Nobody asked me, but:

If you haven’t tried XM Radio yet, check it out. You can listen to 14 local radio broadcasts of baseball games from around the country as well as pro golf, NASCAR, as well as 150 other channels. It’s great. Apparently, it is spreading like crazy across the country, as millions of old guys, like me, are listening to the nostalgic baseball announcers of their youth. I still prefer MLB In Demand, but if you’re in the car, this is better.

I don’t think Lance Armstrong is going to win the Tour de France this year. I think age and the other dopers, er, drivers have caught up to him.

I don’t care what anyone says. Cycling is riddled with dopers using drugs so sophisticated that medicine is light years behind trying to detect them.

Personally, I don’t care if athletes use performance-enhancing drugs or not. If they want to risk liver cancer when they are 40, who am I to say they can’t?

Rafael Palmeiro is the best hitter no one cares about as he moves towards 3,000 hits and 500 homers. Only Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Eddie Murray have reached that plateau.

The main reason is that Palmeiro never played for a winner, ever, in his 20 years in the majors. Nor has he wanted to. He has turned down trades to contenders in the past. So you have to wonder, is he just a small market guy on bad teams who is pitched to because his team is usually far behind?

Good for Venus Williams for coming through at Wimbledon. After being eclipsed by her sister, Serena, many years ago, she has returned after battling an injury to the top.

If somebody makes between five and six million a year, shouldn’t they be expected to make the all-star team? Why do they have incentives in their contracts that give them extra money if they make the mid-summer classic?

Or why do they get extra pay for helping their team win a pennant or World Series? Isn’t that why teams pay those guys?

While Jason Giambi continues to battle back in the Big Apple, Sammy (the Big Heater) Sosa continues to dive in Baltimore. Looks like without steroids or corking his bat, Sammy just isn’t major league material. Plus, he is a gutless, lying coward who won’t admit wrongdoing even when caught red-handed.

I still don’t understand how people can watch poker on TV. I mean, I can see some yo-yo’s playing on-line because at least you are playing, but to watch it? It brings new meaning to the phrase “get a life.” What’s next, watching guys paint houses on the HGTV?

Kenny Rogers should have stayed home from the all-star game. No offense, but beating up 60-year-old cameramen does not enable one to be considered elite. Rogers has never been that good anyway, so it’s not like the fans were clamoring to see him. Besides, I thought he had a 20-game suspension.

Kudos must go to Mike Scoscia and the Angels. Even with the big changes made in the off-season, they continue to lead in the AL West. Some people say part of it is that there is a shortage of good teams, but the Angels are beating everyone.

A great series coming up is when the Yankees come to Anaheim next weekend.

Frank Robinson with the Washington Nationals is doing another great managing job. I don’t think they’ll be able to hold on, but year after year Robinson continues to have these guys doing well.

The Cards and Padres look like teams heading towards the playoffs with Atlanta, Florida and Houston having outside chances.

The American League is a tough call. Look for the White Sox to slide in August and the Twins to come up. I’m still not convinced that the Sox are the best team in the American League.

See you next time.