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Tyler Hamilton:
U.S. cyclist fails a doping test, but protests
innocence. Stepping out of Lance's shadow also means
stepping into a glare of accusations.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
IN. PLAY.
My biggest problem with the AL East is
that no matter how the Yankees and Red Sox finish,
both will end up in the playoffs, making it the most
overrated "race" ever. Meanwhile...
SF 1.5 GB LA: That's shorthand for "The NL West
is totally in play":
Head-to-head: The Giants and Dodgers close with
six head-to-head games in their final nine.
No prize for 2nd? Heavy Wild Card comp from the
Cubs and Astros means the NL West runner-up could earn
a playoff shutout.
Pressure on...tonight: After losing last night
to the Padres 9-4, the Dodgers face San Diego ace Jake
Peavy (this is why LA got Brad Penny, isn't it?).
Catch the Giants-Astros game on ESPN2.
If only Boston/NY had a West Coast kind of
urgency.
Hamilton: Yikes
"I find it hard to believe and I hope
it's not true," Lance said to ESPN.com last night. He
should know.
"100 percent innocent," Tyler said. Anything
managed by international honchos is sketchy, so let's
see this play out.
But one thing's certain: It's terrible
timing, in a year where drugs and sports dominated the
news and a mere accusation of impropriety is
enough to tarnish a career.
Ichiro Watch
5 for 5: After the most recent batch of
oh-fers and one-fers, nothing re-captures milestone
mania like a baseball flush.
Needs 15 hits in 11 games to break George "We
Going' To" Sisler's 80-year-old single-season hits
record.
How about "Live Look-ins?" Maybe when he's
within 5. Congrats to Ichiro for making the
otherwise-crappy Mariners a must-see.
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Jason Giambi: Breaks out of 0-32 slump with HR (NYY wins)
D.C. baseball site: Now, if they could only get a team ...
Tiger Woods: All over the place promoting new video game
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| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
More Tiger Woods: Yes, but he won't play 84 Lumber Classic
Angels: Can't capitalize on OAK's L to budge from 2.5 GB
MIN-juries? Vikings RT Mike Rosenthal likely out for year |
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Bonds 'Til '06?
Ya think?! The Giants will not
void the 2006 year of Barry Bonds' contract, meaning
he'll be with the team for the next two years (unless
he decides to retire). Can you imagine if they had
said "No thanks?"
Far more relevant, the decision means that,
unless his productivity tanks, San Francisco is a
near-lock to claim the Sports Event of the Year in
both 2005 (Bonds passing Ruth's 714) and 2006
(Bonds passing Aaron's 755).
NFL Power Rankings
Use it to scout for new bandwagons! Pay
attention to the big gainers (Lions, from No. 22 to
14) and droppers (Redskins, from 12 to 20). See Q
It Up, right.
Jazz Retiring "12"
With the other part of this no-brainer
being that Utah retire Mailman's "32" on the same
night. Sure, they each deserve individual nights, but
the only reason either is jersey-retirement-worthy is because of the presence of
the other.
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"Lost for Sports
If you were lost on a deserted island
and could only have one ESPN Classic game tape with
you (and, obviously, a TV...but no cable. Horrors!),
which would it be?
Consideration factors: Amazing ending, or
see-saw middle? Old favorite, or something new? (Could
be stranded for a while.)
My Top 3:
1. N'western 17, ND 15 (1995)
2. 1986 World Series Game 6
3. SB XXXVI (Pats-Rams)
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NHL Reg-Season
Cancellations:
Looking to rent your city's primary sports arena for
your next wedding or bar mitzvah? Check your home NHL
schedule for open dates!
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Page 2: Play at the Plate |
| The Morning Quickie |
| NFL Power Rankings |
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| Ranking NL West/WC probable finishes |  Giants/Cubs
| Dodgers are fading...
|  Dodgers/Cubs
| If LA beats SF H2H
|  Giants/Astros
| Astros must beat Cards
|  Dodgers/Astros
| LA tops SF; Cubs fold
|  Giants/Dodgers
| | If Cubs, Astros tank |
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In that "other" West: The Rangers beat the A's, moving
4 GB. Simply too far back to be in it, but what an
unexpectedly fun season...
Mark Bellhorn came up huge for BOS, driving in 2 in
9th for a W over BAL. (Not that the AL East title
matters, mind you...)
Many NHL players don't seem fazed by the lockout at
all. More than 150 of them are already playing over in
Europe...
"Dream Job" Judgment: Last night's finalist group was,
overall, much better than last week's batch. See Page
3 today for a review...
ABA continues to build around notable coaching hires.
Latest: NBA Top 50'er Tiny Archibald ('72-73: 34 ppg,
11 apg) to L.B. Jam...
Be sure to check out The Morning Quickie on
SportsNation, every weekday from 9-10 a.m. ET (See Q
It Up for the link "SN: Quickie")...
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