31.   If the defending AFC champs beat the Giants Saturday, they will clinch a playoff spot.

32.   In one sense, having the defending champs matched against an upstart newcomer could provide some compelling hockey.

33.   In looking at the draw, defending champ Davenport is a better bet.

34.   In their second game, the defending national champs lost to Florida at the Swamp.

35.   In what shapes up as an afterthought in comparison, defending champ Lindsay Davenport will try to eliminate unseeded Jelena Dokic from her path to another title bout.

36.   Indeed, the defending champs never jelled, turning into chumps with a second-round loss to Boston College.

37.   It was an afternoon in which, at times, the defending national champs seemed ripe to be beaten.

38.   Johnson is with Hendrick, a teammate of defending champ Jeff Gordon.

39.   Just then, after Matsuoka had played an inspired first set, edging defending Wimbledon champ Sampras in a tiebreaker, the rowdies started.

40.   Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, the defending champs, provoked the most reaction.