HOT | NOT

NOT: KICK-STOPPED

David Nalbandian was up a set on Marin Cilic on Sunday at the Queen's Club Championship tennis final when things splintered: After an errant shot he kicked a sign, a wooden piece of which gashed the leg of a linesman. Nalbandian's DQ cost him nearly $70,000.

HOT: BOMBERS AWAY

The Yankees' nine straight wins included sweeps of the Mets, Braves and Nats and put them alone atop the AL East for the first time in 2012. New York's hitting has been solid (23 HRs and 62 BBs in June, both tops in the AL), but the pitching's been aces. The starters have an AL-best 3.34 ERA since May 1.

NOT: PUDDLED THINKING

One week after rain wreaked havoc on the French Open, Euro 2012 got soaked. Seemingly every other game has been deluged, including France-Ukraine, which was delayed an excruciating hour. Scoring is down from 2008, partly the result, it would seem, of so many skidding, slippery balls.

HOT: BRAWNY BRAUN

Ryan Braun smacked five HRs last week (number 19 came 37 games earlier than last year, when he was NL MVP), including two against childhood pal Trevor Plouffe's Twins. Said Braun of his homer race with the Minnesota 3B, who has 14, "I can't let Trev surpass me. I will never hear the end of it."

NOT: COVER JINXED

Since gracing SI's cover following the hottest hitting start to a season in 80 years, Rangers OF Josh Hamilton has gone 8 for 42 (.211), including 12 strikeouts, and has just five RBIs in June. The most sickening part: He also spent two days in the hospital last week with an intestinal virus.

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JOHN BIEVER (HAMILTON)

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MARLIN LEVISON/MCT/ABACAUSA.COM (BRAUN)

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LINDSEY PARNABY/EPA (FRANCE FAN)

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CHUCK SOLOMON (DEREK JETER)

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LEO MASON/US PRESSWIRE (NALBANDIAN)