By Mike Ball
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thumbs up

1. Ken Shields

The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball coach was honored at his final home game Saturday. He has positively affected hundreds, if not thousands, of lives in Northern Kentucky over these many years. Enjoy retirement, sir.

2. The Reds

The latest class of the Reds Hall of Fame is outstanding. Bob Howsam, the architect of the Big Red Machine; turn-of-the century pitcher Will White; and Ken Griffey Sr. Sadly, it doesn't look as if Junior Griffey ever will join his dad. Who'd have thought that in 2000?

3. Tiger Woods

The golf money machine has earned a new five-year, $40 million endorsement deal with Buick. The endorsements, the Swedish fiancÈe. And we wonder why he doesn't play every single week.

4. The Negro Leagues

The Negro Leagues baseball museum in Kansas City dedicated a new research-and-education center Friday. The museum, which opened in 1990 in a one-room office, is taking over the historic Paseo YMCA building where Rube Foster established the league in 1920.

Thumbs down

1. The Athens Olympics

First the U.S. baseball team fails to qualify, then the men's soccer team is eliminated as well. That's OK - we'll kick some butt in track and field.

2. NHL players

A former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman reported last week the league lost $273 million last season. The NHL Players Association, of course, disputed the claim. Be realistic. The Arena Football League outdrew the NHL All-Star Game.

3. Barry Bonds

The BALCO drug investigation that indicted Bonds' personal trainer for peddling performance-enhancing drugs clouds the Giants star's image, guilty or not.

4. The UC Bearcats

Why is there such a bad feeling about a team that enters today's game with Wake Forest at 17-3?