By Mike Ball
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thumbs up

1. Venus and Serena Williams. Their meeting for a Grand Slam tennis title for the sixth time just can't be taken for granted. Before their first meeting, in the 2001 U.S. Open, the last major matchup of siblings was 1884!

2. Michelle Wie. A 13-year-old hitting 300-yard drives and making cuts on the LPGA Tour shouldn't be taken for granted, either.

3. Reds comebacks. They're not very good, but they sure are creative in the games they do win.

4. Stan "The Man" Musial. He was voted the greatest living hitter by his fellow Hall of Famers. Also the greatest living nickname.

5. The White Sox and Royals. Chicago added Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett and Kansas City added reliever Curtis Leskanic. Imagine, making a trade before the team fades.

6. Herschel Walker. He was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame last week. He rushed for 6,137 yards, 86 touchdowns and won state 100, 200 and shot put titles his junior and senior seasons. Good choice.

7. Procter & Gamble. In a rare move, the company has bought an ad for the Super Bowl. You think it's that Marvin Lewis thing?

8. Eddie Schilling. The Miami U. player - who set school assist records feeding Ron Harper - and former Wright State head coach has landed with old friend John Calipari at Memphis.

Thumbs down

1. William Perry. The 410-pounder was humiliated in the Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Whereas 145-pound champion Takeru Kobayashi downed 44 1/2 dogs, Perry quit after eating four. Turn in the Refrigerator nickname.

2. FIFA. The international governing body for soccer has abolished celebrations that include ripping off shirts. Man, there's usually what, two, three celebrations per game?

3. The ACC. The conference is trying to stake a claim to being a football superpower after adding Miami and Virginia Tech. Then it had the audacity to think Kentucky would want to become its 12th team.

4. Colorado Avalanche. They re-sign Peter Forsberg, then sign wingers Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne. Who do they think they are, the Yankees?

5. Laila Ali and Christy Martin. The premier women's boxers had a press conference to announce their Aug. 23 fight. And, you guessed it, got into a fight.

6. The Olympics. Vancouver getting the Winter Games was fine. But adding BMX racing to the Summer Games to attract a younger audience could be an all-time low.

7. Keith Davis, Cowboys. Another NFL player being shot outside a "gentlemen's" club.

8. Evander Holyfield. He'll fight James Toney on Oct. 4. Why can't boxers quit?