SURFING THE TUBE: THE WEEK AHEAD : TODAY.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth

You've got to give credit to Earvin Johnson - a.k.a. ``Magic, a.k.a. ``Buck,'' a.k.a. ``The Grin That Stole Late Night'' - for having the nerve to put his rep on the line and do a late-night talk show when so many others have tried and fouled out. How many people told him a 6-foot-9 point guard couldn't happen either? To prep for this, the one-time Lakers coach says he had regular sessions with a speech coach and an interview coach. Just as long as Del Harris isn't his motivational coach. ``The Magic Hour,'' Channel 11, 11 p.m. weeknights.

TUESDAY

What's the hook for Magic Johnson's talk show? The billboards say it's his infectious smile. But when Lakers fans think of Magic's most famous hook - that baby one to win Game 4 in the '87 Finals - they're the ones still grinning ear to ear. As part of ESPN Classic Sports' tribute to the NBA Finals, it continues its own special that picks out the most memorable Games 1 through 7 through the years. Tonight, it's the Magic Hour in Boston. ``Ultimate NBA Finals Series:'' Lakers at Boston, Game 4 of the '87 Finals, ESPN Classic Sports, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Call it futbol. Call it soccer. You know it's really kickball - or more specifically, it's Nation Ball. As long as everyone plays fair and listens to the teachers on yard duty, we expect everyone to learn something from this experience. First rule: No spitting from the Eiffel Tower. World Cup '98 from France: Brazil vs. Scotland, ESPN, 8 a.m. (repeated on ESPN2, 5 p.m.); Morocco vs. Norway, ESPN, 11:30 a.m. (Also: ESPN begins soccer coverage with an ``Outside the Lines'' special on the U.S. team, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.; ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 have World Cup coverage every day through July 12).

THURSDAY

They've got this next season to figure out whether the first season of ``We Got Next'' has a future. WNBA season opener: New York at Cleveland, Lifetime, 5 p.m. (Also: The Sparks' season opener in Utah isn't televised, but their game Sunday at Phoenix is on KNBC/Channel 4 at 1 p.m. NBC also has New York at Houston, Saturday at 1 p.m.)

FRIDAY

KTLA's latest advertisement slogan is that it has the Dodgers on EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT THIS SUMMER. Know what? They're right. Colorado at Dodgers, Channel 5, 7 p.m. (Also: Fox/Channel 11 has Saturday's game at 1:05 p.m.; Fox Sports West 2 has Sunday's game at 1:05 p.m.)

SATURDAY

The Capitals' incentive to win the Stanley Cup: An invite to the White House! NHL Stanley Cup Finals: Washington vs. Detroit Game 3, ESPN, 5 p.m. (Also: Fox/Channel 11 has Game 1, Tuesday at 5 p.m.; ESPN has Game 2, Thursday at 5 p.m.).

SUNDAY

Oh, there's gonna be a sixth game back in Utah, all right. It's in NBC's contract with the NBA that Michael Jordan is milked as much as possible. NBA Finals: Chicago vs. Utah Game 6, Channel 4, 4:30 p.m. (Also: NBC/Channel 4 has Game 4, Wednedsay at 6 p.m. and Game 5, Friday at 6 p.m.)

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO no caption (Magic Johnson's `baby hook' over the Celtics' Parish and McHale)