You always know it's late when you hear the birds chirping. It'll be dawn soon. I feel like Steve McQueen in Le Mans, right before he takes the fateful sunrise driving shift were we wrecks his leading Porsche.

I'm inventing new drinks. 2 oz. of Vodka in a mug of Lemon Berry Zinger is pretty damn good.

Let's review the last 24 hours.

4:20 My alarm goes off, afer catching a few zzz's, I move downstairs to watch Senegal play France to kick off the 2002 Cup.

6:30 With the vague realization I have just seen "one for the ages," Senagal wining 1-0, I trudge back off the bed.

sometime around 11:00. I wake up, make some coffee and breakfast, and listen to a clearly goddy Tommy Smyth of ESPN's World Cup coverage announce on ESPNews that "it was the greatest upset ever!"

3:00 Sportscenter comes on, leading off with 6 quick on-site reports on the Boston-New Jersey, Los Angeles-Sacromento, and Colorado-Detroit games all tonight.

4:00 I opt to go fly a kite, literally, as the Nets-Celtics game starts.

5:30: Patrick Roy has just been pulled in the second period, as Detroit just went up 6-0. I can't quite believe it.

6:30 the Nets finish off the Celtics to head to the Finals. Jason Kidd is a star.

6:45 The Red Wings finish off their 7-0, Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, evisceration of the Avalanche. Joe Loius Arena crowd can be heard singing "Sweet Caroline" as the final seconds tick away (the Neil Diamond song, in reference to their upcoming finals opponent Carolina Hurricanes) a great sports-fan moment.

7:30 I go for a jog around the lake, then a quick weight workout downstairs.

9:00 or shortly thereafter The Lakers pull out a win, forcing Game 7

I shower, head to Kinkos, then begin my World Cup all-nighter.

I think I'll have a cigarette to perk me up a bit, then it's Germany-Saudi Arabia!