By Mike Ball
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thumbs up

The Bengals

Not one, but two nationally televised games. So this is what it's like to have a National Football League team.

Major League Baseball

It's not often this group of brain surgeons deserves praise. But the decision to make every April 15 "Jackie Robinson Day" throughout the Major Leagues is a great one. April 15, 1947, of course, was the day he broke the color barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Phil Mickelson

It was hard to feel too bad for a guy who had won 22 tournaments, made millions upon millions and had a lovely family. But it was sure great to see him win the Masters.

Bruins fans

They cheered loudly for the Canadian national anthem Thursday night, in response to Montreal's fans booing the Star Spangled Banner Sunday night.

Thumbs down

Kobe Bryant

He said he didn't tank the game against Sacramento last week when he took only one shot in the first half. But then he scored 45 the next game, then hit an awesome division-winning 3-pointer in the second overtime against Portland. Point taken, Kobe.

Ward Burton

So he can drive 200 mph around a track with 41 other madmen behind the wheel but can't stay awake and keep his sport utility vehicle on the highway in Danville, Va. He wasn't hurt.

The Reds

Here we are, a little more than a year from the opening of a spanking new ballpark. Occasion for a celebration of the team's strong start? No, e-mails explaining their finances, followed by a Reds infomercial on the radio.

The NBA

Hey, we're excited about the playoffs. But if the Pacers-Celtics best-of-7 first-round series goes seven, the series will go 18 days. A bit much.