SI VIEW THE WEEK IN TV SPORTS
Saturday 2/1
GOLF
Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Kevin Costner (above, in Tin Cup) will be paired with Tiger
Woods (cup runneth over), while Jack Lemmon attempts to halt his
Lucci-esque streak of 23 years without making the cut. Other
celebrity hackers include Bill Murray and James Woods, who
probably wishes the pairings were done according to surname
(John Daly-Tyne Daly, anybody?). Last year's tournament was
rained out after 36 holes, making it the first PGA Tour event to
go unfinished since 1949.
CBS, 3 PM
Sunday 2/2
PRO BASKETBALL
Bulls at Sonics
During Chicago's record-setting (87-13) stampede to the NBA
title, only one team branded the Bulls with more L's than their
jersey manufacturer: Seattle, led by Shawn Kemp (right), slew
Chicago thrice at Key Arena, once during the season and twice in
the playoffs. The Sonics fell 4-2 in the Finals to Michael
Jordan's wilting presence. The Bulls will be without Dennis
Rodman, who is serving an 11-game suspension for kicking a
cameraman.
NBC, 3:30 PM
AUTO RACING
National Hot Rod Association Winternationals
If you thought you knew some fast girls in high school, wait
until you see Cristen Powell, a senior at Portland's Jesuit High
who has turned 275 mph in her Top Fuel dragster. Powell, who
goes from zero to 100 faster than any female since Thelma and
Louise, will make her pro debut as the youngest Top Fuel driver
ever in this NHRA season opener in Pomona, Calif. John Force, a
six-time Funny Car champ who sings a bar or two of an Elvis
Presley song while tearing up the quarter mile, will launch the
defense of his 1996 title.
TNN, 7 PM
Thursday 2/6
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Tulane at Cincinnati
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Green Wave's Jerald Honeycutt (below)
enjoyed the best game of his career and the Bearcats' Danny
Fortson endured his worst during a doubleheader in Cincinnati.
Honeycutt, a 6'9" senior, scored 38 points as upstart Tulane
upended Xavier. In the second game, Fortson, a 6'7" junior, was
held to nine points as the Bearcats bowed to Temple. Another
Thursday in Cincy finds these two teams in a game that should
help decide whether Fortson or Honeycutt wins Conference USA's
player of the year honor.
ESPN, 9:30 PM
Friday 2/7
INTERVIEW
Up Close Prime-Time: Bobby Knight
Host Roy Firestone goes grouse hunting with college basketball's
Great Santini. How metaphorical is that? "I'd been an
anti-Knight guy for a decade, but I've done a 180-degree
turnaround," says Firestone, who was so impressed after spending
three days with Knight that Up Close for the first time will
devote its entire hour to a single personality. Firestone
reveals the General layer by complicated layer. "It's no one's
goddam business what kind of person I am," barks Knight. Maybe
not, but Bobby, we can handle the truth.
ESPN, 7:30 PM
BOXING
Lennox Lewis vs. Oliver McCall McCall, fresh off a Dec. 15 TKO
of a Christmas tree in the lobby of a Nashville hotel, meets
Lewis (below) for the WBC heavyweight crown in Las Vegas. The
bout is a rematch of McCall's shocking 1994 second-round upset,
in which he knocked out the previously undefeated Lewis.
McCall's Tennessee tinsel tussle, undertaken after he was
drinking, was proof that the substance-abusing brawler wasn't
ready to end the outpatient rehab he was--and still is--
undergoing. That gives McCall an edge, says Lewis's manager,
Frank Maloney: "The last time Oliver fought Lennox, his first
four weeks' training was in rehab."
HBO, 10 PM
COLOR PHOTO: JACQUELINE DUVOISIN [Kevin Costner in movie Tin Cup]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN W. MCDONOUGH [Shawn Kemp in game]
COLOR PHOTO: BRUCE L. SCHWARTZMAN [Jerald Honeycutt in game]
COLOR PHOTO [Television remote control]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN IACONO [Lennox Lewis]
THE ZAPPER
Because of its electors' tendency to reelect incumbents, the Pro
Bowl (ABC, Sunday, 8 p.m.) has often been likened to the U.S.
Senate. That's why we are delighted to announce that Jesse Helms
(R., N.C.) will start at tackle for the AFC opposite NFC (and
Green Bay Packers) defensive end Reggie White. Only kidding, but
wouldn't that make the annual Doze Bowl more compelling? Then
again, an NFC huddle that includes Brett Favre, Barry Sanders
and Jerry Rice may be sufficient to stir fan spirit. Football
widows, be warned: Only 175 days until the Hall of Fame Game.
All times Eastern. Schedules are subject to change.