SURFING THE TUBE.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

TODAY

Just think how long the people of Raleigh, N.C., have waited to taste the fruits of Stanley Cup victory. It's been, what, a week or two? Or at least as long as Game 3. NHL Finals: Detroit at Carolina Game 4, Channel 7, 5 p.m. (ABC has Game 5 Thursday and, if necessary, Game 6 Saturday at 5 p.m.); World Cup soccer: U.S. vs. South Korea (replay), ESPN2, 11 a.m.; Baseball: Arizona at N.Y. Yankees, ESPN, 4 p.m. (ESPN also has these two teams Wednesday at 10 a.m.); Pittsburgh at Angels, Fox Sports Net, 7 p.m. (Channel 9 has Tuesday's game and FSN has Wednesday's game at 7 p.m.)

TUESDAY

On the Outdoor Channel, it's the latest rerun of Babe Winkleman's ``Outdoor Secrets.'' Anything to do with five bachelorettes in Alaska? How about at Staples Center? WNBA: Detroit at Sparks, Fox Sports Net 2, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

It's not too late to rename that Lil Bow Wow flick to ``Like Kobe.'' NBA Finals: Lakers at New Jersey Game 4, Channel 4, 6 p.m. (if necessary, NBC has Game 5 Friday from New Jersey at 6 p.m.); Baseball: N.Y. Mets at Chicago White Sox, ESPN2, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY

They're playing on a state-run muni course that charges about $35 a round and has about 35,000 rounds of golf trampled upon it each year. But only 156 who survived from 8,468 accepted applicants are allowed to pay this weekend at Bethpage's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., which, at 7,214 yards, will be the longest track in U.S. Open history. ``I have to say it's the hardest par-70 course I've ever seen,'' said Tiger Woods, who two years ago at Pebble Beach won his first Open by 15 strokes, the biggest win in major history. ``It's gonna be a hell of a test.'' Golf: U.S. Open championship first round, ESPN 8-to-noon, Channel 4 noon-to-2 p.m., ESPN 2-to-4 p.m. and hour-long recap shows at 5 and 9 p.m. (Same TV coverage for Friday's second round).

FRIDAY

How many Poles did it take to determine that the Earth was not the center of the universe? One: Copernicus. But he couldn't prove his scientific-based theory in the early 1500s because it went against the beliefs of the infallible Catholic Church. How times have changed. Today, the Polish Pope can openly root against the Americans and we'd all understand. World Cup soccer: U.S. vs. Poland, ESPN, 4:30 a.m. (replay: Channel 7, 11 a.m.); College World Series opening games, ESPN2, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Baseball: Angels at Dodgers, Channel 13, 7 p.m. (FSW2 has Saturday's game at 7 p.m. and Channel 13 has Sunday's game at 1 p.m.)

SATURDAY

It's L.A. vs. Sacramento all over again in hoops. Without the excitement. WNBA: Sparks at Sacramento, ESPN, 1 p.m.; Golf: U.S. Open championship third round, Channel 4, 9:30 a.m.; Baseball: Oakland at San Francisco, Channel 11, 1 p.m.; MLS: Galaxy at N.Y./N.J., ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.; College World Series games, Channel 2, 10:30 a.m. and ESPN, 4 p.m.

SUNDAY

On Father's Day, there's the chance you'll see Tiger and Earl Woods in a major embrace again. Only four people have won the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year - the last was Jack Nicklaus 30 years ago. Golf: U.S. Open championship final round, Channel 4, 10:30 a.m.; NASCAR: Winston Cup race from Brooklyn, Mich., Channel 11, 9:30 a.m.; Baseball: N.Y. Yankees at N.Y. Mets, ESPN, 5 p.m.; College World Series game, ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

With vehicles rolling nearby and a man on a cell phone near the gates, Bethpage Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., is typical of a public course, the first municipal course to host a U.S. Open.

Box:

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