The scene is another charity baseball game, this one “The Newsbabes” vs. “The Actresses/Singers.” Julia Roberts, a fireballing lefty, is up against Kelly Ripa, pitcher for the 'talking heads'. Once again, Ann Curry is having a good day at the plate against Roberts having nailed two of Julia's offerings for homer runs. All Gwyneth Paltrow, the flyhawk in left field, can only watch Curry’s shots sail high overhead and well over the fence. Meantime, Ripa has faltered, giving up solo shots to Kim Cattrall and Jennifer Aniston who crushed one well over the center field fence.

Diminutive Patricia Heaton is an unlikely hitting star when she slams a bases loaded double off Ripa to put the Actress/Singer crew up 4-2 going into the bottom of the ninth. Nicole Kidman, another tough lefty, comes in to relieve the fading Roberts after the talking heads load the bases on two singles and a walk. The heart of the line-up is coming to bad starting with Katie Couric who Kidman wipes out on strikes. Next is ‘Downtown’ Julie Brown who launches a towering pop-up behind first base that is easily picked off by Julie's nemesis - and sometime 'victim' - Kim Cattrall. Julie can only scowl helplessly as Kim taunts her, waving the ball at 'Downtown' after hauling it in.

Two out with the dreaded Ann Curry stepping up. The Asian/American is quick to slam Kidman's first delivery deep to right center where the sprinting Courtney Cox runs it down, making a nifty backhand stab on the dead run. Cox, wearing a red string bikini, and leaps high in celebration and Patricia Heaton catches and embraces her. Heaton had picked off Curry's long fly to center in Ann's previous at bat. Curry, in her trademark silver g-string, is disconsolate after losing the game despite her hard hitting which fell short. Ann was beginning to seethe as Cox ran by and smacked Ann’s ass with her glove.

“Nice game, hot shot, but you just couldn't get it done, could you?” was the taunt which brought Ann up in Courtney's face.

“I’ve had enough of your cutes BS this whole game, you little yuppie shit,” screamed Ann as a small crowd from both sides gathered around the two vixens. “FIGHT! FIGHT!” went up the cry from each camp.

“Oh yeah that's for me,” laughed Cox. “Kicking some old washed-up bimbo’s ass would really cap my day,” continued the cocky one from Friends.

Aniston cautioned her pal, “She's no pushover, Court! Remember what she did to Hannah Storm on the plaza last year.” The same Hannah who was busy stroking Ann's back at that very moment.

“Yeah bear that in mind,” was Hannah's warning to Courtney.

“I'm ready anytime you are,” purred Ann, regaining her composure. “Out on the plaza maybe?”

“You got it!” snapped Cox.
***
One month later the Plaza outside the Today Show’s Studio One is packed with everyone from the mayor of NYC, Mike Bloomberg, to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her chick-loving hubby Bubba, all the way down to the mail room dudes. This is a 'happening'.

Barocca, who Courtney fought to a standstill, was Cox’s second while Katie Couric, scheduled to fight ‘Downtown’ Julie Brown next, stands with her former ‘Today’ co-host. Referee is the ubiquitous, Elke Sommer.

Round One: Courtney has the younger quicker legs and they look stunning in that red string bikini. She dances and feints Ann as she clobbers the Today announcer with a vicious combination to the jaw. Ann's legs buckle as she staggers slightly. Cox seeks to press this seeming advantage but Ann slams her wickedly to the mid-section as Cox has her turn to grimace. There is no love lost in this bout as these two work one another over with head shots. Curry's head flops sideways as Cox hammers her with a real Sunday punch - but Ann doesn’t go down. Sweat streams off of Ann Curry but she’s holding up. In fact, Ann delivers a hard right cross to Cox's jaw and the dark haired gal stumbles backwards on rubber legs as the bell rings. The round is scored even.

Round Two: Curry drives home a telling shot to Cox's solar plexus. Courtney is backpedaling for the first time in the bout. Couric can smell blood here. ”Bore in on her Ann you've got her,” exhorts Katie. Curry is grinning the grin of one in charge and her left hook finds Cox’ jaw and sends Courtney sprawling on her ass.

“Gotcha ya little wench,” taunts Curry. Cox is up at eight, glassy-eyed and wonky. Ann jackhammers Courtney with a number of unanswered body shots until Cox's legs buckle under the barrage of blows. Ann has beaten Courtney soundly this round and her fans erupt in applause as the g-stringed Asian/American beauty struts triumphantly back to her corner with her gloves over her head.

Jennifer Aniston and Barocca are both concerned for Cox’s welfare and Jen tries to get her friend to quit before she gets beaten even more. But Cox is adamant, “No! I can take her!” Jennifer isn't convinced.

Round Three: Cox fires a scoring right cross to Ann's jaw which again sends Curry's head sideways as the cheers go up in anticipation of a Cox comeback. Courtney is letting it all hang out at center ring with a flurry of scoring shots to a surprised Ann Curry's head. Ann's eyes are swelling now. Cox is doing better now and the crowd knows it. Her legs are bouncing once more. She drops Curry on her ass with a left/right combo and the place is stunned.

“UPSET! UPSET!” goes up the chat.

But Courtney Cox gets hit hard again by a Curry right cross and staggers to mid-ring. Curry’s power is brought to the fore now as she wallops Courtney Cox repeatedly with head shots that go unanswered. Suddenly Elke Sommer, the ref, sees that Ann has her gal out on her feet and she grabs Curry, wrapping her up from behind. Cox stumbles wildly on legs that are folding, then her eyes roll back and she tumbles face down on the canvas; her right arm extended overhead, her left is at her side.

Courtney doesn’t move as Elke Sommer counts her out while Curry, once again, is leaping up and down; her breasts bouncing wildly in her tiny top and her jumpin’ glutes straining her g-string as she jiggles over the body of another fallen opponent.

“You couldn't get it done when it counted, could you?” Ann taunts her unconscious foe as she and Katie swarm Courtney's limp body, pulling off her red bikini top. Ann waves it to the crowd before she uses it to bind Court’s wrists behind her back while Katie strips away Courtney’s bottom. Katie hands the bottom to Ann who wraps it around Arquette’s ankles, puts a secure knot in it, then laughingly drags her around the ring with her butt in the air.

Kandi Alexander of CSI Miami has watched all this and mutters to a buxom redhead next to her, “I've had it up to here with Ann. She better not get too exuberant or overconfident because I’m gunning for her…and you ain't seen nothing yet!”