by By Alan Pergament - News TV Critic , Buffalo News

As is becoming customary, the Grand Slam Tennis event is getting triple coverage. ESPN2 is carrying at least 95 hours-from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. daily the first week-and bigger brother ESPN has four hours of highlights. The Tennis Channel carries highlights, interviews and features from 7 to 11 p. m. daily. And NBC starts its coverage in a week, culminating with the men's and women's finals and the official "Breakfast at Wimbledon" on July 4 and 5.

The three networks had to be disappointed that Rafael Nadal, a ratings draw, was forced to withdraw Friday because of knee problems and there will be no rematch of last year's classic five-set win over Roger Federer in the men's final. In the women's draw, NBC is pinning its ratings hopes on Venus and Serena Williams.

Nadal's withdrawal certainly had to surprise McEnroe, who in midweek dismissed suggestions that the defending champ's knees were the problem when Sweden's Robin Soderling upset him at the French Open.

Analyst Mary Carillo disputed making the world's No. 1 rated player, Danira Safina, the top seed over defending champion Venus Williams despite Williams' weak year. "She can go deep in this tournament," said Carillo. "I truly believe Venus deserves to be No. 1."

McEnroe disagreed, saying Williams' "spotty record" would have made it hard for her to be seeded first. However, he added it is unfortunate that Venus and Serena would meet in the semifinals rather than the finals if they both get that far.

On the men's side, Nadal's withdrawal clears an obstacle for five-time champion Federer, who is confident after his French Open title win. McEnroe doesn't believe Scotland's Andy Murray is ready to win but he believes hard-serving American Andy Roddick is ready.

"I think Roddick can win it," McEnroe said. "He's in the best shape he's ever been in, provided his ankle is OK. He's very eager to do well."

*The biggest postgame talk after Pittsburgh defeated Detroit in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs was over Sidney Crosby's delay in getting on the handshake line in time to talk with Red Wing veterans. However, NBC's commentators didn't address the issue and a camera and a microphone caught Detroit coach Mike Babcock congratulating Crosby for his leadership. In other words, NBC didn't seem to think the so-called slight was even worth talking about.

*Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Gibran Hamdan and former Bills tight end Dave Moore are among 40 NFL players and former players taking part in the annual NFL Broadcast Boot Camp starting Monday at NFL Films in Mt. Laurel, N. J. I haven't seen enough of Hamdan being interviewed to know whether he has announcer ability.

*Cameo alert: New England quarterback Tom Brady and Phoenix point guard Steve Nash are among the celebrities appearing as themselves in the coming season of HBO's "Entourage," which returns July 12. What, no Terrell Owens?

*On Tuesday, it will be the Buffalo Bills' turn to be spotlighted in the NFL Network series, "32 Teams in 32 Days."

*If comedian Artie Lange hadn't tossed out so many expletives in this week's inauspicious debut of Joe Buck's new HBO live show, there wouldn't be anything to remember. I literally fell asleep watching the dull hour, which felt like it lasted five hours. Sure, Lange was unnecessarily obscene and obnoxious. But I've heard far worse from comedians on HBO. On the other hand, I haven't seen a worse debut show in some time.

apergament@buffnews.com

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