By Mike Ball
Cincinnati Enquirer

The top five

1. Lance McAlister. The area's best-prepared radio man and his wife, Kelly, got great news about their son, Casey, this week. The little guy, who has been battling leukemia for six months, looks to be in remission. Here's hoping to catch Lance and Casey at the new ballyard this summer.

2. Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson. In this day and age, young players never seem to have a sense of the players who came before them. But Iverson and McGrady each offered to allow Jordan to start in their place. Pretty classy.

3. Bob Knight. You can love him or hate him, Part 36. It's pretty amazing how he has turned Texas Tech around. And 800 victories is a lot.

4. Charlie Coles. You can love him or you can love him. The delightful Miami coach watched his team struggle against a brutal early schedule. But here we are in February, and the RedHawks are in contention in the MAC. Pencil in a MAC Tournament final showing.

5. Play ball! Here it is, two weeks to spring training, and Ken Griffey Jr. is already fine-tuning his swing. OK, it's in the Bob Hope Classic. But as long as he doesn't pull a hammy, we'll be in good shape.

The bottom five

1. Play ball II! You know it's nearly spring training when Bob Boone is talking about batting Adam Dunn leadoff. Really.

2. Ron Artest. This guy's behavior makes Dennis Rodman look like a choir boy.

3. Mike Vanderjagt. So the Colts kicker rips Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning. Who do you think stays and goes?

4. Arizona. Candy bars?

5. The Raiders. Nice Super Bowl effort.