Who's Hot Who's Not

WHO'S Hot

Nuggets
Denver's cruising. The Nuggets won their seventh straight on Sunday, over the T-Wolves, and were pulling away in the Northwest Division. Good omens? How about guard Chauncey Billups (above) getting his first dunk of the season. Said Billups, "My kids were talking stuff to me because they didn't think I could dunk no more."

Jenson Button
He's on the button. The Formula One ace took the Malaysian Grand Prix, his second straight win. It was historic, too. The Brit's team, Brawn GP, is the first new F/1 operation to win its first two races since Alfa Romeo in 1950. "We had a fairy-tale start to the season," Button said. "I am so proud."

Brittany
That's Lincicome, the 23-year-old who won her first LPGA major by eagling the final hole of the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Take note, swing coaches and caddies with nervous clients: Lincicome kept her nerves in check on the back nine by singing tunes by Kenny Chesney and Sugarland.

Derek Lowe
On opening night the Braves' new ace made his $60 million contract look like a wise investment. The sinkerballer shut down the Phillies—no runs, two hits—in eight innings, and Atlanta took down the champs 4--1. Props too to outfielder Jordan Schafer. He homered in his first big league at bat.

WHO'S Not

Suns
Phoenix is fading. After being hammered by the Mavs on Sunday, the Suns trailed Dallas by four games for the last Western Conference postseason spot with just five to play. But Shaq & Co. could pull off a miracle and avoid the franchise's first playoff miss since 2004, couldn't they? Said guard Steve Nash (above), "We're not holding our breath."

Danica Patrick
She's cute as a button ... until things go wrong on the track. The IRL star exited the Honda Grand Prix early when Raphael Matos tried to pass on a turn, causing a crash that took them both out. Later, Patrick pounded the rookie's helmet during a tense chat: Think! "Not exactly the ideal spot to pass," she said.

Diego
That's Maradona, the 48-year-old soccer legend who's off to a rocky start as Argentina's coach. After winning his first World Cup qualifier, over Venezuela, Maradona saw his team get rocked by Bolivia 6--1, the Argentines' worst loss since '58. Said Maradona, "Every Bolivian goal was a stab in my heart."

Pedro Martinez
While Lowe, his old Boston mate, answered the bell, the unemployed Martinez, 37, waited for the phone to ring. Teams might be put off by his '08 ERA (5.61) and asking price (reportedly $5 million). There's another Martinez out there, too: His son Pedro E., 21, a minor league pitcher, was cut by the Mets.