By Mike Ball
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thumbs up

1. Kenyon Martin and Nick Van Exel. The former Bearcats have emerged as stars in the NBA playoffs. Both support the theory that you can't make a deep NCAA run without future NBA players.

2. Sean Casey. Down-to-earth? Not that there was any doubt, but the Reds' good guy called national radio talk show host Jim Rome - with his show on more than 200 stations nationwide - on a pay phone from a Target store this week.

3. Rome. He made sure to congratulate hefty Mets first baseman Mo Vaughn on winning American Idol!

4. ESPN. The sports giant seems to be getting goofier all the time - evidence: all the bizarre talk shows - but it still has the capacity to do cool things. And Wednesday's Yankees-Red Sox game with legend Curt Gowdy in the booth with Joe Morgan and Chris Berman was tops. (Stay tuned for guest appearances by Harry Kalas, Keith Jackson, Ernie Harwell and our own Marty Brennaman).

5. Bill Elliott. After all these years, the NASCAR fan favorite feels the need to run in the Coca-Cola 600 with a broken foot. Awesome, Bill.

6. Akili Smith. Sure, his Bengals career hasn't gone the way he had hoped. But it's tough to feel sorry for him if he's cut next month, given the balance in his bank account.

7. NCAA championships. The lacrosse semifinals and the women's fast-pitch softball tournament are awesome. Let's just say it's a lot closer to the NCAA student-athlete ideal than, say, well, name another sport.

8. Annika Sorenstam. It was fun, and no harm done. Next up: Serena vs. the men.

9. John Hurley. The former CTC/Cincinnati State men's basketball coach has hung it up after 26 years. Congrats on a job well done.

10. Roger Clemens. He's going for victory No. 300 Monday.

Thumbs down

1. Marty and Joe Bobblehead night. It's nothing against Marty, or Joe, or bobbleheads, for that matter. But fans lining up four hours before a game to get one? Or paying to buy one on the Internet? Does anyone go to the ballpark to watch a game?

2. Steve McNair. Pulled over for drunk driving with a loaded handgun in the car. What is it about pro athletes and guns?

3. The Indianapolis 500. No need to bash it further. It's just kind of sad how far a Memorial Day weekend institution has fallen.

4. The NBA lottery. Was the fix in? LeBron James to the Cavaliers? Three words: Patrick Ewing, Knicks.

5. The Vancouver Grizzlies. Guess it seemed like a good move at the time. The Griz forfeited the second pick in the lottery this season because of a long-ago trade to acquire Otis Thorpe.

6. The French Open. Andre Agassi will be there, but because his wife, Steffi Graf, is pregnant, we won't get to see her promised mixed doubles appearance.

7. The Corning Classic. You mean they're holding an LPGA event this weekend?

8. The WNBA. You mean they're holding another season?

9. The shoe monsters. LeBron is set to receive some $90 million to endorse sneakers. Where has society gone wrong?

10. The disabled list. It used to be you went there when you were hurt. Now, if you're awful, imaginary injuries land you on the list.