FanFare 5/5/03

Briefly

Baseball

Darren Baker, the 4-year-old son of Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker, sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Sunday's game against Colorado, drawing loud cheers from a standing crowd. Darren sang at the Cubs' convention this winter, and team officials asked if he'd do it again Sunday as part of "Dusty Baker Beanie Baby Day." His mom, Melissa, held him as he stood on a countertop so fans could see him, and she sang along with the rest of the fans. Dad was singing, too, and he waved to Darren in the pressbox when his son finished.

Basketball

Dirk Nowitzki rebounded from his worst-ever playoff game with 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Nick Van Exel led an early fourth-quarter burst as the Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107-95 Sunday to finally eliminate them after three failed attempts. The Blazers did a great job in trying to become the first team in league history to come all the way back from a 3-0 deficit, overcoming a scoreless first half from Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells then going ahead 90-88 on a 3-pointer by Wallace with 4:43 left.

The Pistons advanced out of the first round of the NBA playoffs, doing so in decisive fashion behind Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace and newfound talent Tayshaun Prince. The 108-93 victory over Orlando was the third in a row for Detroit, making the Pistons just the seventh team in NBA history to advance after falling behind 3-1 in a series. Detroit avoided joining the Miami Heat (1999) and Seattle SuperSonics (1994) as the only top-seeded teams to lose in the first round since the playoffs were expanded to a 16-team format in 1984.

Paul Silas was fired as coach of the New Orleans Hornets after five seasons in which he set the franchise record for victories. The Hornets went 47-35 this season, finishing third in the Central Division. They were knocked out of the playoffs Friday night, eliminated in the first round in six games by the Philadelphia 76ers. He leaves with an overall mark of 208-155 with the Hornets.

The injury to Los Angeles Lakers forward Rick Fox's left foot is more serious than first thought, putting his availability for next season in question. Fox injured his foot April 27. He visited a specialist in New York on Friday and learned of a split in another tendon, complicating the surgical procedure he expects to undergo within two weeks. Fox expects to be sidelined at least six to nine months.

Soccer

The American member of the FIFA executive committee says the United States probably will host the Women's World Cup this year. Chuck Blazer, a New Yorker on the 24-man executive committee of FIFA, soccer's governing body, said, "My guess would be that they'll wind up here." FIFA's executive committee decided Saturday to move the event from China because of SARS. FIFA said the United States and Australia are interested in hosting the event, scheduled for Sept. 23 to Oct. 11.

Tennis

The pain of a strained muscle forced Venus Williams to quit during the third set of the J&S Cup final against Amelie Mauresmo, leaving Williams' status for the French Open in doubt. Mauresmo, who lost all five previous matches against Williams, led the championship match at the clay-court tournament 6-7 (6), 6-0, 3-0 when play was stopped. The French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay, starts in three weeks. Williams reached the final there for the first time last year, losing to her sister Serena.

On the air

High school baseballCentral vs. Jackson, 4:45 p.m., KAPE-1550

Chaffee vs. Notre Dame or Scott City, 6:15 p.m., KAPE-1550

Sikeston vs. Poplar Bluff, 6:45 p.m., KRHW-1520

MLBSt. Louis at Cincinnati, 6 p.m., Fox-Midwest, KZIM-960, KBXB-97.9

NBA playoffsBoston at New Jersey, 6 p.m., TNT

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m., TNT

NHL playoffsOttawa at Philadelphia, 6 p.m., ESPN

Dallas at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2

n CHARTER CABLE KEY:CNBC (ch. 53), ESPN (42), ESPN2 (43), Lifetime (49)Fox-Midwest (45), Fox-Central (352), Fox-Pacific (353), Fox-Sunshine (351), Fox-World (350), FX(50), KBSI (9), KFVS (7), MSNBC (55), Outdoors (38), Outdoor Life Network (74), Oxygen (75), Speed Channel (44), TBS (10), The Golf Channel (46), TNT (48), WDKA (17), WPSD (6), WQWQ (33), WSIL (3). Listings and times are provided by the networks and individual stations and are subject to change.

Area events

High school baseballRichland at Delta, 4:15 p.m.

Festus at Perryville, Jefferson County Conference Tournament, 4:30 p.m.

St. Vincent at Grandview, Jefferson County Conference Tournament, 4:30 p.m.

SEMO Conference Tournament: Semifinals at Capaha Field, Central vs. Jackson, 5 p.m., Sikeston vs. Poplar Bluff, 7 p.m.; Consolation games at Chaffee, Notre Dame vs. Scott City, 4 p.m., Chaffee vs. Notre Dame-Scott City winner, 6:15 p.m.; Consolation games at Dexter, Dexter vs. Kelly, 4 p.m., NMCC vs. Dexter-Kelly winner, 6:15 p.m.

High school softballOak Ridge at Scott City, 4 p.m.

Dexter at Advance, 4 p.m.

Richland at Delta, 4:15 p.m.

High school girls' soccerNotre Dame at Perryville, 4 p.m.

High school girls' swimmingMehlville, Notre Dame at Central, 4:30 p.m.

High school track & fieldNotre Dame meet, 4 p.m.

Kelly Invitational, 4 p.m.

High school boys' tennisPoplar Bluff at Central, 4 p.m.

High school golf

St. Vincent at Class 2, District 1 Tournament, Eagle Lake Golf Course, Farmington