May 14
Each week I will post my "Dick's Dow Jones" report on whose stock is up and whose is down from across the world of sports.

Stock up: Kobe Bryant

	Kobe Bryant

Whose stock is up this week? Let's go to L.A. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers had 48 points and 16 rebounds in the playoff series clincher over Sacramento. At San Antonio, I know they love their combo of Tim Duncan and David Robinson, but there's no better 1-2 punch than the inside-outside combo of Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal.

Bryant has been electrifying. Earlier this year there were reports that L.A. might trade him, that people were upset with his shot selection. But there's no way the Lakers would be on such a roll, having won 15 in a row and being undefeated in the playoffs, without Mr. Bryant. Kobe's stock is way, way up, baby!

Stock down: New York Mets

	Bobby Valentine is ready for spring.

Whose stock is down this week? Let's go to New York. Bobby Valentine's Mets have been a disappointment, sitting in last place in the NL East. The Phillies have shocked everyone and sit comfortably in first place.

Mets fans must be crying, "Where's Mike Hampton, baby?" New York's one-season ace is undefeated with Colorado! Losing Hampton as a free agent certainly hurt, and the Mets' stock is down big-time.

But one of the beautiful things about baseball is that it's a marathon, not a sprint, and there's a long, long way to go for the Mets. They've got to find some punch in that outfield to help out Mike Piazza, who has been on a slide lately. You know that Big Mike will get it going. Will the Mets? Only time will tell.