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Matt Leinart:
Decision Day! Should he stay at USC (2nd Heisman? 3rd
national title?) or go to the NFL (No. 1 pick? Sick
amounts of cash?). Announcement may come today.
QUICKIE LIVE! 9-10 a.m.
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The Lead Item
Two Words For You:
FIRST. OFFENSE.
"One strike and you're out."
That should be the tagline when MLB unveils its
new and improved steroid-testing plan today. Quippy,
simple, accurate -- and the right line
for improved public perception.
First offense: A suspension of up to 10 days
(and assured public humiliation for the player; normal
suspensions are for games, not days, so "outing" a
'roid-positive player may create a useful
deterrent).
The new plan's other details are either too
abstract (more frequent testing, in-season and out) or
remain laughably lax (year-long suspension upon 4th
offense, rather than 5th).
"Get off with a warning" for first-time 'roid
offenders frustrated fans and pols; now, they'll get
their tangible punishment.
From rivals as bitter as MLB and the players union, it's a
shockingly proactive step, but toothless compared to
the other league with a steroid problem: In the NFL,
first-time offenders sit 4 games (roughly 40
MLB games!)
Translation: Don't swing too quick at this first pitch
from MLB. Tougher reform is needed; in fact,
stimulants remain an even bigger epidemic in the
sport. (Don't hold your breath.)
The new plan's real test will come when we
start to see the first of the "first-strike" players
take a seat.
Tar Heels Rule
UNC might be underrated at No. 4:
Dismantled No. 8 Georgia Tech 91-69, to follow the
spanking it gave Maryland on Saturday and haven't
lost since the opener at Santa Clara (without PG
Raymond Felton).
We'll see Saturday, when the Heels visit No. 3 Wake
Forest. Felton vs. WF's Chris Paul matches college
hoops' two quickest PGs. But the real UNC X-factor is
smooth frosh SF Marvin Williams (14 pts off bench vs.
GT).
NBA Wrap
Have the Suns been exposed? PHX
couldn't handle Utah size
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CHECK OUT THE QUICKIE EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING! |
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| WHO'S GOT THE MOMENTUM ... |
Tony Parker: Rumored to be dating Desperate's Eva Longoria
"Yen-Ball": A's sign 36-y.o. Japanese pitcher Keiichi Yaba
Barry Larkin: Near a deal with the Nats as a backup SS? |
| ... AND WHO'S GOT NO MO' |
Chad Pennington: Hit with stomach virus; should get better
Vikings' Red McCombs: Unsuccessful to ban Buck from booth
Mike Sherman: Out as Packers GM? Coach-GM *never* works!
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(out-reb. 55-35), Jazz rally from 14-point deficit.
East's hottest team? Chicago! The Bulls won
their 5th straight (11 of 14). Rookie Ben
Gordon (career-high 31) is heating up.
"Remember when 'Kobe vs. X' was an event?"
That's a running theme this season. Latest example:
Snoozer in Denver (Denver!) in a Lakers L.
Ain't your old D.C. team: The Wizards' clutch W
over Portland makes it 5 in a row, continuing their
shockingly atypical success.
That Hornets win streak (2) was nice while it
lasted, until the Pistons put the "no" back in
N.O.
Return of Wie
She's still just a teen, and she's
still so much better than you, it's a joke.
15-year-old Michelle Wie makes her return to the PGA's
Sony Open on her home course in Honolulu. Last year,
she was two strokes away from making the cut (but
still finished ahead of a couple dozen pro
men).
This year, I'm betting she not only makes the cut, but
finishes in the top 20. I stand by my 2004 prediction
that she'll qualify for the Masters by the time she's
18.
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Free Carmella!
It's an acquittal for Jeff Garcia's
girlfriend (and Playboy Playmate) Carmella DeCesare in
the charge of misdemeanor assault (a.k.a.
"karate-kicking") Garcia's ex in the Bar Fight of
2004. And the wheels of justice roll on ...
'TILT' Mania (9, ESPN)
Characters I hope to see:
Math-Savant-Shut-In Guy!
Immigrant-With-Attitude Guy!
iPod Guy!
Someone -- anyone! -- who can explain how a sport like
poker can claim to be tough, yet allow wusses to wear
sunglasses because they can't keep their eyes from
getting wide as pies at decent hands.
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College football coaches:
Delayed vote on whether to make top 25 ballots public.
Boo! This is a no-brainer: If they won't be
transparent, they shouldn't be part of BCS process.
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Today on ESPN.com
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| Quickie Live! |
| NBA Power Rankings |
| Olney: Baseball mania in NYC |
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| Ranking Weakest Major Sports League Roid-Testing Plans |  NHL
| Doesn't test AT ALL!
|  NBA
| But not a big problem
|  MLB
| Well, it's a start
|  Olympics
| Winners tested pronto
|  NFL
| | Kind of has to be ... |
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Doug M's BallGate: Tulsa law prof Paul Finkelman had a
must-read Op-Ed in the NY Times yesterday, arguing the
W.S. ball belongs to: the Cardinals!
MLB Fray Agency: Eclipsed by the East, the D'backs
have made a TON of moves, the latest signing Shawn
Estes (and trading Shea Hillenbrand to Jays) ...
More MLB: Everyone knows the Mets are hot for Delgado,
but they'll face comp from the Marlins, who just
signed Paul LoDuca to a 3-year deal ...
Kobe's lawyers want his sexual history out as part of
the civil case against him; if it's entered as
evidence, it could get REALLY ugly ...
Red Sox manager Terry Francona signed an endorsement
deal with Metamucil, and I couldn't possibly less want
to know why ...
The "Do I Have To?" Item of the Day: Jayson Williams
sighting in CBA, making his debut for the Idaho
Stampede ...
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