SI View The Week in TV Sports

Highlights

SATURDAY 6/3

David Tua vs. Obed Sullivan
SHOWTIME 10 PM Sullivan (35-6-1, 25 KOs), the challenger in this
USBA and IBF Intercontinental heavyweight title bout, is also a
student at the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Culinary Arts Institute. On May
21, on a Phoenix sports TV show the 235-pound Sullivan whipped up
pork dumplings, eschewing more traditional pugilistic platters
such as cauliflower ears and chicken a la Don King. The
230-pound, power-punching Tua (35-1-0, 30 KOs), ranked No. 4 in
the world, is favored to dispose of this aspiring cook in short
order.

SUNDAY 6/4

NBA Playoffs
NBC 5:30 PM If the Knicks-Pacers and the Blazers-Lakers
conference finals go to Game 7s, they're on today. The Finals
will be telecast by NBC on Wednesday and Friday at 9 p.m. For
those who still can't get enough hoops, the History Channel's
one-hour documentary Basketball: The Dream Teams will be
telecast on Monday at 9 p.m.

Diamondbacks at Rangers
ESPN 8 PM For a while Texas Strangers was more like it. Last
month shortstop Royce Clayton and leftfielder Chad Curtis feuded
after Curtis opposed Clayton's playing of rap music in the
clubhouse. The Rangers need a DH less than they do a DJ. At
week's end Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez was batting .380, while
Arizona centerfielder Steve Finley had a National League-leading
51 RBIs.

Arli$$
HBO 9:30 PM As the sports-agent sitcom begins its fifth season,
we pay musical tribute using the melody from Jefferson Airplane's
White Rabbit:

One joke isn't funny, and one joke casts a pall,
And the roles that the show gives us don't have any depth at all
Go ask Arli$$, played by Robert Wuhl.

THURSDAY 6/8

French Open Women's Semifinals
USA 8 AM In Paris, a city where champs aren't crowned but paved,
the female entrants in this Grand Slam event are happy that
Steffi Graf has hit the road. Graf, winner of three of the past
five Opens at Stade Roland Garros, has retired. The men's
semis--tape-delayed, unlike the women's--will be shown by NBC on
Friday (10 a.m.).

Don't Miss

SATURDAY 6/3

Stanley Cup Finals
ABC 8 PM; MONDAY AND (IF NECESSARY) THURSDAY, 8 PM We recall the
1996 passing of Larry LaPrise, 83, the man who wrote the song
Hokey Pokey. Burying Mr. LaPrise proved especially burdensome
(They put the casket in/They pulled the casket out), but no more
difficult than the reigning Stanley Cup champion Stars may find
it to inter the Devils. Sure, Dallas has goalie Ed Belfour, left
wing Brett Hull and center Mike Modano (above) going for it, but
New Jersey is 3-0 in elimination games this postseason. Sparked
by the hot stick of left wing Patrik Elias, the Devils have
turned themselves around. That's what it's all about.

ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

COLOR PHOTO: DAVID E. KLUTHO

the zapper

Regarding the latest batch of ESPN's "This is SportsCenter"
promos: Anchor Rich Eisen would like it known that he does wash
his hands after going to the can; second, in the anchors versus
reporters bit, suspension of disbelief vanishes when
correspondent Melissa Stark approaches a cafeteria table, causing
its three studio-host occupants to stalk off. Yeah, like that
would ever happen....The first Laureus World Sports Awards
(Tuesday, TNT, 8 p.m.) is the ESPYs gone international:
Australia's national rugby team, Manchester United and USA
Women's Soccer are up for World Team of the Year.... On Saturday
(3 p.m.), CBS presents Golf Digest's 50 Greatest Golfers.