Speaking of rings, will Allen Iverson or Grant Hill ever get one? The recent trade rumor of Grant Hill for Allen Iverson is starting to cool down a bit. It doesn't make sense to me why Philadelphia would do this. Iverson has had a more successful career points wise and playoffs wise. However, if Philly wants to win, they need to bring in someone else to support Allen. A smarter trade would be Kukoc (sign him to a one-year deal) and Geiger for Glen Rice.

Anyone watch the National Sports Report nightly on Fox Sports Net? Although, I may regret plugging them, I won't regret ripping them. The Stanley Cup Finals. A baseball game in June. Compare the two. You would assume that the Finals gets more recognition, right? Wrong...At least on the NSR. About 4 or 5 baseball games were the top story on this show a few days back. The show overall is just a big joke. Comments are there when not necessary, there's about 6 anchors, and too much comical information given. Stick to Sportscenter or CNN/SI.

Talking about the Stanley Cup Finals, it's turning out to be a pretty good series. I thought that the West was going to wipe out any team in the East. I thought wrong. It's a shame New Jersey fans just plain out suck (i.e. Leaving early when you're team is up 7-1 with 10 minutes left to beat the traffic rather than to stay and celebrate) because I'd be rooting for the Devils (I do not like to see a team repeat). But, because they're fans suck, I am forced to just sit and watch as an observer. Maybe we'll finally get a seven game series in the Stanley Cup Finals. When's the last time we've seen that?

Only 6 more weeks until football training camp. Football is the only sport without a boring regular season. 162 games of baseball! No one cares until September! It's a little different with basketball and hockey, but not much. They're still long seasons. 82 games is a lot.

It may be a little early to start talking All-Star Weekend, but Pedro and Randy should just be given the whole game to pitch, since we'll never see them with the current interleague play format.

Here's your official NFL Europe talk for the column. The Frankfurt Galaxy has officially been eliminated from World Bowl 2000 with a demolishing lost at the hands of the Rhein Fire. The Rhein Fire moved into first place with a 6-2 record after putting up 53 points in a 53-14 victory, the third highest score in NFL Europe history. And in a correction from last issue, I incorrectly said that it was the Barcelona Admirals and Amsterdam Dragons. I stand corrected, as it is the Barcelona Dragons and Amsterdam Admirals. I apologize.

Let's move to some more baseball. Props go out to Esteban Yan for smashing a Bobby Jones fastball over the left field fence in his first Major League at bat. His official line for the day: Yan P 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.000 (Yan, Pitcher. 1 AB, 1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 LOB, 1.000 AVG)

Congratulations to the Phillies for getting their first sweep of the year this past weekend. It seems the weirdest things come out of Philadelphia. What a dysfunctional town.

And as I leave you for the week, I leave on a message to Portland fans: Don't worry, you guys have a great nucleus. You nearly beat L.A. three straight times. Fatigue just got the better part of you.