The Week In Tv Sports

Highlights

SATURDAY 6/9

?French Open Finals
NBC SATURDAY 2 PM (WOMEN; TAPE-DELAY), SUNDAY 9 AM (MEN)
Clay. It's good for making lopsided bowls to present to your parents. It's also good for getting rid of powerful tennis players like Pete Sampras and Venus Williams, both knocked out of the French Open early because their 78-rpm games faltered on the 33-rpm red clay of Roland Garros. Among those alive in the women's draw as of Sunday, keep an eye on the Beltin' Belgian, Kim Clijsters. On the men's side the Prince of Propecia, Andre Agassi, is our pick to win a second French title.

? Belmont Stakes
NBC 5 PM
Grudge match, rubber match, rumble for the Belmont bronze. Judging by the hype surrounding this showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos and Preakness winner Point Given, you'd think these horses were a couple of prizefighters, motivated by revenge and full of hubris. Instead, they are motivated by little men who are wont to hit them with a stick, and they're full of oats and hay. Odds are that a strong field of 3-year-olds, which is expected to include the late-charging Dollar Bill and Derby runner-up Invisible Ink, will provide a knockout conclusion to the Triple Crown.

THURSDAY 6/14
?U.S. Open
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ESPN NOON AND 5 PM, NBC 3 PM
Youngsters are swinging imaginary clubs, replacing imaginary divots and dreaming of one day beating Tiger Woods. They're not alone: This week at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, a bunch of pros and a handful of amateurs will pursue a dream of defeating Woods, thereby thwarting his hope of winning a fifth straight major. If the Cablinasian King plays anywhere near as well as he did in last year's Open, where he won by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach, the dream will be impossible.

Don't Miss

SUNDAY 6/10
? NBA Finals: Lakers at 76ers
NBC SUNDAY 7:30 PM, WEDNESDAY 9 PM, FRIDAY (IF NECESSARY) 9 PM
Yes, the stars are all here, but this could be the Joe Pesci and Gary Sinise series: It's the supporting characters who may matter most. Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant (above, left) and Allen Iverson (right) will no doubt hog the spotlight (and the ball), but the plot might hinge on the performances of guard Derek Fisher and forwards Rick Fox (page 70) and Robert Horry of Los Angeles, and guards Aaron McKie and Eric Snow and forward Jumaine Jones of Philadelphia. If the Sixers' supporting cast doesn't embrace its role with De Niro-esque purpose, this series could quickly become an ensemble comedy in which Philly is reduced to a collection of hapless sidekicks who watch as the heroes in purple and gold get the trophy.

ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.