to get his first goal? Oh yeah, Raymond Bourque, whose sole purpose of continuing to play hockey is to try and win a Cup with a team that he doesn't have to carry.
Andy
Princeton, N.J.

I'll be damned if the Tar Heels have peaked and are on their way down, you can say that after they win the national championship!
Ben Colegrove
Newark, Del.

Carolina freakin' rules! They keep getting blasted because the other team apparently made a mistake. They've proven they can play with the big dogs, beating Duke, Maryland, and Wake Forest in the conference. Stanford and Duke had their weaknesses, like amazing lack of bench depth pointed out in their losses.
Johny Smith
Raleigh, N.C.

UNC is going downhill from here? On what basis do you make this judgment. I know, there must be a Duke grad doing this poll. UNC is on fire, and Joe Forte will be national player of the year. Give the Heels some respect. After all they have won 17 games in a row.
Jamie Lowe
Hickory, N.C.

Saying that UNC is only going downhill after this, maybe you forget who you are talking about. This is the UNC that after the worst season in years still cleans up on teams and goes to the Final Forte. We'll be on a downhill when the seasons over and there's no one left to dominate. PEACE
Philip Wikoff
North Carolina

You guys have too much time on your hands.
Chad Dschaak
North Dakota

Well, I enjoyed the witty and invigorating Power Poll as usual. However, any common Joe (even Forte) could tell you that the top-ranked Heels can't go up any further. They beat Duke in Cameron for the love of Dean. I'm disappointed in the down arrow Carolina hoops received.
Kyle A Payne
Hershey, Pa.

I do not care to make any comments about how ranking decisions were made, as far as us Tar Heels fans are concerned, as little publicity as possible please. This team is a humble team under a humble coach. I have no complaints with the ranking, or even if they were not ranked at all.

Yet, I do have a problem with your little symbol, the arrow pointed down. To say that a team that has ascended to the top spot, with wins over quality teams on those teams courts, seems lacking in reason. This team has not peaked, they just do what all the perennial great teams do, i.e. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, get better and ready for the tournament season to start. I'm curious to learn your logic on this matter so that maybe I can see where you are coming from, because around the Tobacco Road area we are used to this stuff, in Chapel Hill and Durham.
Michael King
Gibsonville, N.C.

XFL and Power Poll? You've got to be kidding me! The same morons that watch the WWF are all about this crap. Might as well go rent a porno and afterward treat yourself to a Pop Warner game if that's what your Jones is! P.S. Ratings -- they are overrated!
Deke Ray
Charleston AFB, S.C.

Love it. No arguments here on this week's poll. But, I'll be watching ...
San Fran Sam
El Paso, Texas

North Carolina deserves to be No. 1 because winning at Duke was huge, and who gives a crap about the XFL?
Matt Sharp
Barbourville, Ky.

I think the poll is mostly right on the money. The only thing I might change is that the Pittsburgh Penguins should be ranked a little bit higher but I see they are still climbing the charts so I'll wait for next week. Also after Illinois beat Michigan State. they should go up.
Josh Mickey
Burlington, Iowa

Oklahoma football has got to be the best thing going. Bob Stoops has brought the program right back where it supposed to be -- on top.

After an "improbable" or "Cinderella run" to the national championship, he brings in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. It would even be better if people around the country knew about the outstanding in-state talent in Oklahoma. That proves to me that with one of the best coaches in the country and excellent players coming to Norman, the Oklahoma football program will be on top for a very long time no matter how much respect or attention they get.
Dustin Spicer
Norman, Okla.

So Illinois (No. 7) won over Michigan State (No. 4) on their home court. Big deal. Isn't it more impressive for Iowa State Cyclones (No. 12 or 14) to handle Kansas (No. 5) on the road at a place where no one has beaten KU two years in a row for 38 years?
Steve
Ames, Iowa

So you guys think the UNC basketball team has peaked? In the words of the immortal Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friends!" The Tar Heels may not have the most glamorous team in the nation, but the pieces are in place for a national title this year. Kudos to the new coach.
Phil Lucado
Winston-Salem, N.C.

UNC is so lucky, but they will go down.
Jeff
Edenton, N.C.

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	ALSO SEE: Page 2's Power Poll: Feb. 7-14, 2001

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