Is it worth following the NBA after the Jordan era?
By Tina D.

Now that the six-time champions, the Chicago Bulls have split up, things are wide-open in the NBA playoffs. Scottie Pippen's Houston Rockets have been eliminated in the West, but Steve Kerr's San Antonio Spurs are still going strong in the Western Conference finals. They swept the Lakers, but then the Lakers had already fired Dennis Rodman. In the East, the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers will square off. Both veteran teams are eager to win now that the unbeatable Bulls are out of the way.
I don't think that the NBA is that popular with too many people in Chicago now that Jordan's gone, but there are still loyal NBA and even Bulls fans who will always, like the Bulls, hope for a better season next year.

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NFL draft report - it looks like a good season
By Matt G.

The NFL is certainly going to be exciting this year. Mike Ditka's New Orleans Saints think Ricky Williams is the missing piece of the puzzle. The Bears think that they won't be last in the Central Division. The defending champs, the Denver Broncos, may not be champs again, because their leader, John Elway, who carried the Broncos to two straight Super Bowls, has retired. Then there is all the excitement of the NFL draft.
First, the number one pick in the draft was Tim Couch, a QB out of Kentucky selected by the Cleveland Browns. This was a good draft pick for the Browns; Couch was the best QB available. But the Browns really had no choice, because expansion teams usually select QB's with their first pick.
The second and third picks in the draft were both QB's. They were Donovan Mcnabb, selected by the Philadelphia Eagles and Akili Smith, selected by the Cincinnati Bengles. I think they won't be superstars but they will probably be solid starters.
The fourth pick was Edgerrin Jamas; RB selected by the Colts. I think the Colts were stupid to take James instead of the Heisman trophy winner, Ricky Williams. Williams, an RB, was taken next, as the fifth pick, by the Saints. All I can say is that I think Ricky Williams is the missing piece of the puzzle. And I think the Saints will go to the playoffs this year.
The Miami Dolphins drafted a crew of solid running backs: Cecil Collins, Jamas Johnson and Rob Konrad. I think Jimmy Johnson is smart, he got three good running backs. The Dolphins could be a Super Bowl contender this year.
The last two quarterbacks among the top picks were Daunte Culpepper and Cade McNown. Culpepper, the eleventh pick was selected by the Minnesota Vikings. This was the right choice for the Vikings, because they need Culpepper to be a younger Randall Cunningham. The Bears used the twelfth pick to take Cade McNown. I think the Bears should have picked someone else and that's all I have to say.
Here is some information on a couple of the top wide receivers in the draft. They were David Boston, selected by the Arizona Cardinals. D'ywayne Bates, added by the Bears, and Troy Edwards and Kevin Johnson, drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're all good but one stands out. The player that could have a Randy Moss year is Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams.
The defensive players that I think are going to be great from this year's draft are Dre' Bly, cornerback, selected by the Rams, Champ Bailey, cornerback, selected by the Washington Redskins, and Al Wilson, linebacker, chosen by the Broncos. Ebenezer Ekuban, a defensive linemen picked by the Dallas Cowboys was also good choice. The draft I liked most was Andy Katzenmoyer, linebacker out of Ohio State, picked up by the New England Patriots. I think that it's going to be a great season.

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Cubs have problems but still win
By Brad C., Sports Editor

The Cubs have started off very well again this year. Their young pitching star, Kerry Wood, is out for the year after having successful elbow surgery. His doctor had to take a tendon from his wrist and replace a ruined tendon in his elbow. After last year's incredible season, it seems like Kerry might never be the same, but with a lot of therapy, he could be just as good if not better than last year.
Sammy Sosa is second in the National League for home runs with 17. Only Raul Mondesi of the Los Angeles Dodgers has more, with 18. Sammy is batting a rather low .293 in 181 at bats. He has 38 runs scored as well as 37 RBI's, but his 47 strikeouts weigh against his other accomplishments. Mark Grace has gotten frustrated this year. He is batting his normal .311 in 164 at bats. He has 34 runs scored and 25 RBI's with seven homers, but he has already struck out nine times.
Closer Rod Beck has been a total bummer this year. He has seven saves but has blown four games and the Cubs should trade him for a can of beans. Maybe he will be better now that he has been operated on for a bulging disc in his back. He is currently doing rehab. in Phoenix. In conclusion, the Cubs have some very well molded parts of their team, but others need quite a bit more work.

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Cubs beat Atlanta and continue to play well
By Amar P.

The Cubs are doing a great job this season. They are second in the central division in the National League, four games behind Houston. With 25 wins and 5 losses. Sammy Sosa leads the Cubs with 17 home runs and Jose Hernandez is second with 7 home runs.
The Cubs are a winning team. The players are hyped up and ready to play their best. The Cubs played the Braves in the friendly confines and beat them. What was up with Maddux? In a Saturday game, he gave up more base hits than in any other game in his career. As he said, "When a closer has a bad day the team loses." The Cubs won with a score of 5 to 1.

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