SI VIEW THE WEEK IN TV SPORTS
SATURDAY 12/21
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
I-AA Championship Game
A year ago Eric Kresser was Heisman Trophy-winner Danny
Wuerffel's understudy at Florida, and Randy Moss was a redshirt
freshman wideout at archrival Florida State. This fall, as
teammates at 14-0 Marshall, they have hooked up on more TD
tosses (24) than any other quarterback-wide receiver combo in
college, and some pro scouts have called Moss the next Jerry
Rice. The Thundering Herd hosts top-ranked Montana (14-0) in
Huntington, W.Va., in a rematch of last season's finale, won by
the Grizzlies 22-20 on a field goal with 39 seconds left.
ESPN, 2 PM
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Arizona at Michigan
Only 2:37 of the Wolverines' season had elapsed when corpulent
forward Robert (Tractor) Traylor (left) put his mark on it with
a backboard-shattering dunk versus Ball State. For the Wildcats,
freshman guard Mike Bibby has been a more figurative smash,
shattering Arizona's single-game steals record, with eight in
only his fifth outing. Sign of the times: a pair of Top 10 teams
without a senior on either roster.
CBS, 3:45 PM
SUNDAY 12/22
PRO FOOTBALL
Cowboys at Redskins
Washington, D.C., 1961: John Kennedy, having just beaten a Nixon
(Richard), moves into a new home, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Redskins, having just replaced a Nixon (coach Mike), move
into a new home, at D.C. Stadium (renamed in '70 after John's
brother Robert). Now, 229 sellouts later, RFK Stadium hosts its
final Skins game. Though they're out of the playoff race,
Redskins like Bill Brooks (above) might be inspired by history:
Washington's only '61 win under Bill McPeak came at home over
Dallas, 34-24 in the season finale.
FOX, 4 PM
WEDNESDAY 12/25
PRO BASKETBALL
Lakers at Suns -- Pistons at Bulls
More entertaining than a Kazaam!-Space Jam double feature, this
Christmas-night pageant displays a constellation of NBA stars:
Los Angeles's Shaquille O'Neal, Detroit's Grant Hill and
Chicago's three kings, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis
Rodman. In the evening's main event, keep an eye on Pistons
guard Joe Dumars (right). At week's end he was an astonishing
league-best 56.5% from beyond the three-point line and a major
reason for Detroit's surprising start. Dumars, who usually draws
His Airness on defense, is obviously a fan: His five-year-old
son is named Jordan.
NBC, 6 PM
FRIDAY 12/27
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Copper Bowl
This matchup from Tucson pits 7-5 Wisconsin against 8-3 Utah and
showcases a pair of tailbacks who put the f back in phat. The
Badgers' 5'10", 260-pound Ron Dayne steamrolled to an
NCAA-freshman record 1,863 yards this season behind an offensive
line that averages 320 pounds per man. Utah sophomore Chris
Fuamatu-Ma'afala (6-feet, 272 pounds), who has a brilliant
future as a Wheel of Fortune puzzle, rushed for 122.8 yards a
game in '96. Advantage? With Utah's rush defense ranked a sickly
91st in the nation (allowing 214.4 yards a game), the Great
Dayne should burn off quite a few calories.
ESPN, 9 PM
THE ! ZAPPER
When it comes to blonds, MTV has given us the fractious (Beavis,
Puck), the fulsome (Jenny McCarthy) and the faux (Madonna). Now
comes Dennis Rodman (below), who has been all three, in The
Rodman World Tour (MTV, Sundays, 10 p.m.). The Worm gets free
rein to do almost anything with just about anyone. Example:
playing poker with Kelsey Grammer of Frasier, Laura Leighton of
Melrose Place and Foo Fighter guitarist Pat Smear. Dennis, isn't
it time someone called your bluff?
All times Eastern. Schedules are subject to change.
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN F. GRIESHOP/SCHWARTZMAN SPORTS [Robert (Tractor) Taylor]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN BIEVER (2) [Bill Brooks]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN BIEVER (2) [Joe Dumars]
COLOR PHOTO: BETH A. KEISER/AP [Dennis Rodman]
