THE LIST: DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week

DVDS

"Balls of Fury" (PG-13): Take table tennis, treat it as an underground high-stakes extreme sport and toss in Christopher Walken, and you've got "Balls of Fury" from the creators of "Night at the Museum" and "Reno 911!" Extras include an alternate ending, deleted scenes and featurettes (most of which have double-entendres for titles).

Also out today: "Bring It On: In It to Win It" (PG-13); "The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron" (Unrated); "Halloween: Unrated Director's Cut" (Unrated); "Once" (R); "The Simpsons Movie" (PG-13); "Stardust" (PG-13); and "Underdog" (PG).

CDS

Mary J. Blige, "Growing Pains": She's the first lady of hip-hop soul, and the last lady that you want to mess with.

When she first burst onto the scene, Mary J. Blige was a stone cold scowl come to life, a brassy R&B singer about as inviting as a bullet fired your way.

Since then, Blige has grown increasingly introspective and open-hearted, and on her latest disc, "Growing Pains," she continues to tear down that steely facade that she once built up around herself.

It's a welcome development, as Blige's "Pains" is a pleasure.

Also in stores: Chingy, "Hate It Or Love It"; Rivers Cuomo, "Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo"; Kirk Franklin, "Fight of My Life"; Jaheim, "The Makings of a Man"; Lupe Fiasco, "The Cool"; Keller Williams, "12."

BOOKS

"The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" by Andrew Lycett: The first to get access to Conan Doyle's personal archive, including diaries and correspondence, Lycett recounts the writer's personal journey from a child of dysfunctional parents to successful author as well as delving into the man's contradictions and explorations into science and spiritualism.

Also hitting store shelves: "Hand of Evil" by J.A. Jance; "Last Call" by James Grippando; "There's No Place Like Here" by Cecelia Ahern and "Rules of the Game" by Neil Strauss.