TOP TEN- 7-17-06

Everybody has a Top 10. NS is no different. But rather than focus just on college football or Major League Baseball, we’ve decided to throw every sport –USBL, skydiving, horseshoe-tossing- into the same pool and simply fish out the best athletes/teams each Monday. Let the debating commence…

1. St. Louis Cardinals- Don’t know what’s more unbelievable, the fact the Red Birds just swept the Dodgers in four or that Albert Pujols has a robust .717 slugging percentage.
2. New York Mets- We know that Chicago is struggling mightily, but was it really necessary to unload 11 runs –including two grand slams!- on the Cubbies in the sixth?
3. Barbaro- Everyday seems to offer a different prognosis on the beloved thoroughbred injured at the Preakness, but we love the news we’ve been hearing lately.
4. Oscar Pereiro- To have the overall Tour lead after a weekend of blistering heat and brutal crashes is worthy of praise. Rest up. The Alps are on the horizon.
5. J.R. Todd- The 24-year-old became the first black to win a NHRA Top Fuel drag-racing event—and it was just his 9^th career start!
6. Detroit Tigers- So, they lost one to Kansas City the other day. The Tigers are still the only team in the Majors with 60+ wins.
7. New York Yankees- The Evil Empire’s bats are good (Derek Jeter’s batting .344) and its pen is sound (Mariano Rivera’s 400^th career save). Now, if only Sidney Ponson can help a vulnerable starting rotation.
8. Michael Schumacher- The Ferrari driver, and eight-time French Grand Prix champ, just keeps on winning and winning and winning and…
9. D.C. United- Zidane still captivates the soccer headlines while the United (13-1) keeps its stranglehold on the MLS’ Eastern Conference lead.
10. Floyd Landis- Though he’s in second place right now, it’s still amazing that Landis was just the fifth American to wear the overall leader’s yellow jacket at the Tour.

Almost Made The Cut: Bobby Wadkins (Won the Senior Players Championship), U.S. softball team (World Cup Finals vs. Japan), Kyle Busch (won Lenox Industrial Tools 300)

Three WORST: Chicago Cubs (lost 14 of 17 last home games), Dallas Mavs and Washington Wiz (0-5 at Vegas Summer League), Auburn football (grading scandal)