TOP TEN- 8-21-06

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 –BMX racing, badminton, boomerangs- into the same pool and simply fish out the best athletes/teams each Monday. Let the debating commence…

1. Tiger Woods- No, people, really, you’re not supposed to win the PGA Championship by five strokes... He's greeeeeeaaaaat!
2. New York Yankees- The Yanks made the BoSox look like a bigger weekend flop than Snakes on a Plane.
3. New York Mets- Sadly, injuries to Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine will begin hurting this NL power shortly.
4. Connecticut Sun- Think Tiger’s Sunday was great? With Mike Thibault winning WNBA coach of the year and his team earning its fourth straight Eastern Conference finals appearance, the Sun’s day wasn’t too shabby.
5. Ryan Howard- Yesterday’s “Outside the Lines” spoke on the absence of blacks in the Major Leagues. If kids needed a hero in the sport, this offensive-minded Philadelphia Phillies first baseman (43 HR, 111 RBI) is it.
6. D.C. United- Jaime Moreno and crew have the best record (13-2-8), give up the fewest goals and score more than any other team in the MLS.
7. Detroit Tigers- 3-7 over their last 10, some are clearing their throats to say “I knew they’d choke.” NS isn’t that fickle.
8. Team USA- Though the team has worst long-range efficiency than Metro PCS, you have to appreciate the selfless, no-you-score approach the squad is taking in Asia.
9. Michael Phelps- The Olympic swimming stud went up to British Columbia and rewrote the record books in the 200 meter individual medley. Whose record did he shatter? His own, of course…
10. L.A. Dodgers- Sorry, D-Backs and Padres, but these white-hot Dodgers (winners of 19 of their last 22) aren’t going anywhere—well, accept the NL playoffs.

Almost Made The Cut: Evander Holyfield (2^nd round TKO vs. Jeremy Bates), Ohio State football (AP preseason No. 1), Andy Roddick (first ATP win since Oct.)

Three WORST: Boston Red Sox (outscored 47-25 to Yanks in four games), Arizona State football (quarterback controversy), Marion Jones (say it ain’t so..)