Monitor picks

Before Barbaro

Barbaro's woes at the Preakness have precedent, including a case that inspired Dreamer, now on DVD. A down-and-out trainer (Kurt Russell) finds a shot at redemption when he acquires a broken-legged filly with the heart of a champion. Helping them heal: a horse-smitten daughter played by Dakota Fanning, whose chemistry with Russell and ability to own the screen lift what might have been a formula film.

If you want to crush your friends and co-workers in your Rotisserie baseball league, tune into Fantasy Focus on ESPN Radio (Sundays 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. EDT). Hosts Eric Karabell and Mike Yam will help you decide whether to snatch Brewers' utility man Bill Hall off the waiver wire, accept that Mark- Teixeira-for-Richie-Sexson trade, or dump Yankees' lefthander Randy Johnson. (Based on his recent ERA, you should.)

We all write grocery lists, but Bill Keaggy may be the only person who collects them. He finds our cast-off reminders to pick up OJ, scribbled on scraps of paper or backs of envelopes, and posts them - more than 1,000 to date - on grocerylists.org. They're oddly funny (see list No. 1008), and also revealing: Many shoppers can't spell banana (No. 130) and others should eat better (No. 1030).

America's "citizen soldiers" - those serving in the National Guard - receive a well-deserved salute during the 2006 National Memorial Day Concert (PBS, Sunday, 8:00 p.m. EDT, check local listings). Cohosts Gary Sinese and Joe Mantegna lead a star-spangled lineup that includes country acts Lee Ann Womack and Big & Rich, and acclaimed opera singer Frederica Von Stade. Gen. Colin Powell will remind the nation of the true meaning of the day.

She's part Scarlett O'Hara, part police bulldog, but the best part about Kyra Sedgwick getting criminals to confess in TNT's delightful crime drama, The Closer, is that she's back - not just for a new season this June, but the full first season on DVD, released this week. All 13 episodes fit on a two-disc set, just in time for the summer doldrums.