Sporting News, The: Fanscape - Muhammad Ali; World Series of Poker; Babolat's new tennis racquets

　　The fifth edition of American Idol has reached its grand finale, with just two remaining contestants vying for a major recording contract.

　　For the singers it's a chance to achieve their dream, but for the viewers it has become a major event to wager on each week.

　　PinnacleSports.com has released updated odds on who'll be named the next American Idol, with that Taylor Hicks is the favourite.

　　Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com, said, 'We've seen support for Taylor Hicks really increase since last week's surprising elimination of previous favourite Chris Daughtry.'

　　The interest at PinnacleSports.com for American Idol has been so great that they are now accepting individual bets of up to $10,000 on who'll win the reality show.

　　With support growing for Taylor Hicks, the grey-haired vocalist is now an overwhelming favourite at 1/2 odds, while Katharine McPhee is a 9/5 underdog.

　　Noble continued, 'Although Katharine has been one of the favourites since the show's onset, Taylor's consistent performances and stage presence appears to have won the hearts of voters as well as Simon Cowell.'

How to ... Play poker with the big boys

Don't deny it. You're tempted. Everywhere you look there is an article about Positively Fifth Street, the story of James McManus going to cover the World Series of Poker for a magazine and playing instead, finishing fifth and winning $247,000 against the world's top pros. You think: "I could do that."

Before you hop that plane to Vegas, you better be ready. Be like Mac--read plenty of poker primers by pros David Sklansky and TJ Cloutier and practice on computer programs for countless hours. Then, when you're going head-tohead with these pros, be ready to face intimidation. The pros will push you to bet over your head or overplay your cards. Don't do it. "If the pros see you as a conservative rock who only plays pots with strong cards, they'll give you more respect than you often get in a friendly home game," McManus says. Then, when you raise them, they'll actually fold.

And don't forget poker requires lots of luck. McManus brought a half-dozen

lucky hats and kept pictures of his wife and kids in his shirt pocket or on the table. It worked for him.

From the lab to the net--French connection

If springtime in Paris sets you daydreaming about Roland Garros instead of romance, make a date with Babolat. U.S. tennis pro Andy Roddick loves Babolat's Pure Drive racket. So, when the French company came out with the VS NCT Drive (unstrung $209) and VS NCT Control ($199) aimed at us normal folks, Fanscape checked it out.

NCT stands for Nano Carbon Technology--the rackets were built with carbon tubes using nanotechnology, which is the spaceage manipulation of materials on an atomic level. Though it's strange--actually incomprehensible--that NASA scientists spend time moving molecules to improve Fanscape's forehand, the racket certainly works wonders, especially when combined with the old-fashioned natural gut strings that made Babolat famous.

With these light but well-balanced rackets, the ball stays on the strings longer, giving extra control and more spin, yet it still jumps off with zing. Getting the power of a stiff racket without the awkward can't-feel-the-ball effect apparently comes not just from nanotubes but also from Babolat's Dual Woofer shock absorbing system. Sometimes it's better not to ask.

Sultan of swap: rare Bambino jersey up for bids

There are only six known Babe Ruth Yankees uniforms, and Lelands.com is auctioning off a flannel, pinstriped one with "G.H. Ruth" stitched beneath the collar. Bids are being accepted online and by telephone until May 30; Lelands.com president Michael Heffner says the winner may have to shell out $500,000. You can get a genuine, live major league rookie for less than that.

E-mail comments or suggestions to fanscape@sportingnews.com.