To know list: 7 steroid-free products you won't regret ingesting

1 PRIMED FOR PAY DIRT

L.T. has reached the breaking point

If La Dainian Tomlinson makes it into the end zone on Sunday, it will mark a stunning accomplishment. The Chargers running back will have scored a touchdown in his 19th straight game, which will break a record Colts great Lenny Moore has held for 40 years.

During those 40 years, no other player has gotten within three games of Moore's record. O.J. Simpson had a string of 14 straight in 1974. John Riggins, George Rogers and Jerry Rice made it to 13 straight.

"Given the tradition and history of the National Football League, when you can tie or break a record, especially one that's 40 years old, it's definitely something to be proud of," Tomlinson says.

For Tomlinson to tie the record, he needed health, opportunity, competent teammates, exceptional skill and a nose for the end zone. "You have to have guys around you that sacrifice and allow you to get the glory," Tomlinson says. "The guys I have around me--my blockers, Drew (Brees), Antonio (Gates) and Keenan (McCardell)--those guys doing their part so I can score touchdowns is something I appreciate."--Dan Pompei

2 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Top teams' top concerns

When basketball practice began last Friday for more than 300 NCAA Division I teams, they were doing more than suicide drills. They were trying to get good--or, in the cases of these elite teams, better.

Duke. As a junior, point guard Sean Dockery averaged 26.7 minutes and played excellent defense. But with only 2.3 assists per game, he didn't generate much offense. McDonald's All-American Greg Paulus could take the position.

Michigan State. Who's in the post rotation? The Spartans have five players 6-8 or taller to play power forward or back up center Paul Davis. And that's without wideout Matt Trannon, who helped last year and could return after football season. Ideally, 6-10 Drew Naymick will overcome last year's shoulder injuries and excel.

Gonzaga. The best midrange scorer in recent college hoops history, Adam Morrison is only a 31 percent 3-point shooter. He worked hard during the summer to improve his range.--Mike DeCourcy

3 WHAT THE HEX?

The devil made me do it

It's true: Yankees fans are evil.

OK, maybe not evil but definitely vindictive. The past couple of seasons, a Yankees fan/Topps baseball card employee has assigned card No. 666 of the Topps Total collection to the player responsible for knocking the Yankees out of the playoffs the previous year. Red Sox pitcher Keith Foulke was No. 666 in the 2005 collection; Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett earned the distinction in 2004. Look out, Francisco Rodriguez--you're next.

--Tricia Garner

4 MICROFRACTURE SURGERY

Will Amare ever be the same?

Few injuries could have sent a bigger chill through the NBA offices than the one suffered by Amare Stoudemire, who underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee last week. Stoudemire had a breakout 2004-05 season for the Suns, fueling their high-scoring renaissance and leading to hopes his athleticism would redefine the center position.

There's little telling how good Stoudemire will be when he returns, perhaps in February. Stoudemire is 23 and has little wear on his joints compared with most who have had the surgery. But the league is littered with players who never were the same after microfracture procedures.--Sean Deveney

Best case

Player             Age at time of surgery

John Stockton             35 (October '97)
Jason Kidd                   31 (July '04)
Chris Webber                 30 (June '03)

Player             Post-op

John Stockton      Minutes were reduced, but production was similar.
Jason Kidd         Was almost his old self by last season's end.
Chris Webber       Lost quickness, but numbers are respectable.

Worst case

Player              Age at time of surgery

Penny Hardaway                 28 (May'00)
Jamal Mashburn           30 (November '03)
Terrell Brandon          31 (February '02)

Player             Post-op

Penny Hardaway     Before: 18.7 ppg; after: 10.1 ppg.
Jamal Mashburn     Former All-Star never will play again.
Terrell Brandon    Battered knee forced him to retire.

5 IF ONLY ...

Four college guys we could use on our pro fantasy teams right about now

* Cody Hodges, QB, Texas Tech. He's averaging 410 passing yards--more than the Houston Texans had total entering Week 6.

* Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan. He's a little guy with huge numbers: 61 catches, 735 yards, nine total TDs.

* Michael Bush, RB, Louisville. Reggie Bush he ain't, but he leads the nation with 16 rushing scores.

* Brett Basanez, QB, Northwestern. You'd expect a guy who already has graduated to be smart--he has thrown only one interception to go with 2,101 total yards and 13 total TDs.--Vinnie Iyer

6 TSN STAFF POLL

What best summarizes your feelings for Scooter, FOX's talking baseball?

'I get a kick out
of the little
guy.'                   10%

"Send him
down to the
minors."                19%

"Send him to a slow,
painful death.'         45%

"I'm not a fan
of him, but he
doesn't
bother me.'             26%

Note: Table made from pie chart.