Who's Hot Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Jayson Werth
Bumped up from platoonist to everyday player, the Phillies outfielder had hit .500 over seven games through Sunday—including three homers at Wrigley Field, with his folks on hand. Oh, yes, the Phils had won seven of 10. Said Werth, an Illinois native, "It's a good spot, a good club, and it's good to be loved."

Bill Stewart
Rich who? Stewart, Rich Rodriguez's successor at West Virginia, said he wanted the team to pass more, and did it ever! QB Pat White had 25 completions and a career-high five TDs to beat Villanova. White, for one, loves it. "With this new staff," he told Charleston's Gazette, "anything is possible."

Hamed Haddadi
Hey, Grizzlies fans, who's your Haddadi? Answer: the 7'2", 254-pound center from Iran (yes, Iran) whom Memphis signed after his play in Beijing. Who wouldn't have noticed? He led all Olympians, with averages of 11.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

John Carney
Still kicking. On cutdown day the 44-year-old placekicker got picked up—and by the Super Bowl champion Giants no less. Declared Carney, who played 13 games with Jacksonville and Kansas City last season, "l feel strong and healthy."

WHO'S Not

Pittsburgh
A long way from Philadelphia. Squandering a 14--0 lead to Bowling Green was no fun for the NCAA's Panthers (page 35), and baseball's Pirates are setting standards of lowliness. Ten straight losses closed out a 7--21 August for the Bucs. Even All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth (above) was scraping bottom—going just 2 for 19 over five games.

Mike Sherman
Ah, for the calm of Green Bay. In his coaching debut at Texas A&M the former Packers head man got embarrassed at home by Arkansas State, drawing, of course, the ire of the blogosphere. After the Aggies' four-turnover meltdown Sherman said, "I'm not discouraged. But I am disappointed."

May-Treanors
Fallible! Who knew? Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh actually lost a beach volleyball match (they'd won 112 straight), though Misty's outlook may be brighter than husband Matt Treanor's (left). The catcher, a backup for the scuffling Marlins, is hitting .232.

Manchester
Getting dissed by an Arsenal footballer is one thing—but this? Man U fullback Nemanja Vidic (left) reportedly went off on the city (he later backtracked), saying its "main attraction is considered to be the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities."