SURFING THE TUBE.

Byline: TOM HOFFARTH

TODAY

Tonight's Lakers game should end early enough so the team can scramble back to the charter flight and catch CBS' ``L.A. Doctors'' at 10 p.m. - in which Dennis Rodman actually makes an appearance. Reportedly with both his shoes and socks. Lakers at Houston, Channel 9, TBS, 5 p.m.

TUESDAY

In the 96 first-round playoff series since 1987, when the NHL went to a best-of-seven format for the opening round, the club winning Game 1 has gone on to win the series 59 percent of the time (57-39), including all eight last season. Since the best-of-seven format was introduced in 1939, only 29 teams have rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to win a series. So what about when the team is down 3-0? The Lame Ducks need to know. Remember when they used to play Detroit like it was a Stanley Cup final? Paging Ron Wilson. NHL playoffs: Detroit at Ducks, Game 4, Fox Sports West 2, 7:30 p.m. (Also: Game 5 will be Thursday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN and Game 6 is Saturday at noon on Channel 11, if necessary).

WEDNESDAY

It's David Wells' spot in the Blue Jays' rotation. The Angels missed him last week in Toronto and were swept anyway. All is not well. Toronto at Angels, Fox Sports West, 7:35 p.m.

THURSDAY

Here's hoping the fellas can pull off another moral victory. It won't help in the postseason seedings, but it could make the rest of the Western Conference upgrade their opinion of the Lakers from overpaid doormats to formidable underachievers. Portland at Lakers, Fox Sports West, 7:30 p.m. (Also: KNBC has the Lakers game in Seattle on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.)

FRIDAY

The Murdoch Nine reportedly plays a three-game series in Milwaukee before going to Philadelphia, but since there is no TV coverage, we can neither confirm nor deny. Dodgers at Philadelphia, Fox Sports West 2, 4 p.m. (Series continues on Channel 5, Friday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10:35 a.m.)

SATURDAY

Each year around this time at Churchill Downs, the media circus surrounding trainer Bob Baffert grows more frenzied. That's because the guy is so quotable. But now he doesn't enjoy the spotlight as much because it interferes with prepping his latest Kentucky Derby entrants - in this case, the likely top two choices, Santa Anita Derby winner General Challenge and runner-up Prime Timber. ``When I came in here with Cavonnier (in '96), I talked to maybe two guys from the media,'' Baffert said. ``I thought, `Where's the coverage? I need some coverage.' But now it's like I'm Dennis Rodman. Everything I do is scrutinized. If I win another Derby, I'm eligible for the National Inquirer.'' And a guest spot on CBS' ``L.A. Doctors.'' The 125th Kentucky Derby, Channel 7, 1:30 p.m. (Also: ESPN has the Derby post-position draw live Wednesday at 2 p.m. and covers live the Kentucky Oaks race Friday at 2 p.m.)

SUNDAY

No more of those NBC ``don't miss the boat'' promos for Jon Voight's movie ``Noah's Ark'' for this night. Today in Fontana, if all 115,000 spectators at the Cal 500 flush at the same time, they can create a special effect of Biblical proportions. NASCAR California 500, Channel 7, 11 a.m. (Qualifying on ESPN2, Friday at 2:30 p.m.; NASCAR Auto Club 300 Grand National series race is Saturday, Channel 7, 3 p.m.)

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Photo

PHOTO no caption (Bob Baffert)