ESPN.com - Page 2's Power Poll

ESPN.com: Page 2

Monday, July 1, 2002
Updated: July 2, 5:33 PM ET
Page 2's Power Poll

Page 2 staff

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	PAGE 2 SAYS	MO' METER


1. Brazil soccer	No disputing this true world power.

2. Atlanta Braves	Hottest team in baseball (9-1 over last 10) also tied the M's for the best record in baseball (52-30). We'll know how serious they are about winning it all if they trade for Jim Thome.

3. U.S. women tennis players	Top four seeds, all still alive, are from the United States, which has won the last eight women's Grand Slam titles.

4. Seattle Mariners	Not as good as last year, but 52-30 ain't bad. And Edgar Martinez's back.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers	Faceless team is 51-31 under Jim Tracy, who thanks the powers that be every night for closer Eric Gagne. Too bad it looks like the Dodgers will burn him out out down the stretch.

6. Weird 'do's	Ronaldo, David Beckham, Clint Mathis and that guy from Turkey with the dead skunk on his head have NBA ballers green with envy -- and making plans for the 2002-2003 season.

7. The legend that is Annika Sorenstam	Dominant in 2001, she's even better in 2002. Six wins in 12 tour starts has people wondering, "Who's Tiger?"

8. Montreal Expos	Stealing Bartolo Colon from the Indians shows these contraction-bound 'Spos are going to put up a heck of a fight just to show that a frugal small market team can contend.

9. The legend in his own mind that is Wladmir Klitschko	Ivan Drago Jr. beats up a washed-up, 41-year-old Ray Mercer and what does he get? A place at the front of the line for a multimillion-dollar payday with Lennox Lewis. Only in America, and only in boxing.

10. Carolina Hurricanes	Kept the core of their Stanley Cup finalist team together by re-signing potential unrestricted free agents Ron Francis and Bret Hedican and re-signed top scorer Jeff O'Neill to an extension.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, AL shortstops, Los Angeles Sparks, Paul Kariya's stock, Washington Capitals, Turkey soccer, MLS, Giorgio Chinaglia, Dwain Chambers, Don Pooley, "Mr. Deeds," "Lilo & Stitch," "Minority Report"

TEAM	PAGE 2 SAYS	MO' METER


5. Martha Stewart Inc.	First she gets mixed up in an insider-trading scandal, then her own company's stock takes a dive, then one of her dogs bites a child of her disgraced pal Sam Waksal. What next -- the wrong number of spoons at a dinner party?

4. The legend that was almost Oliver Kahn	He was the best player in the World Cup -- until he let a ball bounce out of his arms and onto the foot of Ronaldo at the worst possible moment.

3. The NBA draft	What's worst than boring? How about boring and irrelevant?

2. Boston Red Sox	Ended June -- their traditional swooning month -- on a 3-7 free fall. But five All-Stars keep hopes high in Beantown.

1. U.S. men tennis players	For the first time in 80 years, no U.S. men made the Round of 16 at Wimbledon.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Worldcom, Yasser Arafat, "Hey Arnold!", "Windtalkers," "Juwanna Mann," El Niño

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