GREG MADDUX: Called "Mad Dog" or "Doggie" by his teammates, Greg Maddux has been the cornerstone of the Braves' starting pitching rotation since he was signed as a free agent prior to the 1993 season. This year he is trying to become the only pitcher in major league history to win at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons. In addition to his skill as a pitcher, Maddux is without question the best fielding pitcher in the majors.

CHIPPER JONES: What Maddux is to the pitching staff, Jones has been to the Braves' offense. Since making the major league roster in 1995, Jones -- a switch-hitter -- consistently has been the best bat in the lineup. And he's a team player. Last season he agreed to move from third base, where he'd played his entire career, to left field after the Braves acquired Vinny Castilla. Jones also has a great knowledge of and appreciation for the history of the game.

ANDRUW JONES: The next Willie Mays? That's the kind of potential Andruw Jones has. Signed at age 16 from the island nation of Curacao in 1993, Jones is clearly the best outfielder in all of baseball, making extremely difficult plays seem routine with great speed and fearlessness while patrolling center field. His hitting at times has been a concern, but as Jones matures his patience at the plate has improved dramatically, and he has the potential to be a consistent .300 hitter.

KEITH BROOKING: Few linebackers in the National Football League are feared more than the Falcons' Keith Brooking. Drafted in 1998 out of Georgia Tech -- where he holds the all-time tackles record of 467 -- Brooking had an immediate impact on the Falcons' defense. Like Chipper Jones, Brooking is a historian of the game. In fact, his two dogs are named Butkus and Nobis, after former Chicago Bears great Dick Butkus and former Falcons great Tommy Nobis.

MICHAEL VICK: After serving a year as the understudy to quarterback Chris Chandler in 2001, Michael Vick had a breakout season last year, his first as a starter. He's big (6-0, 215), strong-armed, tough-minded and has an uncanny ability to elude opposing tacklers, making him the most difficult quarterback in the National Football League to defend. With the addition of split end Peerless Price to the lineup, Vick is expected to be even more dangerous this season.

SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM: Obtained in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, Abdur-Rahim immediately became the best player on the Hawks' roster. He consistently averages more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per season. A native of Marietta, Abdur-Rahim played one season at the University of California (1995-96) and was voted the Pac-10 player of the year after leading the Golden Bears in scoring (21.1 points per game) and rebounding (8.4 per game).

ATLANTA SPORTS NEWCOMERS

MARTAY JENKINS: After spending big money on few starters, the Falcons continued bargain hunting for depth by signing former Cardinals wide receiver Martay Jenkins, who agreed to a one-year contract. A five-year veteran, he is noted chiefly for his speed and return skills. He caught 21 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown last season, when he played in seven games before breaking a collarbone. He also returned 20 kickoffs for a 28-yard average and a touchdown.

TYRONE WILLIAMS: The Falcons further strengthened their secondary by signing former Green Bay Packers cornerback Tyrone Williams to a five-year contract. Williams was a third-round draft choice of the Packers in 1996. He became a starter in the second game of 1997 and has started 94 of 95 games since. Williams had a combined 71 tackles last season, fifth for Green Bay, and matched his previous career total with three forced fumbles.

PEERLESS PRICE: The Falcons also desperately needed a high-grade wide receiver and filled that void by trading for Peerless Price, formerly of the Buffalo Bills. Price -- 5-11, 190 -- caught 94 passes (seventh in the NFL) for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Coach Dan Reeves said, "When you have speed at the running back position, speed at the wide receiver position and also at quarterback, it will present a lot of problems for other teams."

MIKE HAMPTON: Moved in a three-team winter trade aimed to spread the financial burden of his contract, Mike Hampton went from Colorado to Florida to the Braves, where he replaces departed hero Tom Glavine and has been asked to stabilize a rotation that again must carry the club. It was a risky deal by Braves general manager John Schuerholz. In his past 49 starts at pitcher-hostile Coors Field in Denver, Hampton was 12-26 with a 6.62 ERA.

RUSS ORTIZ: Quietly consistent best describes Russ Ortiz. He never has posted 170 strikeouts, but had 164, 167 and 169 in successive seasons. In the past four, he pitched in 33 games every season, had 14 to 18 victories and allowed 187 to 192 hits. Ortiz has averaged nearly 16 wins and 209 innings. "You really can concentrate when you're even-keeled," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Those are your best concentrators."