Leading off today: I have a confession to make. I've given in to the temptation. I'm no longer allowed to offer a dismissive wave of a hand at that breed of addicts that I used to both pity and despise.

   It's my girlfriend's fault, really, because she dragged me into this guilty pleasure of sorts after seven-plus years of being able to do without. I'd survived the first episode of Survivor without feeling the urge to go back for seconds. But now I've succumbed.

   My name is John, and I watch reality TV.

   America's Next Top Model may be about a dozen women more shallow than the graves dug by serial-killer drifters. But I'm there to watch every week.

   Rock of Love, featuring Bret Michaels of Poison trying to hook up with assorted trailer-trash-quality groupies? Count me in every Sunday, regardless of whether every rose really does have its thorn. Because it's Nothin' But a Good Time, you know.

   Hogan Knows Best, starring wrestling legend Hulk Hogan? I vividly remember the Sports Illustrated cover story on the sport when it reached its height of popularity 20 years ago and the joke that wrestlers tell:

   Q: What's missing half its teeth and has an IQ of 40?
   A: The first 10 rows of any wrestling crowd.

   Doesn't matter, baby, I can't help but watch every sumptuous episode.

   And, now, we possibly have the all-time reality show to fulfill my two greatest needs in life (other than food) -- wasting time and watching sports. Yes, it's true. "Hoops" Weiss of the New York Daily News reports that we're close to being able to watch a real-life version of The White Shadow.

   Ronnie "The Teacher" Naclerio, the head coach at Benjamin Cardozo of the PSAL, has been allowing

cameras to follow him this year to give InnerArtists Management of L.A. material for a pilot episode to be pitched to ESPN, MTV and assorted other three- and four-letter networks.

   Naclerio has a reputation as colorful and he's also successful -- more than 500 victories and 17 division titles in 26 years in the PSAL. He's coached playground legend Rafer ("Skip to My Lou") Alston of the Houston Rockets among others.

   The bad news is that stud James Southerland has transferred out of state to attend prep school, but there's still a lot to like about the possibilities here. There just has to be a network out there that will bite on this.

   Bat ban upheld: A Manhattan judge on Tuesday upheld New York City's ban on metal bats in high school baseball games, saying it was not his place to overturn a local law crafted with the public's safety in mind.

   While agreeing there is no clear evidence that metal bats cause more serious injuries than wooden bats, U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl said City Council is entitled to rule that the risk is too great.

   "The protection of the health and safety of high school-age students is entitled to great weight," the judge said.

   The law will take effect Saturday. It had been challenged by an organization representing several sporting goods manufacturers and coaches and parents of New York City scholastic players.

   The law resulted from concerns that s metal bats cause balls to go farther and faster, upping the risk of injuries.

   Extra points: If you haven't seen it yet, Miss South Carolina's performance in the Miss Teen USA pageant is confirmation that parents should challenge their daughters to become the next Venus Williams or Mia Hamm rather than settle for being eye candy. I'm still on the fence, though, as to whether I'd want my daughter to be the next Michelle Wie.

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