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5 Paul Kariya, 22. He carries a much better story line than any of the Mighty Duck movies, which is ironic because he plays for the Disney-owned Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The Vancouver native is part Japanese--father Tetsuhiko was born in a World War II internment camp--and nearly all Gretzky. Like the Great One, who was his idol, Kariya makes up for his lack of size with superb skating skills and stick handling. "He has great wheels and good hands, but those aren't his best assets," says Ducks general manager Jack Ferreira. "He has that sixth sense of knowing where everybody is, that great anticipation." Last year Kariya scored 50 goals, assisted on 58 others and won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship. He is a student of juggling. Says Kariya: "I can do the [trick] where you take the bite out of the apple as it comes by." He has already taken a pretty big bite out of hockey.
6 Florida Panthers, 3. After the success of the Carolina N.F.L. and Florida N.H.L. expansion species, newly formed baseball and basketball teams will undoubtedly claim the name Panthers. In only their third season, hockey's Felis concolor coryii provided owner Wayne Huizenga with a blockbuster finish. The Panthers made it to the Stanley Cup finals as their fans showered ersatz rats--panther food--on their far more established foes: the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Alas, the Panthers were swept away in the finals by the Colorado Avalanche, but their 1-0 triple-overtime loss in Game 4 was unforgettable, as was the heroism of goalie John Van Biesbrouck.
7 Kerri Strug, 19. Considered a senior citizen in the rather precious world of gymnastics, the tiny Olympian displayed courage not usually associated with high school seniors. Indeed, a replay of her dash down the ramp on a badly sprained left ankle should be shown to those prima donnas who beg out of the lineup because of the slightest twinge. Let the pro who doesn't want to play on a particular day watch a tape of Strug doing her Yurchenko 1 1/2 vault, nailing her landing and then keeping her balance as she pivots to the judges on one foot. As it turned out, Strug's vault wasn't needed to guarantee the U.S. women the gold medal in team gymnastics. But she didn't know that at the time. Said U.S. coach Mary Lee Tracy: "What we saw was a kid who was shaking her leg but who saluted and ran down the runway." Into our hearts.
8 Kevin Garnett, 20. Who needs college? Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves straight out of high school--Farragut Academy in Chicago--the 6-ft. 11-in. power forward averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds in his 43 postapprenticeship-on-the-bench starts. He also made it a little easier for Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal to make the jump from high school to the N.B.A. this year. Somewhere along the line, Garnett acquired a taste for literature. His favorite book, he says, is The Great Gatsby. As we said, who needs college?