The Week In Television

don't miss

Saturday 5/4
NBC 5 PM
?The Kentucky Derby
Blue Grass Stakes and Florida Derby winner Harlan's Holiday (below) is the likely post-time favorite, but watch out for Wood winner Buddha, who could pull off a cinema-worthy upset; his trainer's name is James Bond.

Sunday 5/5
NBC 12:30 PM, 3 PM AND 5:30 PM
? NBA Playoffs
The conference semifinals begin with eight straight hours of basketball—and almost that much Ahmad Rashad.

ESPN II PM
? SportsCenter: Sunday Conversation with Mike Tyson
Talking to Iron Mike is like a box of chocolates: You never know what you're going to get.

Wednesday?
ESPN 2 PM
?Cardinals at Cubs
Day game at Wrigley, one of baseball's best rivalries. Take a long lunch hour.

sizzling & fizzling
Ainge and Johnson: Reviving an Old Flame

?If you think the old Celtics-Lakers rivalry is dead, guess again. During TNT's coverage of the Timberwolves-Mavericks series last Wednesday, analyst Danny Ainge and in-studio guest Magic Johnson got testy with each other while debating Kevin Garnetf s ability to take over a game in the fourth quarter. As Ainge ran on about Garnett's being victimized by a lack of support following Minnesota's Game 2 loss, Magic lost patience. "I let you talk," Johnson interjected. "Can I talk now, please!" Magic then asserted that Garnett needed to rise above the level of his teammates. The two eventually agreed to disagree, and the t�te-�-t�te made for fun viewing. Overall, TNT officials were so pleased with Magic's performance during his six days as a guest that they say they'd love to have him appear later in the playoffs, if all sides can agree on a suitable schedule. Let's just hope any future Magic act comes on a night when his old rival Ainge is there to tangle with him.

?Yes, Ozzy Osbourne's life makes for good TV—but how about a reality show featuring All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis? ESPN is in discussions with Lewis for a 10-episode series that would follow the Ravens star around 24/7. ESPN, in fact, is hot on the reality-show craze. The network begins production this month on Beg, Borrow and Deal, an eight-episode series debuting in September. Two teams of four will start off in Times Square with no money or means of transportation and will have to get to San Francisco's Alcatraz prison in 30 days while completing at least 10 of 40 sports-related challenges (such as playing in a prison basketball game or singing the national anthem at Wrigley Field). While sports purists may scoff at these forays into reality programming, Beg, Borrow and Deal, and a Lewis series, would probably help ESPN attract the casual sports fans it covets. Who knows? Maybe Lewis will turn out to be as lovable as an aging heavy-metal star.

ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.