11.  While many other players are shedding pounds and fine-tuning skills during spring training, Edgar Martinez is already fit.

12.  Patrick Ewing disagrees, and many other players are standing with him.

13.  He said he fully agreed with teammate Charles Barkley and many other players that killing the union would be disastrous to the entire league.

14.  Ladouceur, and many other players, have already expressed their thoughts on the payroll tax, which the owners want to impose on teams to slow escalating salaries.

15.  Like many other players, he was coming off a long break.

16.  Apart from Jurgen Klinsmann, who is unlikely to start with a torn right calf muscle, many other players have knocks.