If you are an NBA fan, how exited are you over the Dallas/Miami championship? I admit I am just a passive fan, however, I do find the upcoming best-of-seven intriguing.

The Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki has a chance to capture a ring... Shaq has a chance to get ANOTHER ring, this time with the Heat, not to mention internet rumors of his retirement, should Miami win it all.

Could this be the Mavericks' year? After all, they were proclaimed dead at one point in Saturday night's game against Phoenix, but somehow overcame a double-digit deficit to win the NBA's Western Conference.

In 1988 Dallas was one win away from the Finals... they lost... to the Lakers... coached by Pat Riley... who now coaches Miami... ah, the circle of NBA life.

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Tennessee Titans GM Flyd Reese said Sunday if quarterback Steve McNair showed up for workouts today, he would be welcomed. Well, that's good to hear, especially since an arbitrator ruled last week the team was wrong in their lockout against McNair earlier in the spring over worries he would hurt himself & they would be left on the hook for a fat contract.

Meanwhile, McNair's future is pretty cloudy. It's almost certain he will play this fall, but where is the question. It's doubtful the Titans will keep him, unless a new contract can be negotiated. So does 'Mac' head to Baltimore & become a Raven? They have made it no secret they want him.

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LSU's 'Smoke' Laval resigned as head baseball coach Sunday. Now, the university's AD, who just happens to be Skip Bertman, must find a replacement. I fully expect Oxford will be his first phone call. After all, Mike Bianco has done a tremendous job with the Rebels' baseball program; add to it he played for Bertman at LSU, then coached with him, it's a natural fit.

Now back to Laval... did he resign or was he forced to quit? Several reports describe Bertman as dancing around the subject when asked. The Tigers failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in almost 20 years, not something that set well in Baton Rouge.

Laval was Bertman's chosen successor. The have a relationship dating back almost 22 years. In his five seasons, 'Smoke' steered LSU to two College World Series appearances. However, his team lost the NCAA Regional last year. Add to it the shortcomings this year, & Laval has become the latest victim of college athletics 'What have you done for me today?'

Along with Bianco, USC coach Ray Tanner & Jim Wells at Alabama are also being mentioned. Oh, even Bertman himself hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to the helm of the Tigers baseball program.

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Think about this stat for a moment: the Atlanta Braves had not been swept in a four-game homestand since 1995 until this weekend. It happened 11 years ago against Philadlephia; it happened this weekend against Arizona.

For years we have proclaimed the Braves dead at the beginning of a season only to see them come to life. Maybe it all finally caught up with them this year. The bullpen has blown 12 of 25 save opportunities; two starters sport ERAs over 6.00; hitting is lagging, Chipper ain't Chipper & injuries have played a part as well.

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Life without Albert Pujols didn't start out too bad for the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, as the beat the Cubs, 9-6. Pujols was moved to the 15-day DL after an injury Saturday. Enter Jim Edmonds, unable to play centerfield because of an abdominal injury. However, he could play first in relief of Albert. In the process, Edmonds goes 3-for-3 with an RBI double in the fifth & a run-scoring single in the sixth. So much for the slump he had been in before the game.

What about Albert? The strained oblique muscle will sideline him for the month at least (some say it will come closer to six weeks). That's a shame. Pujols has been MLB's feel good story this season. While we all watched Barry Bonds chase of the Babe like we watch a sideshow at the circus, we all were also watching Pujols hit homer after homer, without the ego, drama & dislike which seems to follow the slugger from San Fransisco.

The good news for fans of the rest of the teams in the NL Central, especially Cincinnati & Houston (soon to have Clemens back), is this leaves the division wide open if those teams can take advantage of the situation.

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