SURFING THE TUBE.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

TODAY

Larry Robinson might feel caught in a trap, but at least he can walk out. The Kings, meanwhile, aren't worthy of a bus tour over to Opryland at this point. Kings at Nashville, Fox Sports West, 5 p.m. (The Kings end their regular season with 7:30 p.m. games Thursday against Anaheim and Friday at San Jose, both on FSW, and Sunday at home vs. St. Louis at noon on Fox-Channel 11).

TUESDAY

No offense to Kurt Rambis - no defense, either, by the way - but right about now you kinda wish Mike Dunleavy never bailed out as the Lakers coach a few years back. This was Jerry West's hand-picked leader who went for green in Milwaukee and was in way over his head. So it's no real surprise why the Blazers are blazing again - leave it to Dunleavy. It's the first of four meetings with Portland that'll eventually determine the Lakers' regular-season fate in the Western Conference. Lakers at Portland, Channel 9, TNT, 5 p.m. (Also: Saturday, Channel 4 has the Lakers' game at Utah, 5:30 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY

We're supposed to believe that the character Norm MacDonald plays on his new sitcom is an ex-hockey player who got in trouble with the IRS and has to serve probation by working as a civil servant. What, is Bruce McNall writing these scripts from prison? ``The Norm Show,'' Channel 7, 9:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

Sunday's rainout prevented Round 2 of Kevin Brown vs. Randy Johnson - Darren Dreifort faces Johnson instead. This is the end of a four-game series between the Dodgers and Arizona, who've now played each other so often this season, they've actually begun to think they have a rivalry. Stop. In the NL West alone, the D'backs are No. 3 on the Dodgers' hate list. Dodgers at Arizona, Fox Sports West 2, 6:05 p.m.

FRIDAY

Another result of the rainout: Kevin Brown is pushed back in the rotation and faces his old team in the opener of a three-game series in San Diego. Dodgers at San Diego, Channel 5, 7:05 p.m. (series continues on Channel 5, Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.)

SATURDAY

So what pick does the new L.A. franchise get? Can Mel Kiper Jr. just make it for us since we have no ownership . . . as well as no interest. NFL draft, ESPN, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (continues on ESPN2 from 4-7 p.m. (to end of the third round; finishes Sunday on ESPN from 8-11 a.m. and ESPN2 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

SUNDAY

If you decide to watch the Long Beach Grand Prix today, check out new ESPN/ABC analyst Parker Johnstone, a CART driver from '93-'97. You think this guy isn't driven to succeed? Here's someone who at age 13 became the youngest Eagle Scout in the history of the Boy Scouts. At age 15, he held the No. 1 trumpet chair for the Oakland Youth Symphony and toured Europe as the principal trumpet for the International Youth Orchestra with noted pianist Van Cliburn. He bypassed a scholarship offer to Julliard and instead went to Berkeley, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering and computer science. He became a stunt driver and appeared in 50 commercials, plus the movie ``Speed.'' While he raced on CART, he formed a nonprofit charity group called Air Mercy that flies mission-work personnel and supplies around the world. And after all that, he's trying to make a career in TV? Doesn't he know cancer hasn't been cured? Long Beach Grand Prix, Channel 7, 1 p.m.

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Photo

PHOTO Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Mike Dunleavy