THE CRAZY SPRINGER SHOW

Well really, what else would you expect from a pitcher with the last name Springer?

• Call it a case of a pitcher who hasn't let go off a home run he gave up to Barry Bonds five years ago. The Astros were already getting their teeth kicked in last night when mop-up man Russ Springer decided to extract revenge on Barry Bonds. Indicative of the kind of night it was for Houston, who lost 14-3, it only took Springer five tries before he plunked Big Head Barry, who thereby remained stuck on No. 713.
  As Jayson Stark noted, it was only the second time the two had crossed paths since Bonds homered off Springer on May 22, 2001. What happened in their only other matchup? Springer hit Bonds then too. Hmmm. Somehow I suspect that if Springer gets fined for this, pitchers across the National League will probably take up a collection for him.
• Hands up, everyone who had money on both José Molina and Bengie Molina stealing a base in the same game. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, José's swipe was the straw that broke the camel's back, sparking the Angels to a four-run, two-out rally in the sixth inning and an 8-3 romp over the Jays.
• NBA playoffs: Thanks to Raja Bell's three at the end of the first overtime, Steve Nash and the Suns outlasted the Clippers 125-118 in double OT, taking a 3-2 lead in the Western semifinal. But you have to wonder about the toll this series and the last one against L.A.'s other team has taken on Nash, not to mention Shawn Marion, who was great last night (36 points, 20 boards in 54 minutes), but rolled his ankle in the final minutes. Getting back to Nash: In the final minute of regulation, game tied 101-101, Mr. MVP made a mental mistake, taking a rushed, not-even-close three-pointer -- he hasn't made a three since the series opener. Nash also turned the ball over twice in Phoenix's three possessions immediately preceding Bell's three. Uncharacteristic mistakes are usually a sure sign a guy is mentally whipped. The Clippers also seem to have done a good job figuring out Nash's tendencies. That's part of the reason you can't count the Clippers out, along with the notion that Elton Brand looks determined to bring L.A. back. That's right. Don't count out the Clippers. I know, it sounds strange. Learn to like it.
• Forget Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, the opening weekend of The Da Vinci Code, or even Nicole Kidman's engagement to Keith Urban -- what's really important right now is what jersey number Reggie Bush is going to wear.
• What a day of sports TV ahead for those of us who are lucky enough to have a day off work, or don't have a job. 12 noon Eastern, it's Canada-Slovakia in the quarter-final of the World Hockey Championship. At 2:30, the Champions League final between Arsenal and FC Barcelona allows us soccer dilettantes to flit around with our collective gob open. Then at 9 p.m., the Oilers try to knock out the San Jose Sharks.

That's all for now. We'll talk later today.