Invalid Resource?

[CGarson]

<?
include("db.php");
connect();
banned();
$query = "SELECT * FROM banned WHERE ip = '$REMOTE_ADDR'";
$result = mysql_query($query);
if(mysql_num_rows($result) > 0) {
echos();
die("<center>Sorry, you have been banned</center>");
}

echos();
echo("<center>Hello, please play one round of tetris then click the link below. Remember your score.<br><br><br>
"); ?><applet CODE='Tetrix.class' width=300 height=300>
<PARAM NAME=lang VALUE='english'>
</applet>
<? echo("
<br><br><br><br><a href=continue.php>I have completed one round of Tetris</a>");
?>

It says on line 7: mysql_num_rows($result)
That it is not a valid resource... What am I doing wrong here?

[Bunkermaster]

$result = mysql_query($query) crashed and didn't return a valid result.

change it to
$result = mysql_query($query) or die( "Argh I'm dead ".mysql_error());