1.  Any predictions about the 2000 presidential race made now, more than three years before the vote, inevitably will be risky, stupid and wrong.

2.  Defensive linemen are more massive than ever and possess unbelievable quickness.

3.  Defensive positioning _ similar to but smaller than the moves made last year by Fidelity's flagship fund, Fidelity Magellan _ accounts for the lag.

4.  Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield said the Panthers seemed to know a lot more about the 49ers last season than the 49ers knew about them.

5.  Defensively, a distinct edge goes to Florida, which has held the opposition to an average of 14.1 points, 10.4 better than Syracuse.

6.  Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington, who oversees the administration's club campaign, said complaints of New York's becoming duller than Kansas were reasons to celebrate.

7.  Deputy sheriffs around the state have recently joined a union, as have more than 3,000 graduate school assistants at the State University of New York.

8.  Dennis offered a compromise _ one that, given the Unabomber's apparent distaste for technology, might be less than satisfactory.

9.  Dennis Rodman notwithstanding, the market still rewards niceness: Cal Ripken Jr. will always get more endorsements than Albert Belle.

10.  Denny attributes these problems to an overly ambitious marketing campaign that generated more sales than the company could handle.