TOP TEN- 7-31-06

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 –PGA, poker, pencil sharpening- into the same pool and simply fish out the best athletes/teams each Monday. Let the debating commence…

1. New York Mets- Okay, guys here’s a lil’ tip: It’s “B-e-l-t-r-a-n,” as in 2006 NL MVP Carlos Beltran.
2. Detroit Tigers- As of Monday night, there wasn’t a Major League team within seven games of the 70-win plateau these Tigers hit over the weekend. Sean Casey will help’em get No. 71 and beyond.
3. Rehabbing QBs- The only thing that could put a bigger smile on NFL fans’ faces than the start of training camp is seeing Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger and Daunte Culpepper participating in it.
4. Minnesota Twins- Out goes Kyle Lohse and in comes Torii Hunter from the DL... If only these guys were in another division.
5. Chase Utley- His current 32-game hitting streak is the longest by a second baseman since the 60s. (We just hope we haven’t jinxed the lil’ fella.)
6. L.A. Sparks- Kobe’s dad (head coach Joe Bryant) and one amazing center (Lisa Leslie) are making it look really easy in the WNBA this season.
7. Corey Pavin- The 46-year-old took home his first title, the U.S. Bank Championship, in 10 years. That’s great. The $720,000 top prize ain’t bad either.
8. Baseball H.O.F.- Bruce Sutter and Co.’s induction means we’re less than one year from Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn and (possibly) Mark McGwire’s Cooperstown speeches. Wally Joyner, Jay Buhner and Stan Javier won’t even need to bother making rough drafts of theirs.
9. D.C. United- The MLS all-star break can’t dim the fact that one of the world’s best soccer clubs plays in our nation’s capital.
10. Chicago White Sox- 8 ½ back in early August isn’t insurmountable but it’s darn close. These Sox have to think “Beat the Twins, win the wild card.”

<>
Almost Made The Cut: Reggie Bush (signed his Saints deal), New York Yankees (added Bobby Abreu), Helio Castroneves (won Firestone Indy 400) <>

Three WORST: Justin Gatlin (failed drug test), Atlanta Braves (failed against the Mets), Detroit’s Chris Shelton (failed to live up to early-season hype)