11.  Deferring to a brilliant teammate _ even one as self-effacing and generous as Gretzky _ can be a subtle and destructive impulse.

12.  Denver thought it could roll on that same path last season, even without quarterback John Elway, who retired.

13.  Deficits went up too, of course, but that's because spending increased even faster than taxes.

14.  Deficits, even small ones, have been difficult on the Dodgers.

15.  Definitely, even if he doesn't play very well.

16.  Defying the odds, he left it on even after Ordonez had taken two strikes.

17.  Cuban and Allen, who owns the Portland Trail Blazers, don't even flinch at the luxury tax.

18.  Cuban defectors are handsomely rewarded, and no one knows whom they've pitched against or how old they even are.

19.  Cuban is paying a rich price for the Mavericks, even higher than Hicks paid for the Rangers two years ago.

20.  Cuban outdid even himself, which takes a ton of outdoing.