|
ESPN.com: Page 2 | [Print without images] |
For the complete look at what's in for 2004 and what's so last year, check out the list below:
| 7th ANNUAL "WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT" YEAR-IN-PREVIEW: 2004 EDITION | ||
| Category | Hot (for '04) | Not Hot (so '03) |
| Super-fan |  Ashley Judd (as always) |
 Ben Affleck |
| Sports Rennaissance city | Cincinnati | Anywhere, Texas |
| Sport to train toddler in | Poker | NASCAR |
| Game system | PSP | PS2 |
| "Gotcha, Coach!" | Video-enabled cell phones | Camera-enabled cell phones |
| Rose |  Pete |
 Bowl |
| Kobe Bryant | '04 Trial of the Century | '04 Free Agent of the Century |
| Olympics problem | Undetectable steroids | Hookers on strike |
| DVD | Seinfeld, Season One | Lord of the Rings |
| Anniversary | Real-life Hoosiers | Webber's "T.O." |
| Hilton | Nicky | Paris |
| Celeb couple | Gwyneth and Chris | Jessica and Nick |
| Reality TV show | "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancee" | "Punk'd" |
| Diet | Athens | Atkins |
| "Groupies" scene | Olympic Village | NBA All-Star Weekend |
| Farewell tour |  Brett Favre |
 Emmitt Smith |
| At-bat music | Brit-hop | Crunk |
| Must-read blog | TMFTML | Gawker |
| Off-field, -court headgear | Skullies/beanies | Foam 'n mesh hats |
| Jerseys | Trades you WISH happened | Retro players |
| Regulatory development | Steroid "testing" | Coaching "ethics" |
| NBA personality |  LeBron |
 Yao |
| Ride | Hybrids | Hummers |
| NBA talent pool | Russia/Asia | Europe |
| City that deserves more pro teams | D.C. | Charlotte |
| End-zone celebration | Can-you-top-this? | Derivative |
| World Series we'd like to see | Cubs-Red Sox | Cubs-Red Sox |
| Maurice Clarett | Precedent | Pariah |
| Endorser (male) | Carmelo | LeBron |
| Endorser (female) |  Serena |
 Anna K |
| Must-have football jersey | LeBron James | Carson Palmer |
| College football feel-good story | Mississippi State | Mississippi |
| Obligatory Anna Kournikova reference | Reality TV show star (she's due) | Real TV field reporter |
| Solid idea that just needs tweaking | "Brooklyn Nets" | Virtual manager |
| Secret speech-pattern | Anything but "-izzle" | Anything "-izzle" |
| Sports movie | 1980 Olympic hockey | 1940 horse racing |
| Athlete must-have | Personal DVR | Personal GPS |
| Cliched male demographic | "Gear Guy" | "Metrosexual" |
| What older athletes do | TV ads | TV analyst |
| Notre Dame game plan | Bank that TV green | Join a conference |
| Fascinating college-hoops freshman | Luol Deng (Duke) | Matt Walsh (Florida) |
| NBA significant other |  It's always Tyra Banks |
 Joumana Kidd |
| Coaching PR blunder | "I didn't do it." | Rip on sideline reporter |
| Sweet scientist | Joe Mesi | Mike Tyson |
| March Cinderella | Vanderbilt | Butler |
| Bonds' home-run milestone | Babe's 714 | 600 career |
| NBA trade bait |  Any Knick |
 Antoine Walker |
| College-football recruiting need | USC-like speed | BCS specialist |
| QB skill | Touch | Arm strength |
| Female hotties are ... | Olympic swimmers | Golfers |
| Heisman qualifier | Sixth-year senior | Plains States bias |
| Anthem singer | Next "American Idol" | Little kids |
| Facial hair | None | "Cowboy Up" mutton chops |
| Boston baby name | Curt | Pedro |
| NFL QB prospect | Ben Roethlisberger | Eli Manning |
| Pin-up athlete |  Maria Sharapova |
 Jennie Finch |
| BCS complaint | Human polls | Computer polls |
| NBA on-court accessory | Double-wide headband | Full-length leg sleeves |
| Hip athlete cameo role | Indie flicks | TV shows |
| Women's soccer diva | Heather Mitts | Mia Hamm |
| WNBA savior | Diana Taurasi | Lisa Leslie |
| NASCAR fun | Playoffs | Punches |
| Non-Tiger golfer | Michelle Wie | Annika Sorenstam |
| Pitching duo | Beckett/Willis | Prior/Wood |
| Boston bachelor | Theo Epstein | Ben Affleck |
| Fashion faux-pas | Tucked-in shirt | UGG boots |
| "Can't-miss" NBA prospect | Dwight Howard | Darko Milicic |
| Athlete as actor | Darius Miles | Gary Stevens |
| Kicks | Air Zoom Generation (LeBrons) | Air Force 1s |
| Most fun in Texas |  Booing A-Rod |
 Cheering Parcells |
| Sports tickets | Collectors' item | Variable-pricing plans |
| TV ratings bonanza | High-school football | High-school hoops |
| Next MLB champs | BoSox, finally! | Marlins repeat |
| Real NBA Finals | Spurs-Lakers West finals | Kings-Lakers anything |
| NFL Champs | Pats' overachievement | Bucs' one-hit wonder |
| Dynasty | U.S. Olympic hero Michael Phelps | Mount Union (D3 football) |