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What: “Outside the Lines: Nothing but ‘Net”

When: ESPN, today, 4 p.m.

ESPN examines issues involving sports on the Internet in the latest edition of its outstanding “Outside the Lines” series.

The Baltimore Orioles’ Albert Belle, who rarely does interviews, directs media to his Web site, while athletes such as the Atlanta Falcons’ Jamal Anderson announce personal information and quotes on their Web sites before giving them to the media. Why do players have sites? Well, for one thing their quotes go unchallenged by the media. Other questions: How much money do they make from having a site? Do they really return e-mail from fans?

Jeremy Schaap reports on these issues in a segment called “Player Sites.”

In a segment titled “Domain Names,” the issue of stealing an athlete’s name is reported on by Kelly Neal. Cybersquatters sometimes secure names, then try to sell them back to the athlete or use it to sell a product. Recently, attorneys for Venus Williams settled a lawsuit filed against an attorney who registered the name venuswilliams.com. The Senate recently passed a bill that makes such things illegal. The House still must vote.

Then there is the issue of bogus memorabilia, reported on by Shelley Smith. ESPN purchased several Mark McGwire-autographed items off the Internet that proved to be forged.

Host Bob Ley has a segment on a bill banning Internet gambling. The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act was approved, 16-1, by the Senate Judiciary Committee in June and is now before the full Senate. This segment will update the state of the fight against offshore Internet sports books.

Other segments:

* Recruiting: College basketball online scouting services and chat rooms are a breeding ground for unfounded rumors that make their way back to high school and college coaches and players, and have an impact on recruiting.

* Event coverage: Cybercasting may be the future of sports coverage because fans might be able to choose their own camera angles and call up replays.

* Sponsorships: Internet companies are using sports as a marketing tool, expanding their presence offline as sponsors of events, teams and leagues. This segment focuses on the proposed Collegiate Professional Basketball League, whose primary sponsors thus far are three Internet companies.