To know list: 8 have-nots that could beat the Yankees

1 STAR TURNS

Going ... going ... gonzi?

Paul Pierce of the Celtics isn't the only big-time guy in the playoffs who could find himself playing elsewhere next season (see page 51). This might be your last chance to catch these players with their current teams ... unless, of course, their teams already have been eliminated.

Michael Finley, Mavericks. Dallas jettisoned Steve Nash when it appeared age might catch up to him, and the Mavs could do the same with Finley. He's 32, has lost a step and is coming off his least productive season as a Maverick. Plus, Dallas has talented young wingmen Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels--as well as Jerry Stackhouse--behind Finley. It's a good time for a trade.

Bonzi Wells, Grizzlies. Wells has butted heads with coach Mike Fratello and didn't even suit up for Game 4 of the playoffs. Because Wells will be a free agent next summer and because Fratello surely will be back, you can be sure Bonzi will be gonzi.

Andre Miller, Nuggets. He had problems sharing the ball early in George Karl's reign, leading many to believe the Nuggets would deal Miller over the summer in hopes of getting a more passing-oriented point man who is better suited to run the fast break. Miller turned around his performance over the last six weeks of the season, though, and getting back into Karl's good graces has hushed the trade talk.--Sean Deveney

2 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS

They're worth a close look

Perhaps you shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss that long list--in agate type--of players signed by your favorite team. A great many undrafted free agents have made it big in the NFL. Here are a whole bunch of 'em--in small type because they deserve your focus:

Chiefs RB Priest Holmes, FB Tony Richardson, C Casey Wiegmann, G Brian Waters and S Sammy Knight; Cardinals QB Kurt Warner; Panthers QB Jake Delhomme; Titans WR Drew Bennett; Broncos WR Rod Smith; Chargers TE Antonio Gates; Lions TE Marcus Pollard; Colts C Jeff Saturday; Browns G Joe Andruzzi; Bears DE Adewale Ogunleye; Vikings DT Pat Williams; Bills LB London Fletcher; Giants LB Antonio Pierce.

Pretty impressive, huh? For more on the importance of undrafted free agents in today's NFL--including a list of eight promising players signed last month--see Dan Pompei's Insider on page 37.

3 NUMBERS GAME

12, anyone?

All these franchise quarterbacks have held up No. 1 jerseys in the draft, but they've followed a different pattern in what they've worn on their backs. Southern Cal's Matt Leinart would need to do one better than his No. 11 with the Trojans to keep up next year.

4 HATE TO SAY WE TOLD YOU SO, BUT ...

We told you so

THEN "The NFL's two best (tight ends) are former college basketball players: the Chargers' Antonio Gates and the Chiefs' Tony Gonzalez. So anyone who looks at a guy with a build like Pittsburgh power forward Chevon Troutman's--6-7, 255--can be forgiven for thinking he's more likely a future Chicago Bear than a Chicago Bull."--College basketball Insider Mike DeCourcy, TSN, January 21, 2005

NOW Troutman was in Redskins minicamp last week, hoping to make the team as a tight end. Alas, he was one of eight players cut last Friday--which doesn't mean he won't get a second chance at a football career.

5 YOU HEARD IT HERE

'Bud has got a very thin skin.'

--Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent, no friend of current commish Bud Selig, last week on Sporting News Radio

6 FASHION STATEMENT

Looking sharp suits Nines' Nolan

Throughout the 1970s, when Dick Nolan coached the 49ers and then the Saints, he wore a coat and tie on the sideline in the best Tom Landry tradition. To honor his dad, new 49ers coach Mike Nolan wants to go retro--isn't that the fashion trend right now, anyway?--and wear a coat and tie during games this fall.

Problem is, Reebok supplies NFL coaches with sideline fashions, and coat-and-tie isn't exactly considered modern athletic wear. So Nolan has to receive permission not only from the league but also from the sponsor before he can walk in his dad's fashion footsteps. He's optimistic he'll get their OK.

"It is just something I really would like to do," Nolan says. "I also think it would set a different tone for the team, show how serious I am about what we are trying to do with the 49ers."

Landry must be smiling.--Paul Attner

7 TSN STAFF POLL

Will No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith start the 49ers' season opener?

46.5% Yes

53.5% No

8 KEN ROSENTHAL'S BIG-LEAGUE ANALYSIS

Dead wood: Not good

After a bizarre first month, it stands to reason that major league baseball soon will return to order.

Then again, maybe not.

Here's my take on several early trends.

The demise of the Yankees. This might be only the beginning. The Yankees feature more dead wood than a petrified forest, and their large number of excessive contracts combined with a weak farm system leave them with little maneuverability. The quick promotion of righthander Chien-Ming Wang to the rotation was not part of the plan.