Score Board

Her Fast-track career

A year ago, Sarah Fisher was an oddity at Indianapolis, a woman in a man's world. The only thing that's changed this year is her status: She's a legitimate contender now.

The difference is confidence and experience, according to the 20-year-old Fisher. "In one year, I've matured from 19 years old to 35," she said.

Fisher, who last May became only the third woman to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will start Sunday's race 15th in the 33-car field - ahead of such luminaries as former Indy 500 winners Al Unser Jr. and Eddie Cheever and visiting CART star Michael Andretti.

"Unbelievable," she said. "When you step back and look at it, it's kind of neat. I'm starting in front of Michael. But that goes away. I can't drive up next to him and say hi."

No longer "Rocky Hockey"

Chris Drury was a history major at Boston University, so the question seemed appropriate.

Hey, Chris, do you remember the Colorado Rockies?

"The baseball team? Sure," says the Colorado hockey player with a smile.

Drury was a newborn when a hockey team by the name of the Colorado Rockies opened its inaugural 1976-77 NHL season.

Nineteen years later, Denver's forgettable hockey past ("Rocky Hockey") will collide with its vibrant hockey present as the New Jersey Devils face today's Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup finals. Game 1 is tomorrow at the Pepsi Center.

"There's been some disappointing times," Colorado defenseman Jon Klemm said. "Getting to the conference finals five out of the six years and only being to the [Stanley Cup] finals once, that's tough to swallow at times. But we were able to get back to it again this year, and hopefully we can make the best of it."

NBA's Lakers on a roll

The Los Angeles Lakers carry a 17-game winning streak into Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against San Antonio tonight. The possibility that the Lakers - led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal - could be the first NBA team to sweep through the playoffs doesn't seem far-fetched.

"We're not finished yet, we're up 2-0, that doesn't mean a thing," says Robert Horry of the Lakers. "[The Spurs] have a whole lot left. We can't look forward to the history books, we can't let them get a confidence going."

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Monitor