Felipe Lopez

He is only 19, but already Felipe Lopez's bony shoulders are carrying the combined hopes and dreams of his family, the Dominican Republic, the Big East Conference, St. John's University and anyone else who can squeeze aboard. As it turns out, he doesn't need a jump shot, he needs a truss. Of course, don't mention this to the wonderfully innocent Lopez, who doesn't even notice the added weight. He's playing the game he loves. He's getting a free education.

Felipe Lopez's three-run double highlighted a five-run seventh inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-1 victory Sunday over the San Diego Padres. Craig Counsell and Frank Catalanotto also drove in runs in the seventh, breaking a 1-1 tie against four San Diego pitchers and ending the Padres' five-game winning streak.

Tony Clark and Arizona newcomer Felipe Lopez each homered from both sides of the plate, and the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies, 9-8, in a home run derby of an opener Monday. Eight home runs were hit in the game, including the decisive shot by Chad Tracy leading off the seventh inning against reliever Jason Grilli (0-1). "It was a heavyweight fight out there. It was blow after blow," Tracy said. "Every time we scored, they scored, and we finally had the last say."

Tony Clark and Arizona newcomer Felipe Lopez each homered from both sides of the plate, and the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies, 9-8, in a home run derby of an opener Monday. Eight home runs were hit in the game, including the decisive shot by Chad Tracy leading off the seventh inning against reliever Jason Grilli (0-1). "It was a heavyweight fight out there. It was blow after blow," Tracy said. "Every time we scored, they scored, and we finally had the last say."

Felipe Lopez has another reason to love the place. The shortstop had the greatest year of his career at Great American Ball Park in 2005, when he hit a career-high 23 home runs and made the All-Star team with the Cincinnati Reds. In his homecoming with the Washington Nationals, he had another grand moment. Lopez hit a grand slam in the eighth inning Tuesday night, rallying the Nationals to an 8-4 victory over the team that traded him last July. He sure misses Cincinnati's homer-friendly park.

at New York 13, Washington 10: David Wright hit a two-run home run and tied a career high with four hits, helping the Mets put away the Nationals after blowing a six-run lead. Carlos Delgado, whose streak of multihomer games ended at two, hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and Jose Reyes swiped a bag to became the Mets' career leader for steals. at Houston 7, Pittsburgh 4: Miguel Tejada's grand slam broke open a close game in the sixth inning and helped the Astros win for the 13th time in 14 games.

When Felipe Lopez appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he had ever played a college game, at least one New York newspaper had a slight sense of foreboding. "Give Felipe Lopez some breathing room," Newsday wrote in 1994. "Settle for three Final Fours." There have not been any Final Fours for St. John's during that time, though. There has not been one NCAA tournament game, either. No one could have imagined how little Lopez's career would match the hype.

Mid-October. Third day of practice. St. John's assistant coach Ron Rutledge is standing under the basket as freshman guard Felipe Lopez runs through a play. Rutledge, the guy responsible for signing America's No. 1 recruit, is overwhelmed by the sight. "George," he says to Red Storm assistant George Felton, "I just can't believe that he's here." Actually, Lopez is everywhere. On the cover of Sports Illustrated. On ESPN. On the minds of every opposing coach who has to deal with his 19.6-point, 4.

Felipe Lopez's three-run double highlighted a five-run seventh inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-1 victory Sunday over the San Diego Padres. Craig Counsell and Frank Catalanotto also drove in runs in the seventh, breaking a 1-1 tie against four San Diego pitchers and ending the Padres' five-game winning streak.

Activists criticized the makeup of a panel for this week's White House town hall meeting on race and sports because only one member is Latino. Felipe Lopez, a 23-year-old Dominican basketball player at St. John's University in New York, is the only Latino on the 11-member panel, which also includes President Clinton and nine other athletic figures--six blacks and three whites.

at New York 13, Washington 10: David Wright hit a two-run home run and tied a career high with four hits, helping the Mets put away the Nationals after blowing a six-run lead. Carlos Delgado, whose streak of multihomer games ended at two, hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and Jose Reyes swiped a bag to became the Mets' career leader for steals. at Houston 7, Pittsburgh 4: Miguel Tejada's grand slam broke open a close game in the sixth inning and helped the Astros win for the 13th time in 14 games.

Felipe Lopez has another reason to love the place. The shortstop had the greatest year of his career at Great American Ball Park in 2005, when he hit a career-high 23 home runs and made the All-Star team with the Cincinnati Reds. In his homecoming with the Washington Nationals, he had another grand moment. Lopez hit a grand slam in the eighth inning Tuesday night, rallying the Nationals to an 8-4 victory over the team that traded him last July. He sure misses Cincinnati's homer-friendly park.

When Felipe Lopez appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he had ever played a college game, at least one New York newspaper had a slight sense of foreboding. "Give Felipe Lopez some breathing room," Newsday wrote in 1994. "Settle for three Final Fours." There have not been any Final Fours for St. John's during that time, though. There has not been one NCAA tournament game, either. No one could have imagined how little Lopez's career would match the hype.

He is only 19, but already Felipe Lopez's bony shoulders are carrying the combined hopes and dreams of his family, the Dominican Republic, the Big East Conference, St. John's University and anyone else who can squeeze aboard. As it turns out, he doesn't need a jump shot, he needs a truss. Of course, don't mention this to the wonderfully innocent Lopez, who doesn't even notice the added weight. He's playing the game he loves. He's getting a free education.

Mid-October. Third day of practice. St. John's assistant coach Ron Rutledge is standing under the basket as freshman guard Felipe Lopez runs through a play. Rutledge, the guy responsible for signing America's No. 1 recruit, is overwhelmed by the sight. "George," he says to Red Storm assistant George Felton, "I just can't believe that he's here." Actually, Lopez is everywhere. On the cover of Sports Illustrated. On ESPN. On the minds of every opposing coach who has to deal with his 19.6-point, 4.

Prince Fielder hit a solo homer with one out in the 12th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers, helped by a triple play, beat the San Francisco Giants, 2-1, on Sunday. With Randy Winn on second and Ryan Garko on first in the sixth inning, Aaron Rowand hit a grounder that third baseman Casey McGehee fielded right on the bag. McGehee touched third and threw to second baseman Felipe Lopez for a force, and Lopez's relay to Fielder completed the Brewers' first triple play in 10 years.