1.   But, really, the speculation around the band is just too funny.

2.   For weeks, speculation around the league had Lemieux coming out of retirement now that the NHL has strengthened its efforts to penalize restraining fouls.

3.   Kraft is aware of the wide-ranging speculation around the NFL that Parcells wants more than this.

4.   Pilot Craig Button and his flying machine have become a compelling target of speculation around office Coke machines, over talk radio and on the Internet.

5.   Speculation around HC athletic circles seems to indicate a new commitment to athletics.

6.   Speculation around town ran the gamut, from a drug deal gone bad to an argument about a car that exploded into violence.

7.   Speculation around Valley Ranch is that the Giants will speed things up for Leaf by bringing an all-out blitz against Stoerner.

8.   That caused an epidemic of speculation around Mexico over splits between rival factions in the Catholic Church and reported links between Catholic churchmen and billionaire druglords.

9.   The third coaching casualty of the season sparked widespread speculation around the league about future moves.

10.   The Thornton deal has been been the source of great speculation around the league.