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SI VIEW THE WEEK IN TV SPORTS
Saturday 9/13
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Colorado at Michigan
In 1994 Buffaloes wideout Michael Westbrook beat the Wolverines'
defense (now, as a Washington Redskin, he has beaten a teammate)
by hauling in Kordell Stewart's last-play, 64-yard pass to give
Colorado a 27-26 win and set off a stampede of Buffaloes.
(Colorado was not whistled for a Personal Foul for Excessive
Celebration, which also happens to be the name of coach Rick
Neuheisel's band.) Michigan cornerback-wide receiver Charles
Woodson is ready to rebuff any attempts at deja vu by Colorado
quarterback John Hessler (left).
ABC, NOON
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Stanford at North Carolina
Folks in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Palo Alto, Calif., haven't heard
the word sleeper this often since the last campus Woody Allen
film festival. For the Tar Heels, ranked No. 7, sophomore
All-America cornerback Dre' Bly (11 interceptions in 1996)
spearheads a defense that last season led the nation in fewest
points allowed. The No. 17 Cardinal offers defensive end Kailee
Wong, who hopes to hit the sack (he nailed the passer 12 times
in '96) early and late, and aptly named (for Stanford, at least)
running back Anthony Bookman.
ESPN2, 6 PM
BOXING
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Hector Camacho
Macho Camacho is not the newest brew being served at Starbucks
but rather the nom de guerre of the 35-year-old welterweight
challenger. The 64-3-1 Macho Man (above) was a 7 to 1 underdog
at week's end. At a typically irascible prefight press
conference, the 24-year-old De La Hoya (25-0 and the WBC
welterweight champion) suggested the following bet: If he loses,
he'll pay Camacho $100,000; if he wins, he'll get to snip
Camacho's trademark curl. "Make it $200,000," said Camacho.
"You're on," said Delilah, uh, De La Hoya.
PAY-PER-VIEW, 9 PM (SUGGESTED PRICE: $39.95)
Sunday 9/14
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
World Championships
How far has this sport, invented in 1930 on the sands of Santa
Monica, come? About 10 miles inland, judging from the site--the
UCLA Tennis Center--where the top pros from the Association of
Volleyball Professionals, the Federation Internationale de
Volleyball and the Women's Professional Volleyball Association
will convene for the first time outside the Olympics. A better
indicator may be Dain Blanton, who in June became the first
African-American to win a men's pro tournament. In this event
Blanton will team with AVP tour legend Kent Steffes (12 wins in
1997).
NBC, 4 PM (TAPE DELAY)
PRO FOOTBALL
Jets at Patriots
New York coach Bill (Tuna) Parcells returns to Foxboro Stadium
to face New England, which he shepherded to the Super Bowl just
eight months ago. He has already canned the idea that the
recently woebegone Jets (1-1) are still the worst team in the
NFL. The recipe for Tuna Surprise: 27 new players on New York's
56-man roster; a quarterback (Neil O'Donnell, left) who after
only two games has exceeded his 1996 total in touchdown passes;
and a deep receiving corps headed by Keyshawn Johnson. The 2-0
Patriots, whose coach, Pete Carroll, once held the same job with
the Jets, counter with one of the AFC East's two Todd Collinses:
This one is an outside linebacker who made 65 tackles in '96.
TNT, 8 PM
All times Eastern. Schedules are subject to change.
COLOR PHOTO: RICHARD MACKSON [John Hessler in game]
COLOR PHOTO: AL BELLO/ALLSPORT [Hector Camacho]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN IACONO [Neil O'Donnell in game]
THE ! ZAPPER
With rare exceptions, finding Saturday-morning programming
attractive to kids and acceptable to their parents has been as
difficult as searching for intelligence on Saved by the Bell.
Enter The Sports Illustrated for Kids Show (syndicated), an
air-hockey-paced half hour. Famous jocks, such as Grant Hill,
serve as guest hosts, while others, such as soccer star Julie
Foudy and volleyball vixen Gabby Reece, provide tips to improve
the viewer's skills. Friendly athletes with no 'tude, cool
sports (such as wakeboarding, a combination of surfing and
waterskiing) and helpful hints make for a winning mix.
