The Enquirer sports department's look at who rated — good and bad — this week in sports:

TOP FIVE         1. NASCAR fans: The genuine outpouring of emotion for Dale Earnhardt was touching. It's fair to say that no sports figure had such a strong relationship with fans.         2. XU: The Muskies are winning the must-win games. Barring a meltdown, you have to feel the NIT streak is over.         3. Cintas Center: Stepping up and getting the boys regional regional was a great thing. The event is one of the best values for your sports entertainment. Let's hope Cincinnati fills up the place.         4. Lakers: They beat the San Antonio Spurs without Kobe Bryant, proving that there is room for team play in the NBA.         5. Deion Sanders: If the guy wants to play baseball, who are we to tell him otherwise. Sure, he's .266 lifetime hitter and he has pop gun arm, but he'll be great as soon as they legalize stealing first.

BOTTOM FIVE         1. NASCAR fans: The vast majority handled Dale Earnhardt's death with grace. But the few — and we believe it was very few — who hold Sterling Marlin responsible should be ashamed. Just think of what the Intimidator would say to you for getting on a driver for bumping in the heat of a race.         2. Nike and Adidas: If you read the story in Sports Illustrated about high school basketball in Southern California, you'll vow to never buy another item from either company. Paying coaches to recruit kids is against the law, and it is flat wrong.         3. The Reds: The surcharge for Opening Day and Cleveland series is weak. Fans ought to be given $3 for putting up with the traffic hassles on those days.         4. XFL: Ratings are falling faster than Hulk Hogan after a flying drop kick. Nice to know that fans can discern good football from bad.         5. Gary Sheffield: Rips his teammates, demands a trade. When you sign a 3-year contract that means you play for that amount for three years.

Sports Stories

Best and worst of the week in sports Catching up with Reggie McAfee Furman taking Sundays off What if other sports had X-equivalent ... Area race tracks stay on course Earnhardt crash close to home Report: Earnhardt altered seat belt Prince got Kentucky's groove back Buffalo 66, Miami 61 Miami women 94, Akron 32 NKU men 110, Quincy (Ill.) 91 NKU women 79, Quincy (Ill.) 63 Orlando 4, Cyclones 2 Williams, Craig to fight here April 20 Cincinnati dominates state swim meet St. Xavier wins 23rd state swim title Ursuline repeats state swim title Ohio boys swimming results Ohio girls swimming results Dixie's Day wins two Ky. swim titles Ky. boys swimming results Ky. girls swimming results Moeller wins district wrestling Cincinnati district wrestling results Boys basketball coverage Girls basketball coverage Hamilton's Ballinger too much for La Salle Cincinnati boys basketball games Cincinnati girls basketball games Indiana boys basketball scores Indiana girls basketball scores Kentucky boys basketball scores Mighty Ducks 5, Kentucky 3 Ohio boys basketball scores Ohio girls basketball scores

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