Continuing a seven-year tradition, Page 2 updates the annual "What's Hot, What's Not" List just in time to
keep you ahead of the trends for what's hip and what's passe in 2004. This way, as you realize that your New Year's resolutions were as miscalculated as the BCS, at least you can keep the respect of your co-workers, buddies, significant others and yourself, with a commitment to the hottest scoops in sports and otherwise.
| 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) |
