Who's Hot Who's Not

Who's Hot

Diamondbacks
Keep these snakes off the plane! Arizona won seven of 10 on a post--All-Star homestand and, led by hitters such as shortstop phenom Stephen Drew (above, .303) and Luis Gonzalez (.394 in July), were a game out of first place in the NL West .

Floyds
Tour de France historians may judge Mountain Landis's cycling comeback among the greatest ever (page 52). Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd could be rounding into slugging form with 15 RBIs in his last 13 games. And Carlos Baldomir 's KO of Arturo Gatti sets up a marquee matchup with--and a huge payday for--unbeaten welterweight Floyd Mayweather .

Troy Murphy
Warriors forward (right) told SI PLAYERS (SI, Feb. 13) that if he weren't in the NBA , he'd be a "third base coach for the Newark Bears ." On Friday, the New Jersey native got his wish and was butt-slapping Bears as they rounded for home.

Staples Center hoops
The Clippers and the Lakers both making the playoffs was the start of high times. Led by newlywed Lisa Leslie (left; she married a commercial pilot), L.A. 's Sparks are 20--6 and flying atop the WNBA West .

Who's Not

Dodgers
Nothing artful about this performance: Los Angeles had gone 1--10 after the All-Star break through Sunday. With slumping hitters like J.D. Drew (above, Stephen's brother; homerless since June 1), they'd scored just 17 runs in those games and slipped to 4 1/2 back in the NL West .

Sosas
A few days after Sammy said he'd come back to the majors for "the right offer," his agent, perhaps reflecting on Sosa 's .221 season last year with Baltimore , said "he's likely played his last game." Braves fans may hope reliever Jorge Sosa (no relation, but a 5.61 ERA) joins Sammy on the sidelines: He's given up seven runs and blown three saves in his last four outings.

Tie Domi
Popular pugilist--whose anemic five-goal season helped keep the Maple Leafs out of the playoffs--remains unsigned, and seemingly bound for retirement at age 36, after having his contract bought out by Toronto .

MSG hoops
The miserable Knicks --23--59; the ugly exit of Larry Brown ; the draft-day booing of their top pick--have sisters in crime. The WNBA Liberty (and Erin Thorn, right) fell to 4--19 with a 37-point loss. Coach Pat Coyle: "We have not gotten the job done."