Grizzles' Mayo to be H-O-R-S-I-N-G around at All-Star weekend: This is a cool soft lead because it is fun and it also informs the reader. This year the All-Star weekend will have a new segment during the skills challenge, the game of H-O-R-S-E. The reporter obviously finds that interesting and the fact that Memphis' own rookie Mayo will be a participant is very exciting.
Rodriguez Admits to Use of Performance Enhancers: Plain, simple and to the point. I like this because the author lets you know who and what. Later in the story we find out the when and the why. Anyway the lead is very direct which in the case of a story like this one I feel the author made a good choice.