Article:Sunday Smoker - June 1st, 2008

A weekly look at the hottest people in sports.

''Since we already have a Friday Fryer for the biggest idiots in sports, I figured we could use a recap of some of the hottest people in sports. They can be on a hot streak, a big-game winner, being lusted after by other teams, whatever. They just gotta be HOT!''

Jay Bruce, Outfielder, Cincinnati Reds

The 21-year-old has made a cannonball-sized splash in the Major Leagues. In five games, Bruce (or Brooooooooooooooooooooce as Cincinnati fans have christened him) is hitting .579 (.680 OBP) with four RBI,  eight runs scored, three doubles, five walks, two stolen bases and a walk-off home run on Saturday. As previously noted by our [ http://www.armchairgm.com/User:Kelsdad resident baseball guru], the 21-year-old is a [ http://www.armchairgm.com/Reds_OF_Jay_Bruce_named_Baseball_America_2007_Minor_League_Player_of_the_Year five-tool player] that the Reds can build around, along with Joey Votto, Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto.

Kobe Bryant, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers

He puts the fear of God into every team, every fan, every coach. He's an absolute nightmare, scoring at will at times and single-handedly leading the Lakers to victory. He followed the bellowings of the basketball gods by eliminating one of most hated teams in the league in five games, scoring 39 in the clincher. From whiner to winner, exactly 365 days after he [ http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=kobetranscript asked for a trade]. As much as I want to hate him, I can't. He's too good.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Winger, Manchester United

For someone who nearly gift wrapped the Champions League title for Chelsea, Ronaldo is still the most wanted player in the world. His unconscionable 42 goals in the 2007-2008 season made for one of the best years in the history of the Premier League. Real Madrid are in hot pursuit of the Portuguese superstar, much to the anger of ManU, who insist he's not going anywhere; manager Alex Ferguson went so far as to call Real Madrid "without morals". But Real Madrid have been flaunting their courtship in Spanish newspapers, and offering [ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1022162/Real-Madrid-prepare-150m-bid-lure-Cristiano-Ronaldo--Robinho-Ramos-Diarra-offered-United.html up to $300 million] and [ http://www.goal.com/en-india/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=709392 one-of-a-kind cars] to obtain him. Ahh, to be young, sexy and talented…

Scott Kazmir, Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays

So I could put the entire Rays teams on this list, but Kazmir has stood out. He won his fifth straight start on Saturday, lowering his ERA to 1.22. Kazmir has been under the radar after being on the DL for all of April  with an elbow strain. Does it surprise anyone else that Kazmir is still only 24? I feel like he's been an up-and-coming pitcher for five years now. It's scary how good he can be. He's just one of the many young stars on the Rays finally learning how to win. It feels much better having the Rays rather than the Yankees in second place.

That's all for this week. Stay cool, AGMers :)