SI View The Week in TV Sports
Saturday 6/27
World Cup Second Round
In Portuguese dunga means "dopey," which is a poor fit as a
name for Brazil's 34-year-old captain and midfielder. "Grumpy"
would be more appropriate. In his team's opening-round wins
against Group A foes Scotland and Morocco, Dunga (above, right)
engaged in shouting matches with a coach and a player--both from
his own side. Hi-ho, hi-ho.... "That's just the way he is," says
Mario Zagallo, the browbeaten Brazilian coach. "On the field
it's Dunga who's in charge." (That may be news to never-bashful
striker Ronaldo.) Today, in the start of single-elimination
play, the boys from Brazil will face Group B's runner-up: either
Chile, a gifted squad that tends to get recklessly sleepy near
the end of a match, or Austria, which will be happy to be here.
ABC, 3 PM
David Reid vs. Simon Brown
Middleweight David Reid (9-0 as a pro) owes his career to one
punch. While trailing Alfredo Duvergel of Cuba 15-5 on points
entering the third round of their 1996 Olympic gold-medal bout,
Reid KO'd Duvergel with a right hook to become the only American
boxer to win in Atlanta. Like Rocky Balboa, Reid, 24, is a North
Philadelphia brawler with a drooping left eyelid. Also like
Rocky, he has a good shot at an Oscar. Tonight's match against
former three-time world champion Simon Brown (47-7) at Temple
University's Apollo Arena is another step for Reid (below,
right, in a '97 bout against Sam Calderons) on his ascent toward
a possible title bout against Oscar De La Hoya, the lone U.S.
boxing gold medalist in the '92 Games. The question of tonight's
10-rounder is not who will win but whether Owls basketball coach
John Chaney will be on hand to throw in his towel.
FX, 8 PM
Sunday 6/28
Whitbread Round the World Race
Last Sept. 21, 10 60-foot sailing vessels called Whitbread 60's
weighed anchor off Southampton, England--the same launch point
as the Titanic--for a nine-month race during which they would
circumnavigate the globe. Cruising at speeds of as much as 50
knots, the sailors survived treacherous seas, a collision with a
whale and the revelers at Brazil's Carnival during their
31,000-mile odyssey. If you think street luge or half-pipe is
extreme, check out this taped documentary (some footage was
taken by the competitors themselves), with its breathtakingly
shot 25-foot waves in the Southern Ocean, or the shark that was
accidentally speared by the keel of winner EF Language.
ABC, 5 PM
Thursday 7/2
U.S. Women's Open
Lady letdowns of late: Sheryl Crow blows off Lilith Fair. The
American Film Institute, in naming the 100 top movies of all
time, omits Mrs. Doubtfire. Donna Andrews finishes second in
four consecutive tournaments. Andrews, winner of the Longs Drugs
Challenge in April, leads the LPGA tour in earnings ($525,944).
However, since May 10 she has been strictly a runner-up in the
events in which she has appeared. The first two rounds at
Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis., will also feature Liselotte
Neumann, who is seeking her first major since she won the Open
10 years ago.
ESPN, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, 3 PM
Friday 7/3
Mets at Braves
After 41 years, the Dodgers are coming back to New York--one at
a time. Perhaps in homage to famous Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld, a
native New Yorker self-exiled to L.A. only to have recently
returned, the Mets have acquired Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza
(left), pitcher Hideo Nomo and a following. At week's end
second-place New York trailed Atlanta in the National League
East by 8 1/2 games, but John Olerud (.333 average) was bidding
to become the Mets' first All-Star first baseman since
Seinfeld's not-so-secret crush, Keith Hernandez.
TBS, 7:35 PM
ALL TIMES EASTERN. SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
COLOR PHOTO: AP PHOTO/MICHEL EULER [Dunga in match]
COLOR PHOTO: CHRIS CASSIDY/ALLSPORT [David Reid boxing Sam Calderons]
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN IACONO [Mike Piazza]
THE ! ZAPPER
When we heard that gonzo rock star Ted Nugent was stalking
whitetail, our first thought was, Uh-oh, backstage party run
amok. Instead, the one they call Motor City Madman is the host
of Spirit of the Wild (Outdoor Channel, Sunday, 5 p.m., and
syndicated), a hunting series that promises to score well with
the demographically viable heavy metal-heavy artillery crowd. In
the premiere, Nugent, who comes off as a hybrid of Charlton
Heston and Charles Manson, uses bow and arrow to bag a 10-point
elk and a wild boar, the latter of which, come to think of it,
might be a better title for the show.... Cuba as Cuban: Variety
reports that Cuba Gooding Jr. (1997 Best Supporting Actor Oscar
as wide receiver Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire) is slated to play
Yankees pitcher and Cuban defector Orlando Hernandez in an
upcoming film.
