Armchair athletes have quite a weekend in...

Armchair athletes have quite a weekend in store for themselves as Alysheba streaks toward a Triple Crown, the Lakers (fast) break into Boston and the Dodgers contend with one of baseball’s best hitters.

With Chris McCarron again aboard, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Alysheba will try to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. ABC’s live coverage of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes begins today at 1:30 p.m. (7)(3)(10)(42), with Dave Johnson scheduled to call the race at 2:33 p.m. from Belmont Park in New York.

When it comes to two-legged thoroughbreds, there may be no better in baseball than scintillating Cincinnati Reds centerfielder Eric Davis. His speed and power will be on display against the Dodgers in the final two games of a weekend series at Riverfront Stadium.

Today’s game, which originally was scheduled to air at 4 p.m. on KTTV Channel 11, was picked up instead by NBC for a “Game of the Week” telecast. Consequently it will be carried at 12:15 p.m. (4)(36)(39).

Channel 11, however, will still televise the finale of the Dodgers-Reds series Sunday at 11 a.m.

Sunday also will bring Game 3 of the NBA championship between the Lakers and Boston Celtics as the best-of-seven series moves to the parquet floor of boisterous Boston Garden. Dick Stockton and Tom Heinsohn report at 10 a.m. (2)(8).

From Boston’s parquet to Paris’ clay, there’s plenty of French Open tennis on tap, courtesy of NBC. Taped coverage of the women’s singles final gets under way today at 3 p.m., with the men’s final, which will be taped as well, due Sunday at 8 a.m. (4)(36)(39).

Meanwhile, ABC and CBS will cover a couple of golf tourneys. ABC has an LPGA Tournament today at 10 a.m. and Sunday at noon (7)(3)(10)(42), with the Kemper Open airing today at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (2)(8).