FIRST ONES OF JUNE

Well...it's supposed to be pretty crappy on Saturday, so we should have plenty of opportunities to watch some of the many sports going on.

And it's again time to get my views in the weekly installment of...WEEKEND PERDICTIONS!

#1...Let's start with the horsies...the BELMONT STAKES finally takes place. Horse racing takes a page out of the NBA playoffs book by putting a LOT of time in between events...but we DO have a triple crown on the line! ...but not for a HORSE. Calvin Borel is trying to make history by winning the three on two different ponies! But, just like in the first two events, I just can't go with the favorite. My pick at 15 to 1 currently...go with the 3 horse, MR. HOT STUFF. I've read a lot of good things about how he is a good closer at this length. We'll see.

#2...how about some NASCAR racing! As always, if I get ONE of these right, then i consider this a check mark for a perdiction. For the first time this year, the three major series are in three different locations. It starts tonight with the TRUCK series at Texas...and looking at the info that i do, i am going to go with the #88 truck of MATT CRAFTON to take the checkers. Then on saturday night at Nashville, its the NATIONWIDE series. I know i have said that i hate going with favorites, but in this case i'll do it...I havent seen the odds yet, but I know that CARL EDWARDS will be up front all night long. How about 7 top 5s in 8 races there. I'll take that. And then on Sunday, its the CUP series race at Pocono Speedway. It's a really unique track. It's a triangle! And with practice/qualifying rained out today, who knows what we'll see. I think i'll go with a man that has a decent history here but has never won. That'll change for MARK MARTIN on sunday.

#3...its the third straight week for the INDYCAR series. They're under the lights at Texas. I nailed this perdiction last week in the race that i was at in Milwaukee. Lets go for two in a row by going with the man who had a couple of really good practice sessions. He has four top 10s in the five events so far...how about the 4 car of DAN WHELDON to go to victory lane.

#4...NBA playoffs...for some reason, they take a couple of days off in between games. I could more understand it if they were going to have to fly across country...but to have game one on thursday and game two on sunday is absolutely ridiculous. But anyway...i just dont think that the dominance can keep up on a consistent basis with this lakers team. We saw it a few times in the first couple of rounds where they would smash the opponent one game and then the next look way different. I think thats the case here and i like the ORLANDO MAGIC to steal home court advantage this weekend.

#5...how about some BASEBALL...some how, some way the brewers are hanging on to first place in the division. Probably because everybody else has been hitting par recently. Thats illustrated in the standings as five of the six teams in the division are 5 and 5 in their last ten games! I dont see things turning around this weekend for the crew. They're limping in after losing three of four to the Fins...the manager has a lot of people questioning him...they've got two of the highest ERA starters in the league going this weekend...i think they may get tonight with gallardo going, but i like the BRAVES to take the series.

I won't be in on Monday as i'll be gone "on assignment" again. (a.k.a. the TRatts have a day game and i'll be there). But tune in TUESDAY at noon and i'll recap these!