11.   He no longer played above the rim, and, on many nights, was no longer the best player on the court.

12.   Hockey, you hear, is a fast, physical game, as if one played above the rim by huge, superbly conditioned athletes is not.

13.   It has become increasingly amazing how the Chicago Bulls can sink to another low in these playoffs and play above their opponent.

14.   It was the start of playing above the rim.

15.   Last season, the Medford, Mass. native inspired an undersized, sparsely talented team to play above its level every Saturday afternoon.

16.   Leyland, who never played above the Class AA level of the minors, said catchers have a better feel for what goes on in games than other players.

17.   Never played above Double A.

18.   Of those, only right-hander Chad Ricketts, acquired in the Eric Young and Ismael Valdes trade, played above Double-A last season.

19.   One receiver played above all others.

20.   Other than a couple of perky Brent Hughes chase-and-staple plays, the Bruins played barely above a whimper.